2026 Melbourne conference

Date: August 15-16, 2026
Venue: Arrow on Swanston, 488 Swanston Street, Carlton, VIC 3053

Presenter expressions of interest invited until 11pm, April 30.

2026 conference art (Witches in Fairy Tales) by Cassandra Kavanagh

Our 2026 conference theme is ‘Witches in Fairy Tales: Wise Women or Evil Enchanters?‘

Conference art by Cassandra Kavanagh

Expressions of Interest are now welcome from Presenters!

As we encompass all disciplines and types of creativity, we invite you to submit presentations in a diversity of forms, as this is one of the delights of an AFTS conference. How will you weave a fairy-tale witch – male or female, wicked or wonderful – into your presentation? For more detail, visit our blog.

Submit by 11pm, April 30, 2026!

Read more about the conference

  • Our conference artist Cassandra Kavanagh has been painting since the age of two, and reading since the age of four. Visit our blog to learn why fairy tales remain a firm favourite, despite being traumatised by Bluebeard at age seven!
  • Our keynote speaker Lucy Cavendish is an author, oracle deck creator, podcaster, surfer, wildlife carer – and witch! Learn why she thinks our 2026 theme is ‘delicious’!

We’d like to thank …