The Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki runs from Tuesday 11 to Sunday 16 May 2027, centred on the Aotea Centre in central Auckland. Expect six days of New Zealand and international authors in talks, readings and conversations. The first names announced are for the Schools Programme (11 to 13 May): Chloe Gong, Joseph Coelho, A.F. Steadman and Aki Fukuoka. The main adult programme is still to come.
On this page
Key facts
- When
- Tuesday 11 to Sunday 16 May 2027
- Where
- Aotea Centre and central Auckland venues
- Schools Programme
- 11 to 13 May 2027 at the Aotea Centre
- First names
- Chloe Gong, Joseph Coelho, A.F. Steadman, Aki Fukuoka (schools)
- Tickets
- On sale with the main programme; check the festival site
What it is
The Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki brings writers and readers together each May in central Auckland, with talks, readings, interviews and panels. The 2027 festival runs from Tuesday 11 to Sunday 16 May, mainly at the Aotea Centre.
What to expect
The full 2027 programme has not been published, but the first names have. On 4 November 2026 the festival announced four children’s book headliners for its Schools Programme Hōtaka Kura (11 to 13 May):
- Chloe Gong, a New York Times bestselling author
- Joseph Coelho, a former UK Children’s Laureate
- A.F. Steadman
- Aki Fukuoka
The schools sessions see thousands of students fill the Aotea Centre; one past attendee called it “a rock concert for reading”. The adult programme usually fills the rest of the week with novelists, poets, journalists and thinkers from New Zealand and overseas. Before and after the festival the team runs year-round events: the 2026 calendar included Jimmy Wales on trust and a special evening with Heartstopper author Alice Oseman.
Who it suits
Readers of every kind, book clubs and anyone visiting Auckland in late autumn. Sessions are a good indoor plan when the weather turns.
Tickets
Tickets usually go on sale with the main programme. Popular international authors sell out, so sign up to the festival newsletter.
Getting there
The Aotea Centre is on Mayoral Drive by Aotea Square, a short walk from Britomart and the waterfront, and close to many central city buses.
Where to stay
Central city hotels are within walking distance. Our things to do in Auckland guide covers the neighbourhoods.
What to bring
A tote bag for new books and an umbrella for May.
Make a trip of it
Combine a festival day with the Auckland Art Gallery nearby, or a ferry to the islands, from our Auckland guide.
FAQ
When is the Auckland Writers Festival 2027?
Who is coming?
Can the public go to the Schools Programme?
Where is it held?
Sources
Last checked 11 November 2026 against the organiser's own pages
