Outback Writers Festival

The Outback Writers Festival is a non-profit incorporated association founded in 2015 and based around an annual literary festival in Winton, Queensland. It brings writers and readers together to celebrate stories, history and culture connected with Australia’s Outback. The 2027 festival is scheduled for 22–25 June at the Waltzing Matilda Centre, with book launches, panels, book talks, author sessions and opportunities to meet authors.

The festival also runs writing competitions, including a 3,000-word short story competition and 150-word flash fiction challenges with themed prompts. These programs invite participants to create and share Australian stories, while offering readers access to winning entries and past competition results.

Its objectives include encouraging reading and writing, particularly among children in rural and isolated communities and Indigenous children; promoting Winton and the Outback as a tourism destination; and sharing the region’s Indigenous cultures, history and contemporary experiences. The festival supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a charity serving people in the Outback, and acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community.