Full program announced for Ubud 2019

15 August 2019 Books+Publishing

The full program has been announced for the 2019 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF), which runs from 23–27 October in Ubud, Indonesia.

Joining a total of 180 speakers from 30 countries are Australian authors including Tony Wheeler, Toni Jordan, Fiona Wright, Mark Brandi, Carly Findlay, Claire G Coleman, Clementine Ford, Bri Lee, Krissy Kneen and Kate Richards.

Other Australian speakers include ABC Radio National’s Earshot producer Kirsti Melville, Radio National’s The Bookshelf presenter and producer Kate Evans, The Garret: Writers on Writing host Astrid Edwards and Brow Books publisher Sam Cooney.

Also appearing at the festival are UK author Irvine Welsh, New York Times opinion writer Lindy West, UK hip-hop artist, author and social entrepreneur Akala, American journalist and author Megan K Stack, and UK poet, playwright and Pen Pinter Prize-winner Lemn Sissay.

They are joined by previously announced guests, including authors Behrouz Boochani, Richard Fidler and Tara June Winch.

UWRF founder and director Janet DeNeefe said that last year’s event was very special and will be hard to beat. ‘But there’s something in the air right now—a crackling hunger for diverse voices from lesser-known regions, for works in translation by people of colour, for stories that open our eyes to worlds completely unlike our own.’

‘For 16 years UWRF has prided itself on sharing these stories, and now we feel like the global literary community is finally catching up. I think the fact that a relatively small and intimate event in Indonesia, which is delivered by a not-for-profit foundation, is now listed among the world’s best literary festivals is nothing short of extraordinary,’ said DeNeefe.

UWRF has announced the main four-day program of 70 sessions across three venues, while further special events are due to be announced on 20 August. The program is available here.

Category: Festivals Local news