Congratulations to the 27 schools, libraries and bookshops who will host LitUp events with authors and illustrators in their local communities next year!
From Cairns, Quilpie and Weipa to Broken Hill, Maitland and Moree Plains, participating communities will welcome authors and illustrators to a series of locally-run events in 2026.
LitUp received more than 130 applications to take part in the pilot year, reflecting the demand in Australia for opportunities to connect with books, reading and authors – particularly in regional and remote areas.
Australia Reads looks forward to working with our inaugural LitUp participants, who are located across our pilot states of Queensland and New South Wales.
‘We are delighted to be participating in the first year of LitUp! This wonderful opportunity will inspire us to flourish as lifelong readers.
It is vital for children, young people, educators and the whole NSW far west community to enjoy books with authors and illustrators, as advocates of storytelling and reading for joy. We’re so glad to be taking part.’
Jane Vaughan, Big Sky Stories, Broken Hill
LitUp participants in Queensland
- Boulia Shire Library, Boulia Shire
- Cairns Libraries, Cairns
- Cairns School of Distance Education, Cairns
- Clifton State High School, Warwick
- Deception Bay State School, Deception Bay
- Kepnock State High School, Coral Coast
- Mount St Bernard College, Herberton
- Pimlico High School, Townsville
- Quilpie Shire Council Library, Quilpie Shire
- St Joseph’s Parish School Weipa, Weipa
- Warwick West State School and the Library Network Group, Warwick
LitUp participants in New South Wales
- Big Sky Libraries, Moree Plains Shire
- Big Sky Stories, Broken Hill
- Canobolas Rural Technology High School, Orange
- Coffs Harbour Libraries, Coffs Harbour
- Hilltops Council Libraries, Hilltops Shire
- Inverell Shire Public Library, Inverell
- Leeton Shire Library, Leeton Shire
- Maitland City Council Libraries, Maitland
- Newcastle Libraries, Newcastle
- Raymond Terrace Public School, Newcastle
- Ross Hill Public School, Inverell
- South Grafton Public School, Grafton
- St Joseph’s Primary East Maitland, Maitland
- Telarah Public School, Maitland
- The Book Connection, Dubbo
- The Turning Page Bookshop, Blue Mountains
About LitUp
LitUp provides funding and training to support the delivery of a series of community-led live literature events in each participating area.
A partnership with Creative Australia and the Copyright Agency, LitUp aims to help communities overcome social, geographic and financial barriers that prevent them from hosting events with authors, supporting them to bring the benefits of reading and live literature to their area.
Participating organisations are based in Queensland and New South Wales, the two pilot states for the first year of the program, and their events will run between February – June 2026.
The participating schools, libraries and bookshops will work with each other and Australia Reads over the coming months to select and invite authors and illustrators to visit their communities. To be considered for selection by participating communities, authors and illustrators must be listed on the Australia Reads Author & Illustrator Directory.
‘Congratulations to all the schools and community organisations selected to take part in the first very LitUp program. We’re delighted to support this important new initiative through our Cultural Fund, and to see such a strong representation from regional and remote communities for the pilot program. We’re looking forward to hearing from the authors, illustrators and communities about the connections made, the stories shared and the impact of these visits.’
Josephine Johnston, CEO at Copyright Agency
‘A growing body of evidence, including Australia Reads research, shows that early and sustained engagement with reading helps shape lifelong habits, with far reaching benefits for education, literacy and health. LitUp builds on this by creating new opportunities for children in regional and remote areas to connect with authors and illustrators. By supporting events that inspire joy and curiosity around books, we’re helping to nurture confident young readers and a love of literature that lasts a lifetime.’
Leisa Bacon, Executive Director, Development & Partnerships at Creative Australia