Late-night conversations are returning to State Library Victoria in 2026 as the acclaimed Salon After D’Arc series launches a new season exploring the ways people love, remember and make meaning in modern life.
Hosted by bestselling author and broadcaster Jamila Rizvi, the four-part after-hours series combines panel discussions, live experimentation and rare collection viewings inside the Library’s Conversation Quarter, creating an intimate salon-style experience inspired by the literary gatherings of the past.
Presented as part of the Library’s 170th anniversary celebrations, this year’s program unfolds across two major themes, Love and Memory, inviting audiences to reflect on identity, obsession, heartbreak and the stories societies choose to preserve.
The series opens on 17 June with Fever Dreams, diving into celebrity culture, internet obsession and pop culture fandom. Dr Hannah McCann will examine Taylor Swift fandom through an academic lens, while comedian and writer Aurelia St Clair explores algorithm-driven online culture. Rosie Waterland will also join Jamila Rizvi to unpack reality television, identity and belonging.
On 15 July, The Gift of Heartbreak shifts the focus to loneliness, grief and emotional transformation. Artist Drew Pettifer will explore the history of heartbreak through his Rebel Heart project inspired by Captain Moonlight, while artist and content creator Celeste Mountjoy examines heartbreak as a creative force. Dr Michelle Lim from Ending Loneliness Together will also join the discussion, looking at loneliness as one of today’s major social and health challenges.
‘I’m so excited to be back hosting Salon After D’Arc. It’s rare to find a series that values both intellect and intimacy – where you can explore big ideas about love, memory and identity while feeling genuinely connected to the people in the room,’ Jamila Rizvi says.
The final two salons, focused on memory and collective storytelling, will be announced later this year.
Tickets for the opening 2 events are on sale now. For more information, visit the State Library Victoria website.
