Magda Szubanski to Release New Memoir in 2026, Exploring Love, Loss, and Activism
Beloved Australian performer, best-selling author, and TV WEEK Logies Hall of Fame inductee, Magda Szubanski, has announced the upcoming release of her highly anticipated second memoir. Titled I Can’t Tell You But I Will, the book is slated for release in September 2026.
Szubanski’s debut memoir, Reckoning, published in 2015, captivated readers and critics alike. It delved into her formative years, her complex relationship with her father, and his clandestine espionage activities during wartime Poland. The memoir garnered significant acclaim, including the prestigious Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year in 2016. Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett lauded Reckoning as “A brave and tender book about everything that matters most in life.” Similarly, The Australian Women’s Weekly described it as “a moving exploration of her relationship with her Polish Resistance hero father. Reckoning is a quest and, in a sad but satisfying way, Magda does find what she’s seeking.”
This new offering, I Can’t Tell You But I Will, shifts its focus to a pivotal period in Szubanski’s life: the profound experience of nursing her ailing mother while simultaneously becoming a prominent face in the national marriage-equality campaign.
Szubanski shared in a statement that 2017 marked a significant turning point in her life. “My mother was dying, and I was catapulted into the forefront of a bitter cultural and political battle: the same-sex marriage survey.” She explained that I Can’t Tell You But I Will will recount her journey of understanding the unseen forces that shape our world and how she learned to confront them while remaining true to herself and the people she advocated for.
The memoir is also described as a heartfelt eulogy for her beloved mother, Margaret. Szubanski eloquently expresses this sentiment, stating, “Most of all, though, it is a eulogy for my beloved mother, Margaret: like my Celtic ancestors, I am ‘keening’ her life, singing of the terrible beauty of caring for someone you love as they die.” She further elaborates on her personal transformation within the book, noting, “This is the story of how I went from comedian to campaigner, from daughter to orphan, and from naïve idealist to pragmatic warrior.”
The concept of “keening” is explored in the memoir, a traditional Irish mourning practice originating from the Irish word caoineadh (pronounced kween-na). Historically, it involved women, sometimes professionals, uttering raw, rhythmic laments at wakes or gravesides. For a contemporary musical interpretation, one might consider The Cranberries’ powerful song, “Zombie.”
This announcement follows Szubanski’s personal health update in February 2026, when she revealed she was in remission from cancer. She shared the positive news on Instagram, playfully stating, “Seems I’m not dead.” Her followers had been kept informed of her health journey since May 2025, when she first disclosed her diagnosis of a rare and aggressive blood cancer. She consistently provided updates on her social media accounts throughout her treatment, making it a fitting platform to announce her remission.
“Thank you! I’m alive! I love you. DON’T believe anything unless you see it HERE on my instagram feed or from a reputable news source. Sending all my love and strength to anyone going through health challenges,” she captioned her video announcement, reinforcing the importance of reliable information.
Key Themes in I Can’t Tell You But I Will:
- Caregiving and Loss: The memoir will intimately explore the experience of caring for a dying parent.
- Activism and Social Change: Szubanski’s role in the marriage-equality campaign and the broader fight for LGBTQ+ rights will be a central focus.
- Personal Transformation: The book chronicles her evolution from entertainer to advocate, and from daughter to orphan.
- Resilience and Strength: It will delve into how she navigated profound personal challenges and learned to stand up for her beliefs.
- The Power of Unseen Forces: Szubanski aims to shed light on the societal and cultural influences that shape our lives.
I Can’t Tell You But I Will is set to be published in hardcover on 29 September 2026, promising to be another insightful and moving addition to Magda Szubanski’s acclaimed body of work.
