The world of words is opening once again. From May 19–27, Sydney will transform into a literary playground as the Sydney Writers’ Festival unveils its 2025 lineup – a convergence of minds that write, rewrite, and imagine our world anew. Under the theme In This Together, the Festival promises conversations that crackle with urgency, curiosity, and a deep reverence for storytelling in all its forms.
Who is on the 2025 lineup?
This year’s roster is nothing short of stellar. The 2024 Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey (Orbital) takes us into the quiet chaos of space, while Jeanette Winterson, celebrating 40 years of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, unpacks artificial intelligence and our shifting relationship with humanity itself. There’s Torrey Peters (Stag Dance), the first openly trans woman nominated for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and Colm Tóibín, returning to the world of Brooklyn with Long Island.
For lovers of crime and intrigue, Ian Rankin marks 25 novels of Inspector Rebus, while Alan Hollinghurst (Our Evenings) and Marian Keyes (My Favourite Mistake) bring their masterful narratives of identity, love, and reinvention. David Nicholls (You Are Here) serves up a tenderly mapped journey of love, and Sayaka Murata (Vanishing World) delivers a dystopian Japan where reproduction is taboo.
Beyond fiction, luminaries such as A.C. Grayling (Discriminations), Ben Macintyre (The Siege), and Rumaan Alam (Entitlement) challenge the way we see history, power, and privilege. And then there are the unmissable moments: the return of the SWF Great Debate, an evening with the Moriarty sisters, a dissection of Australia’s political pulse post-election, and the poetic reverie of Bankstown Poetry Slam.
It all begins on 20 May with a grand opening night featuring Thomas Mayo, Nardi Simpson, Lemn Sissay, and Jeanette Winterson. And when it ends, with Anna Funder reflecting on the age of AI, the echoes of these words will linger.
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When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets on sale from 15 March. To purchase tickets or find more ticketing information like pricing, box office hours and budle deals, visit the Sydney Writer's Festival website.
Where is the Sydney Writer's Festival?
Events will unfold across the city, with the Festival’s main hub at Carriageworks, offering an immersive space for literary discussions and live storytelling. Satellite venues will extend the program into theatres, libraries, and cultural institutions. Check the Sydney Writer's Festival website for specific event venues.
