Jacinda Ardern to headline 2026 Brisbane Writers Festival

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been confirmed as a headliner for the 2026 Brisbane Writers Festival this October. Although her name was initially omitted from the festival's early program release, her appearance is now official and tickets are available for purchase.

Ardern, who is the author of the memoir ‘A Different Kind of Power’ and the motivational book ‘What If You Could’, is scheduled to appear at Brisbane City Hall in a conversation with author Trent Dalton. Artistic director Jackie Ryan noted that the announcement received an “immediate and passionate” response.

The four-day festival features a diverse lineup of international and Australian literary figures, including Alice Oseman, Susan Orlean, Andrew O’Hagan, Kate Grenville, and Richard Flanagan.