2026 AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things

The AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things returns from Tuesday 29 September to Saturday 3 October 2026, bringing five days of theatre, music, visual arts, storytelling, and hands-on creative experiences for children aged 0–12 and their families during the September school holidays.

Presented by Barking Gecko Arts, the 2026 Festival will be its largest to date, expanding to three metropolitan hubs, the Perth Cultural Centre precinct (home to the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, WA Museum Boola Bardip and State Library of Western Australia), Yagan Square, and the Subiaco Arts Centre, and travelling to regional hubs in Kununurra, Albany, Beverley and Bunbury throughout October. There's something for everyone to enjoy!

See there website for more details.

Events at the State Library

Book Boogie - A Storytime Experience

Book Boogie is a young person's creative play and story-time experience where storytelling takes centre stage. Using empty books with imaginative titles, Book Boogie engages participants in narrative-driven activities that encourage young people to create new stories through written words, illustrations, and performance.

29 September - 3 October 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
4 - 8 years                                          

Free, no bookings required

Storyteller in Residence: Glenn Swift               

Storyteller and host extraordinaire Glenn Swift invites you to The Story Hub: a warm, welcoming space for stories, books, rhymes and literary events at The Story Place on the mezzanine level of the State Library of Western Australia. Come and bask in the glorious glow of words as you listen, imagine, build and share stories inspired by some of your favourite books.

All ages. 
29 September - 3 October, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Free, no bookings required

Juvenilia

This exhibition showcases the juvenilia of Australian children’s authors and illustrators and their early attempts at storytelling Everyone starts somewhere. Whether it is handwriting stories on scrap paper or drawing pictures in pencil and then rubbing them out, today’s most prominent creators of children’s books all started as children too, dreaming about being able to publish their own story. 

All ages
28 September to 31 Jan 2027, State Library opening hours
Free, no bookings required

Book Launch: Kep Barna, Worl Barna & Noongar Boodja Waangkan 

Join Noongar language teacher and storyteller Jayden Boundry and illustrator Tyrown Waigana for a special celebration of their Noongar language books: Kep Barna: Water Creatures, Worl Barna: Sky Creatures, and the newly expanded Noongar Boodja Waangkan: Noongar First Words. Enjoy a special storytime as Jayden reads from Kep Barna, introducing children to the water creatures of Noongar Boodja in both Noongar and English. This session also marks the release of Worl Barna, which explores the inhabitants of the sky, and Noongar Boodja Waangkan, featuring an even broader collection of first Noongar words including family, plants, animals, emotions, colours, numbers, and more.

This engaging event celebrates Noongar language, culture, and connection to Country, inspiring families to continue their language journey together.

Under 5s
29 September 10:30am
$10 per child. Book now. 

A Fear Less Storytime with Kelly Canby

Join award-winning author and illustrator Kelly Canby for a warm, funny and interactive storytime celebrating courage, creativity and the joy of being exactly who you are. Through storytelling, live drawing and plenty of laughs, children and their grown-ups are invited to imagine, create and discover that bravery often begins with one very small step.

30 September 10am
Ages 3 – 5
$10 per child.  Book now.

Spontaneous Stories with James Foley

Join James Foley for a laugh-out-loud session where the kids are in charge. Bring your weirdest and wackiest ideas for stories, because we’ll be mashing them up into the funniest Franken-tale you’ve ever heard – which James will illustrate live.

Ages 9 - 12
1 - 2 October 10am and 12pm
$10 per child. Book now. 

Create your own dystopia!      

Join the authors of the new YA novel Old Bertie as they unpack some key strategies that young authors can use to create their own rich fictional world.

Suitable 9+
1 October 10am
$10 per child. Book now. 

Clay Meelyu with Dr Holly Bradley

There will be a reading of Milly Meelyu, followed by a question-and-answer session. Participants then have the opportunity to join a workshop where they can make their own Meelyu model out of Model Magic clay, where they can colour them and learn about camouflage.

3 - 8  years
3 October 11am
$10 per child. Book now.