Storytelling Festival

18 June – 5 July 2026 | Various locations across Glen Eira 

The Glen Eira Storytelling Festival returns this winter with a vibrant 17-day celebration of stories in all their forms. Running from 18 June to 5 July 2026 across libraries, cinemas, community venues and historic locations throughout Glen Eira, the Festival invites audiences of all ages to explore the power of storytelling to entertain, connect and inspire.

From history and humour to poetry, performance, film and live literary experiences, the program brings together acclaimed writers, performers and storytellers for a packed program of events designed to spark imagination and conversation. With a mix of free and ticketed events, the Festival offers something for every age, interest and budget.

Program highlights include:

• Festival opening celebrations featuring a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and live music from Yorta Yorta singer-songwriter Benny Walker
• Acclaimed historian Mark McKenna discussing The Shortest History of Australia
• Plot Twist — a live improvised crime-writing showdown with Gabriel Bergmoser and Laura McCluskey
• Murder in the Mansion at Rippon Lea Estate — a hilarious immersive whodunnit 
• Beloved comedy event Dead Comics Society returning with Francis Greenslade and Andrea Powell
• A special performance from 95-year-old poet and storyteller Liz Hicklin in 95 and Still Alive
• Family favourites including The Jungle Book Show! and the interactive Fairytale Cookbook
• Conversations with leading Australian writers including Alice Pung, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Melissa Manning, Sofie Laguna and Benjamin Law
• Poetry, spoken word and live performance at Verses and Vino
• For The Term of His Natural Lies, where Stephen Hall transforms vintage film footage into a wildly inventive one-man comedy experience live on stage

To explore the full program and book tickets, visit storytellingfestival.com.au