One giant leap for GenreCon
Queensland Writers Centre’s signature event GenreCon is pivoting, or should that be pirouetting, to West End’s Thomas Dixon Centre, the home of Queensland Ballet.
Queensland Ballet’s cunning plan seems to be working. Now it has a swish $100 million-plus home in the beautifully revamped Thomas Dixon Centre on at West End, the idea is that they will attract more people to use it and pay for the privilege.
The centrepiece attraction is the Talbot Theatre, but the Kite Terrace is also amazing and there are plenty of other spaces in the building that can be used.
Hiring out space will help QB recoup some of its budget shortfall, as it is no secret that the company, despite having the flashiest home in ballet, is having a bit of a budget crisis.
With that in mind, it is interesting to note that Queensland Writers Centre has just announced its signature and main annual event, GenreCon 2026, will be held at the historic and revitalised Thomas Dixon Centre.
As Australia’s leading conference for genre fiction writers, GenreCon has experienced a significant evolution in recent years. To meet the growing needs of its community – known as “GenreConjurers” – the 2026 event will move to a venue that offers the specific spatial flexibility required for an expanded vision.
The move to the Thomas Dixon Centre provides GenreCon with exclusive use of the entire venue for the weekend. This shift allows for a more immersive experience, featuring dedicated boardroom spaces for publisher pitches, expanded breakout areas for workshops and exclusive social spaces for networking. It will also provide a fabulous space for GenreCon’s inaugural presentation of the Aurealis Awards, to be hosted by Eugen Bacon.
“This change of scenery is about giving our community the room it needs to grow,” says Queensland Writers Centre CEO Lori-Jay Ellis. “Having the whole venue to ourselves means we can create a focused environment for our writers, from the pitch sessions to the social events.”
Queensland Writers Centre remains proud of its long-standing relationship with the State Library of Queensland, where the event has previously been held. SLQ also happens to be the home of QWC. As a key venue partner, Ellis says SLQ has been instrumental in nurturing GenreCon into the major national event it is today.
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“This move represents a natural progression for the festival, built upon the strong foundation supported by SLQ,” she says. “We look forward to continuing our close partnership with the State Library across our broader programming, future initiatives and as head office for Queensland Writers.”
Meanwhile, the GenreConjurers will get to enjoy the gorgeous confines of The Thomas Dixon Centre, which has all the style of a boutique hotel.
GenreCon 2026 will take place in February 2026. Find out more at genrecon.com.au or purchase tickets at events.humanitix.com/genrecon-2026
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