The venue
NXUBA/CRADOCK — June 2026
The historic town of Nxuba (Cradock) is set to transform into a vibrant hub of literary exploration and artistic storytelling as the Schreiner Karoo Writers Festival returns from June 18th to June 21st, 2026. This year’s festival promises an immersive experience, blending the rich heritage of the Karoo with contemporary voices in poetry, memoir writing, and social-media storytelling.
Clinton v du Plessis
The festival officially kicks off on Thursday, June 18th, with a dinner at the Victoria Manor, followed by the prestigious AVBOB Showcase. The evening will feature music by ACCESS Music and an appearance by Stephen Symons, the winner of the 2026 Olive Schreiner Prize for Poetry, alongside renowned Cradock poet Clinton v du Plessis (an AVBOB Afrikaans Poetry Winner).
Members of ACCESS Music
Educational and professional development
At the AVBOB Educational Programme
A cornerstone of the 2026 event is the expanded AVBOB Educational Programme, sponsored by the AVBOB Poetry Project. Designed for educators, learners, and aspiring writers, these sessions cover a wide spectrum of the craft, including:
- Poetry Workshops: Sessions with Stephen Symons, Crystal Warren, and Liza Badenhorst on finding inspiration and mastering short-form poetry.
- Digital Storytelling: Social media influencer Tammy Southby will lead sessions on “Sunshine Simplicities,” exploring how to build impactful narratives through photographs and short-form digital posts. The dos and don’ts of the social media.
- Writing for Young Adults: Jessica Powers, founder of Catalyst Press, will share insights into the vernacular and relevance required when writing for modern YA audiences.
Memoir writing
This year’s programme places a heavy emphasis on the “story of the self.” Highlights include a special one-man show by David Muller performing Jan Glazewski’s powerful memoir, Blood and Silver.
Julienne du Toit and Chris Marais
For those looking to pen their own histories, Karoo legends Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit will host a masterclass on capturing family stories.
Cradock locals Jimmy Simons, Luyolo Stengile and Freda Froehlich, will also share stories from their memoirs.
Literature and storytelling
Paul Walters and Jeremy Fogg
Literary buffs will be drawn to the programme run by AMAZWI South African Museum of Literature at Schreiner House, which include a deep dive into Cronwright’s Autobiography of his wife Olive discussed by Jeremy Fogg and Professor Paul Walters.
Zongezile Matshoba
Zongezile Matshoba will reading his AVBOB Award Winning isiXhosa poems.
Jeannie Wallace McKeown and Deborah Seddon will both launch their new poetry collections.
The Nxuba Creative Society will also have a slot.
Dorothy de Kok, winner of the International Writers of the Future Contest, will conversing about her short story “Thickly”.
Award-winning US author JL Powers will share more about her work.
Basil Mills
Stephen Symons, 2026 Olive Schreiner Prize Winner for Poetry talks about the highs and lows of his writing journey.
Basil Mills, the larger-than-life author and literary historian will have the audience spellbound with his tales of snakes, historical figures and wonderful facts he had woven into books.
Jan Glazewski will share the amazing history of his family which had led to his search for a treasure and, ultimately, the writing of his memoir Blood and Silver.
The joys of small towns
Tammy Southby, author the book Sunshine Simplicities, and masterful storyteller on a Facebook page with the same name, Melvin Iverson who runs the Facebook page Die Swerwer, and Bridget Harrison, manager of the Rhodes Stoepsitfees, will chat to Izak de Vries about their love for small towns and how hamlets can create opportunities for marketing themselves.
The amabongi of the Karoo, Juliene du Toit and Chris Marais, will share stories and photographs to celebrate the arrival of the latest book Klein Karoo Magic.
Tony Jackman
Finally, the much loved and respected foodie Tony Jackman will host a celebratory dinner to welcome Retro Karoo Food, his latest book on the origins of traditional dishes he had researched.
Food and laughter at Die Tuishuise & Victoria Manor
Anyone who has not yet experience the joy of coming home in the historic “story street” – a street filled with houses lovingly restored by the Antrobus family who owns the historic Victoria Manor – should jump at the opportunity. The Schreiner Karoo Writers Festival is an ideal time to experience the sumptuous food, the historic settings and warmth radiating from log fires, all while experiencing laughter and friendship with likeminded booklovers.
For bookings or more information on Schreiner Karoo Writers Festival, contact 048 881 1650 or email reservations@tuishuise.co.za.
See also:
Schreiner’s legacy attracts international contributors to Cradock