Melbourne Rare Book Week Announces 2026 Programme

Melbourne Rare Book Week will return next month running July 23 through August 1 with an intriguing line-up of events, exhibitions, talks and lectures celebrating the world of rare and collectible books, as well as the annual Melbourne Rare Book Fair.

Established in 2012, MRBW's 2026 programme features more than 40 free events across Melbourne in collaboration with Victoria’s leading cultural institutions.
 
Talks and lectures delivered by Australia’s leading rare book experts will include:

• the evolution of the English language
• Victoria’s goldfields and early Melbourne
• suppressed Australian literature in the 19th century
• the centenary of Winnie‑the‑Pooh 
• The Queen of Crime: All About Agatha

“Melbourne Rare Book Week showcases the extraordinary literary heritage of our city," said Mike O’Brien, President of Rare Books Melbourne. "The 2026 program celebrates the depth, diversity and expertise found in Melbourne, a UNESCO City of Literature, and the remarkable collections held across our cultural institutions.”

Exhibitions will include the World of the Book at State Library Victoria and A Further Glimpse into the Cowlishaw Collection at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Museum, both showcasing rare manuscripts, first editions, and historically significant works.

The Melbourne Rare Book Fair is the largest rare book fair in the Southern Hemisphere and Australasia and will be held at Wilson Hall, The University of Melbourne, July 30-August 1.