GenreCon 2026: Inkling

Queensland Writers Centre is bringing Australia’s leading genre fiction conference, GenreCon, back for its annual weekend of panels, seminars and special events this February. Boasting an impressive line-up of Australian and International genre authors, this two-day conference will delve into the worlds of fantasy, crime, horror, romance and more.

The year’s GenreCon theme is Inkling, with a focus on manga, the graphic novel and all things adaptation, illustration and translation. Professor belne, a professional manga artist from Kaishi Professional University, will headline the conference to share her wisdom on everything from manga and self-publishing to editing and scriptwriting.

Speakers joining Professor belne on the GenreCon line-up include A.K. Mulford, Cale Dietrich, Christof Bogacs, Cody Hargreaves, Douglas Watkin, Eugen Bacon and many more.

The conference will kick off with a Launch Night on Friday February 20, where attendees are invited to dress for the theme Cosplay, with best dressed prizes awarded on the night. On Saturday, ticket-holders can attend the Aurealis Awards Presentation Night at the Thomas Dixon Centre, hosted by Eugen Bacon, for a celebration of science fiction, fantasy, horror, young adult and children’s fiction.

GenreCon’s fan-favourite event Shreader will also return, where brave writers pitch their work to a panel of authors and an audience of judges, who decide whether they would read the work or send it to the shredder.

GenreCon also holds exclusive Speakeasies where writers can share their work with group of eager readers and a supportive host, but details are kept on the down low. Listen out at the end of sessions across the weekend to hear the location of the next secret Speakeasy location.

Across a weekend of learning and celebrating all things genre fiction, GenreCon offers a curated program of craft and industry panels, conversations, workshops and special events that readers, writers and word enthusiasts can appreciate.