Plan Your Festival

Whether you’re a literature lover, news junkie or a YA fan, Sydney Writers’ Festival has an event for you. We’ve highlighted the ones we think you’ll like most so you’re not here until midnight planning your event schedule (though we think that’s a great way to spend an evening).

Festival highlights

For this year’s biggest names and not-to-be-missed events, check out our Festival Highlights.

Free events and Curiosity Lectures 

With a over a third of our program free to attend, you can choose your own adventure of free sessions – including our Curiosity Lecture Series where some of the Festival’s most inquisitive minds deliver lectures on eclectic topics that spark their curiosity. 

All-Day YA

With sessions specially curated by Sydney Writers’ Festival Nathan Luff (Manager of Children's & YA Programs), All-Day YA is an epic celebration of all things YA (Young Adult fiction).

Returning on Saturday 24 May, we’re delighted to bring young people and their favourite authors together again at Carriageworks to explore the latest genre-trends. 

Family Day

On Sunday 25 May, roll on up to Carriageworks for the marvellous magic of Family Day, a riotous celebration of storytelling and creativity that will captivate kids of all ages. Enjoy talks, storytelling sessions, arts and craft stations, a mobile library, live animals and more.

There's also a great range of free activities from 10am to 4pm that will whisk kids away into a world of wonder.

Check out our Family Program events. 

Festival Precinct 

Find out more about our Festival Precinct at Carriageworks here. 

Festival Food 

Discover all the food offerings at the Festival Precinct here.