GenreCon is now Australia’s premier writers’ conference
Queensland Writers Centre’s annual GenreCon is now regarded as Australia’s premier writers’ conference – and it’ll be back bigger and even better in 2026.
Doing what it does best, GenreCon will bring together a vibrant and engaged writing community, deliver expert writing craft sessions and provide opportunities to pitch your work to leading publishers in its 2026 event, already being dubbed GenreCon 2026: Inkling.
GenreCon, an initiative of the Queensland Writers Centre, has grown into Australia’s premier writers’ conference and is an essential event for the literary calendar. It is Australia’s largest conference for genre fiction writers and offers a weekend of panels, seminars and events focused on writing craft, the publishing industry and the business of being a writer in genres such as sci-fi, fantasy, horror, romance and crime. The conference also provides opportunities for writers to connect with publishers, agents and other professionals.
It was a sold-out event at the State Library of Queensland this year and 2026 is going to be bigger and better. If you’re a genre writer looking to learn, refresh or connect, then you don’t want to miss it.
The conference will spark to life in Brisbane across the weekend of February 21-22 and is open to all writers, from those just dipping their toes into the author-sphere to others with manuscripts already under their belt.
As a continued champion of diversity and inclusivity, GenreCon’s cross-cultural focus is highlighted by keynote speaker, Professor Belne, a renowned professional manga artist from Japan’s Kaishi Professional University. Joining her are artist and author Queenie Chan, Indigenous graphic novel publisher Scott Wilson (creative lead of Indigiverse), winner of two Bram Stoker Awards Geneve Flynn and award-winning best-selling author Eugen Bacon.
For writers looking for new opportunities, hybrid author Kylie Chan will run a full-day workshop exploring the ever-changing landscape of publishing; Geneve Flynn, along with fellow Bram Stoker Award winner L.E. Daniels, will run a workshop exploring the differences between eastern and western storytelling, and African Australia author Eugen Bacon will share insight into the boundless frontier of speculative fiction.
GenreCon has been giving writers a place to grow and learn for more than 10 years, and 2026 will be no different. The atmosphere is intimate and community-focussed, providing valuable networking opportunities.
Panels about diversity, fanfic, overcoming the blank page and navigating AI will sit beside writing craft, editing and career seminars. The Chatterbox sessions cover each genre and give writers an opportunity to ask those questions they might be too afraid to ask, and the Speakeasy is a place to showcase your writing in an encouraging atmosphere.
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The ever-popular Pitch Sessions with leading publishers and agents will return and will be highly sought after, as will The Shreader, giving real-time editorial feedback for those who are brave enough to enter.
And next year the Aurealis Awards will be joining the GenreCon line-up with an in-person awards night for the first time in years, with free admission for all GenreCon ticketholders.
It’s the perfect gathering for any writer looking to take their inkling of an idea and transform it into a story with global potential.