Sydney Writer's Festival is the can't-miss event in any book worm's calendar (followed closely by the Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne editions), but now you'll have to be booking out more than just one week of the year to catch it.
Following a record-breaking 2025 festival, which drew over 101,000 attendees, Sydney Writer's Festival is teaming up with the State Library of NSW to put on events for readers and writers year-round, in addition to its annual festival.
What's in the new events program?
Launching this September, and supported by the NSW Government, the first program announcement features a powerhouse 2025 program.
- Michelle de Kretser, fresh from winning the 2025 Stella Prize, will discuss her latest novel Theory & Practice – a provocative exploration of jealousy, truth, and desire – with journalist and novelist Malcolm Knox.
- Environmental icon Bob Brown presents Defiance, his impassioned call for civil disobedience in the face of the climate crisis.
- Festival favourite Hannah Kent returns with Always Home, Always Homesick, a poignant memoir of her teenage years alone in Iceland.
- Rising stars Melanie Saward and Saman Shad bring fresh perspectives to romantic fiction, celebrating diverse experiences of love, identity, and friendship.
You can peruse the full program on the Sydney Writers Festival website,
Where and when are tickets available?
Tickets will be available to purchase from 10am on Thursday 31 July 2025 on the Sydney Writers Festival website. Tickets will start from $25 (for concession) and $35 (for standard). Ticketing information and event details are already available on the site to peruse.
Why are they expanding?
With book sales now surpassing pre-2020 levels and 73% of under-30s reading for pleasure, the hunger for literary engagement is clear. The new program aims to meet that demand by bringing writers and readers together throughout the year – not just in festival week.
