A feast of bold stories and ideas: Verb Wellington programme

Featuring an outstanding lineup of literary powerhouses and exciting new voices from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and Ireland, this year's festival presents 26 events, from over 50 artists, offering audiences a wide-ranging and invigorating programme of conversation, performance and ideas.

Co-directors Kate McDonald and Gabrielle Vincent say: “We are ecstatic to reveal our first programme for Verb Readers and Writers Festival. We are honoured to welcome such an extraordinary line-up of writers and artists, and can't wait to gather with audiences from across Aotearoa to celebrate books, ideas and unforgettable conversations.”

Verb is incredibly excited to welcome one of Australia's most acclaimed and decorated authors, Michelle de Kretser, described by Ali Smith as "one of the finest writers alive". She will discuss her multi-award-winning book, Theory & Practice, with Kate Duignan, lead a workshop on first drafts for keen writers and partake in Verb’s book club event, Your Reading List. Audiences can also experience a fascinating conversation between Doireann Ní Ghríofa and Noelle McCarthy. Their recently published books, Said the Dead and Stakes, both feature Cork's former mental asylum, Our Lady's, uncovering the stories and ghosts that linger within its walls. Ní Ghríofa will join the event virtually from Ireland and the event will be chaired by award-winning author and Verb founder, Claire Mabey.

Festival-goers will also have the opportunity to hear from beloved authors Witi Ihimaera Smiler, Elizabeth Knox and Tusiata Avia as they reflect on their soul-stirring memoirs. Knox and Ihimaera Smiler will also join the Verb Showcase event, If This Finds You, hosted by writer and award-winning podcast-maker, Melody Thomas, which invites six artists to write a letter to a future reader. 

Acclaimed musician Jon Toogood will share songs and stories from his memoir with writer and broadcaster Nick Bollinger, while renowned High Court Judge and former Governor-General Dame Sylvia Cartwright discusses her remarkable life with journalist Anna Fifield. Bestselling investigative journalist and lawyer Asher Emanuel, author of The Valley, joins Aaron Smale, the 2026 Te Kohu Kairangi Award winner for Best Reporting of Māori Affairs, to discuss the art of capturing true stories with Māni Dunlop.

As always, Verb's programme balances deep conversation with playfulness and debate. Don't Worry, Tech Will Save Us sees team captains Chlöe Swarbrick and Toby Manhire lead a fierce clash of ideas on technology and the future. 

In From the Floor, Lucy O'Hagan, Carwyn Jones, Trish Harris and Kaeden Watts present maiden speeches exploring their hopes for the future.

Inspired by words from Chris Tse's new collection Dance Floor Romance, FEVER: A Poetry Gala invites six poets to respond to the line, "pleasure and pain share a heart". Hosted by former Poet Laureate Chris Tse, the event features Nafanua Purcell Kersel, winner of the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at this year's Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, alongside Tusiata Avia, Jackson McCarthy and more.

Between events on Saturday 26 September, audiences can head to The Tasting Room and join A Riot of Words, a lively programme of literary activities led by Sasha Francis.

Verb continues to remain committed to championing fresh voices. This year's programme sees debut writers Hana Buchanan, Terri Te Tau, Joseph Trinidad and Shariff Burke stepping onto the festival stage. 

For tamariki and their whānau, Verb is delighted to present The Wild Ones, a series of free events for children presented in partnership with the Wellington Botanic Garden's Spring Festival. Through joyful readings, games and hands-on activities, Claire Mabey, Giselle Clarkson and Isobel Joy Te-Aho White will bring their stories off the page and into the hands of young readers. All events are free and take place in the Discovery Garden at Wellington Botanic Garden.

Verb is also delighted to announce that the fun doesn't end after the festival! The Verb team  will be returning on November 14 with a one-night-only live literature takeover of some of Wellington’s cosiest venues. VerbCrawl will encompass 20 events showcasing local writers in a range of eclectic venues in Wellington’s CBD. Each event will be ticketed at $10 each so spots can be secured in advance. The VerbCrawl programme and tickets will be available in October.  

Full 2026 Verb Readers & Writers festival programme live and Tickets on sale now at verbwellington.nz