World of the Book 2026: Inside State Library Victoria’s Rare Book Exhibition
A free exhibition of over 400 rare treasures, now marking its 21st year at State Library Victoria.
Every winter I find myself drawn back to State Library Victoria’s Dome Galleries, and this year’s World of the Book might be the best reason yet. Now in its 21st year, it’s Australia’s longest-running rare book exhibition, and the 2026 edition puts women writers front and centre, with a first edition of Jane Austen’s Emma among the headline acquisitions. It’s free, it runs until May 2027, and it rewards a slow wander far more than a quick lap.
Related reading: for a full guide to the Library itself, including accessibility, membership and getting there, see our article on State Library Victoria. If you’d rather join a guided tour than explore solo, we’ve also covered the free State Library walking tours, including the World of the Book Tour itself. For something even more detailed, Paul Daffey runs a weekly City of Literature 3-hour walking tour.
About the World of the Book exhibition
World of the Book: The Rare, the Sacred and the Iconic opened on 4 July 2026 and runs until 16 May 2027 on Level 4 of the Dome Galleries, overlooking the La Trobe Reading Room. Entry is free, and no booking is required to view the exhibition itself.
This year’s display brings together more than 400 items spanning roughly 4,000 years, from an ancient cuneiform tablet through to medieval manuscripts, miniature and pop-up books, artists’ books and pulp fiction.
This year’s focus: women writers
The 2026 edition is the Library’s largest tribute yet to women writers, with more than 120 titles acquired through the Library’s Women Writers Fund going on display, many for the first time.
The centrepiece is a newly acquired first edition of Jane Austen’s Emma (1816), shown alongside rare editions of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. There’s also a tribute marking 50 years since the death of Agatha Christie, and works by Octavia Butler, Virginia Woolf and the Brontë sisters, including the Fund’s very first purchase, Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own.
Other highlights worth seeking out include:
- The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886) — often described as Melbourne’s first international literary blockbuster, and said to have outsold Sherlock Holmes in its day
- Miniature, moveable and “blow” books, alongside intricate pop-up design
- The Sugar and Snails Press archive — established by a Melbourne feminist group in the 1970s as Australia’s first publisher of non-sexist children’s books
- Amulets and talismans from 17th- and 18th-century Europe and Mongolia
- Punk fanzines from the Australian scene of the 1970s and 80s, alongside early Australian comic book heroes
Angie’s review
Take the lift to Level 4 & look over the balustrades into the La Trobe Reading Room. If you’ve never seen this in person, it’s next on your list.
On this level you’ll find the gently lit exhibition World of the Book. Now in its 21st year, this is Australia’s longest-running and most cherished book exhibition. It showcases over 400 rare and historically important items, some on public display for the very first time.
The 2026 focus is on women writers, but be sure to find the display case featuring The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (published 1886), a stunning 16th-century illuminated manuscript, the nostalgic examples of pulp fiction, intricate moveable books, early engravings of plants & birds and tiny miniature books including the smallest in the Library’s collection.
A standout is the newly acquired first edition of Jane Austen’s Emma (1816), once owned by the Austen family but for me it was The Letters of Gertrude Bell of Arabia that sent me to my own library’s catalogue, seeking a good read on the subject. I’d forgotten that Nicole Kidman portrayed Gertrude Bell in the movie Queen of the Desert; add that to the watch list.
Enjoy a full day exploring the library or research your family history, world events and research papers all housed within the library. The website is user-friendly. There is an on-site coffee shop the Guild Cafe. Chinatown is nearby for a dumpling lunch. Access by train via State Library or Melbourne Central train stations & the tram stops at the library.
Free tours are available 11am & 2pm. Check the website. Bookings essential.
Planning your visit
- Guided tours: Free tours of the exhibition run at 11am and 2pm on select days each week, with advance booking essential. Tours meet at Hansen Hall in the Swanston Street Welcome Zone. See our guide to the free State Library tours for the World of the Book Tour alongside the Library’s other free tours.
- Opening hours: The Library is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair access and accessible toilets are available throughout the building, with lifts to most public areas including the Dome Galleries. Portable hearing loop units are available for guided tours. For full details, including how to book a courtesy wheelchair or contact the Access and Inclusion Librarian, see our State Library Victoria guide.
- Food nearby: Grab a coffee at one of two on-site cafes, or head into nearby Chinatown for a dumpling lunch. Melbourne Central also has several dining options and is just across the road. For lunch, we’ve enjoyed RoboMao for Chinese and Stalactites for Greek, both a short distance away.
- Getting there: The Library is a short walk from both Melbourne Central and State Library tram and train stations, and trams stop right outside on Swanston Street.
Before you head off
World of the Book rewards a leisurely visit — allow at least an hour if you want to read the labels properly, longer if you’re planning to combine it with Rebel Heart or a wander through the Reading Room.
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