Melbourne Rare Book Week is set to return from 23 July to 1 August 2026 with an extraordinary lineup of events, exhibitions, talks and lectures that celebrate the world of rare and collectible books.
Established in 2012 as the world’s first rare book week, Melbourne Rare Book Week has grown into a beloved annual event, attracting bibliophiles and collectors from around the globe.
The 2026 program features more than 40 free events, delivered across Melbourne in collaboration with Victoria’s leading cultural institutions.
Talks and lectures delivered by Australia’s leading rare book experts will explore a broad range of topics including the evolution of the English language, books of science and medicine, Victoria’s goldfields and early Melbourne, rare seventeenth‑century books, suppressed Australian literature, artists’ books, graphic novels, food history, and the centenary of Winnie‑the‑Pooh.
The program also highlights Melbourne’s libraries, archives, and collections, and explores the continuing relevance of books in a digital age.
“Melbourne Rare Book Week showcases the extraordinary literary heritage of our city. 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,” said Mike O’Brien, president of Rare Books Melbourne.
Lectures and Talks:
Winnie‑the‑Pooh Turns 100; How to Ban a Book; The Queen of Crime: All About Agatha; William Strutt’s ‘Victoria the Golden’; Suppression of Australian Literature in the Nineteenth Century; Rare 17th Century Books: Art, Architecture and Religion; and many more.
Unique Exhibitions:
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.
Interactive Events:
Behind‑the‑scenes collection viewings, curator‑led talks, and guided tours hosted by institutions including State Library Victoria, Museums Victoria, the University of Melbourne, and specialist libraries across Melbourne.
Most Melbourne Rare Book Week events incorporate rare and unique collection viewings.
Melbourne Rare Book Fair:
The Melbourne Rare Book Fair 2026 – the largest, rare book fair in the Southern Hemisphere and Australasia – will be held at Wilson Hall, The University of Melbourne, from 30 July to 1 August 2026.
The fair presents a unique opportunity to view and acquire rare and collectible books, manuscripts, maps, prints, and ephemera from Australia, New Zealand, and overseas.
To view the full programme and book for events, click here.