Magda Szubanski Announces Upcoming Memoir Chronicling Tumultuous Year of Growth and Advocacy
Beloved Australian entertainer, award-winning author, and a distinguished inductee into the TV WEEK Logies Hall of Fame, Magda Szubanski, has unveiled plans for her next literary endeavour: a memoir slated for release in September 2026. Titled I Can’t Tell You But I Will, this upcoming work marks Szubanski’s second foray into memoir writing, following the critical and commercial success of her debut, Reckoning.
Szubanski’s first memoir, Reckoning, delved into her formative years, exploring her childhood and the complex legacy of her father, a figure involved in espionage during wartime Poland. The book garnered significant acclaim, securing prestigious accolades including the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year in 2016. Esteemed figures such as 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 memoir, I Can’t Tell You But I Will, promises a different, yet equally profound, narrative. It will focus on Szubanski’s personal journey of nursing her ailing mother while simultaneously stepping into the spotlight as a prominent advocate for the marriage equality campaign.
Reflecting on the pivotal period, Szubanski stated, “2017 was the year I finally grew up. My mother was dying, and I was catapulted into the forefront of a bitter cultural and political battle: the same-sex marriage survey.”
I Can’t Tell You But I Will is described as “the true tale of how I came to understand the unseen powers that shape our world, and learned how to stand up to them while staying true to your soul and to the people you speak for.” At its heart, however, the book is presented as “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.” Szubanski encapsulates the transformation within the memoir as 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 within the memoir, referencing an ancient Irish mourning practice. Derived from the Irish word caoineadh (pronounced kween-na), it historically involved women, sometimes professional keeners, emitting raw, rhythmic laments at wakes or gravesides. For a contemporary interpretation of this powerful expression of grief, listeners might turn to The Cranberries’ iconic song, “Zombie.”
Szubanski’s announcement of her memoir comes in the wake of her personal health journey. In February 2026, she revealed that she had achieved remission from cancer. She shared the uplifting news with her followers, quipping, “Seems I’m not dead.” She had initially disclosed her diagnosis of a rare and aggressive blood cancer in May 2025 and kept her supporters informed throughout her treatment via regular social media updates.
Her announcement of remission was shared with the same openness: “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 a video shared at the time.
The upcoming memoir, I Can’t Tell You But I Will, is scheduled for release in hardcover on 29 September 2026.
