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Festival Info

Booking Information

Tickets for events at Carriageworks, Sydney Town Hall, Riverside Theatres and the State Library of NSW (selected events) can be booked directly through Sydney Writers’ Festival. For tickets to all other venues please refer to the individual event pages on our website. Most free events at Carriageworks are general admission and do not require bookings. 

Booking fees apply for all tickets purchased online and over the phone. Family and YA events do not incur a booking fee.

2025 Ticket Bundle Deals!

  • Buy 4 events and get 5% off!
  • Buy 5 events and get 10% off!
  • Buy 6 events and get 15% off!

Bundle discounts are automatically applied at the checkout. 

Box office hours

Over the phone
(02) 9256 4200
Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm
Select weekends: 10am–4pm (Saturday 15–Sunday 16 March and Saturday 17–Sunday 18 May)
Closed Good Friday–Easter Monday and ANZAC Day

In person 
Carriageworks Box Office (sales will be card only)
Opening hours are:
Tuesday 20 May: 4pm to last event
Wednesday 21 May: 12pm to last event
Thursday 22–Sunday 25 May: 8am to last event 

Booking FAQs

Please find the ticketing terms and conditions here. 

A booking fee will apply to your ticket purchase. You will be notified of all applicable fees prior to purchase. Most orders incur a booking fee of $7.50 per order. This fee is applied whether the order is via our website or over the phone. Exceptions to this are: 

  1. This fee is not applied if you purchase a ticket in person at the box office at the venue.  
  2. Family and YA events do not incur a booking fee if booked in an order only containing Family or YA events.   
  3. If your transaction only includes tickets to Not Stupid LIVE with Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez at Riverside Theatre, Parramatta, a booking fee of $3 will be applied. If you purchase tickets to this event and tickets to another performance, the $7.50 booking fee will be applied to your order. 

Concession tickets are available to all children aged 16 and under and valid concession card holders including full-time students, Health Care Card holders and Pensioners Concession Card Holders. You may be required to show proof of eligibility when entering the venue. Please make sure you have your concession card with you when you arrive, whether it is a government/Centrelink pension or health care card, or a student card.  

Children aged two and under are eligible for free entry if they do not require a seat and can sit on a parent or guardian's lap. They do not receive a physical ticket. Those aged over two will need to book a ticket at Concession price.

All Print at Home (PAH) and Mobile Tickets purchased prior to 12 May 2025 will be sent out in the week leading up to the Festival. If you do not receive your Ticket 48 hours before your first event, please email ticketing@swf.org.au or call the box office on (02) 9256 4200 to get your ticket(s) arranged immediately. Tickets purchased from 12 May 2025 onwards will be sent immediately. 

Tickets are available to book online up to 15 minutes before an event commences. After this you can purchase a ticket at our Carriageworks or venue specific box office. Venue box offices open one hour prior to the event start time.