Accessibility

Listen to the 2026 Program

To help make our 2026 program more accessible, Dan Cox has recorded a reading of the program with the support of 2NURFM. The program is divided into separate episodes to make it easier for listeners to focus on the timing that most interests them.

You can listen via your preferred podcast app such as Spotify, or else the following links:

CLICK HERE for lead up events 22 to 27 March 2026

CLICK HERE for Saturday 28 March 2026

CLICK HERE for Sunday 29 March 2026

Accessible Seating Requests

Newcastle City Hall Concert Hall has allocated seating. If you require seating in a specific area (aisle, front row) please select your seats with this in mind.

If booked for a free event, please speak to the festival volunteers at the venue when you arrive and they can guide you to a reserved seat. We advise you to arrive at least 15 minutes before the event starts. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Companion Card holders qualify for a complimentary ticket for their companion. Companion Cards will need to be presented on the day of the event.

In 2026, ticketing for events held in Newcastle City Hall will be managed by Civic Theatre ticketing. All other events can be booked via Humanitix.

If you need to speak to someone about your seat for an event in a City of Newcastle venue, contact (02) 4929 1977 or civicticketoffice@ncc.nsw.gov.au

Prior to the Festival you can visit the ticket counter in the Civic Theatre Cafe, 375 Hunter Street Newcastle.

For enquiries about all other festival ticketing please email ticketing@newcastlewritersfestival.org.au

During the festival weekend, box office staff will be located at the main festival hub in foyer of the University of Newcastle’s NUspace building on the corner of Auckland and Hunter Street. There will also be staff located in the foyer of Newcastle City Hall and the Conservatorium of Music.

Accessible Parking spaces can be found at the following locations:

Cnr King Street and Burwood Street (near Newcastle City Council).

End of Burwood Street towards Newcastle Court.

Auckland Street (between Hunter Street and King Street).

Spaces are also provided in the carpark behind Newcastle Library accessed via Queen Street.

A guide to Newcastle City Accessible Parking, including a map of parking spaces, can be found here.

There are also accessible public transport options in Newcastle, including light rail. Further information regarding accessible public transport can be found here.

Newcastle City Hall

Accessible entry to Newcastle City Hall is from the eastern entry via Wheeler Place (between City Hall and the Crystalbrook Kingsley hotel). This is the closest entry to the lift, which will take you to upper levels for our events.

There is a unisex accessible toilet facility (right hand transfer) located on Level 1.  From the elevator turn left and then sharp left again, walk along the corridor approximately 15m and the door is on the right.

Accessibility information for City Hall can be found here.

Conservatorium of Music Harold Lobb Concert Hall
The entire venue is wheelchair accessible. The Harold Lobb Concert Hall can be accessed via a ramp to the left once you enter the foyer. There are a limited number of wheelchair spaces and these can be booked online via Humanitix. More seats are accessible with a single step for those with limited mobility. There is also an accessible toilet in the venue.

The Press Book House
This venue is at ground level, however it has a standard-width door and two single steps on entry.

University of Newcastle NUspace

Events held in NUspace are accessible by lift. When you enter NUspace from Hunter Street, the lifts are located to the right, past the escalators and toilets. Please speak to the festival volunteers in the foyer if you need assistance.

Civic Playhouse

Watt Space Gallery

Watt Space Gallery is fully accessible with ramp access and reserved parking.

Customs House

This heritage building does not have a lift and the trivia event will be held upstairs. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Assistance dogs are welcome at all festival events and venues.

Volunteers will be on hand and can help if needed. Please contact us via email at access@newcastlewritersfestival.org.au should you wish to arrange any assistance or have any queries.

Hearing loop will be available in the Conservatorium of Music Concert Hall for events. Hearing loop will no longer be available in Newcastle City Hall Concert Hall. We apologise for any inconvenience.

For the first time, the festival will be offering live captions for events in the Conservatorium of Music Concert Hall and Newcastle City Hall Concert Hall. These will be shown on the screen behind the speakers and QR codes will be available to scan to view the captions on your smartphone.

After the festival, some events will be made available as podcasts. Monitor our website and also subscribe to our Spotify feed for alerts.