Sydney Writers’ Festival program announced
The program for this year’s Sydney Writers’ Festival, running from 17–24 May, has been announced.
The festival is hosting 200+ in-person and live-streamed events featuring 39 international guests and over 220 Australian writers.
Among headlining international guests are RF Kuang, Mick Herron, Patrick Radden Keefe, Jacinda Ardern, Jimmy Wales, David Szalay, Susan Choi, Yann Martel, Roddy Doyle, Amitav Ghosh, Bora Chung, Tayari Jones, SA Crosby and Dav Pilkey. Among Australian writers on the program are Melissa Lucashenko, Charlotte Wood, Trent Dalton, Steve Toltz, Siang Lu, Evelyn Araluen and Heather Rose.
Artistic director Ann Mossop said, “Sydney Writers’ Festival is home to the world’s best contemporary writing and the open exchange of ideas. With the theme ‘Show Me the Truth’, the 2026 festival highlights how these brilliant authors explore truth and trust in times of uncertainty across all forms of writing.”
The festival will open with the Show Me the Truth gala, featuring Irish-Indian poet Nikita Gill, US novelist Lily King, Scottish poet Michael Pedersen, Gunai artist Kirili Saunders (with her band Cooee) and novelist Robbie Arnott. Among other events on the program are After Bondi (17 May), a response to the 2025 Bondi terrorist attack exploring how communities reckon with violence; The Story That Changed My Life (19 May), a reflection of moments and stories that transformed the careers of six journalists; and Brave Conversations: When Words Offend (21 May), exploring the questions at the heart of democratic life and our relationships with one another.
Of the program, Mossop said, “We’ll explore important questions about the future of democracy and the impact of AI on the arts and culture, but we’ll also celebrate a major anniversary for one of Australia’s favourite cookbooks and the joys of Dave Pilkey’s Captain Underpants. The SWF program opens up a space for writers and readers to explore books, ideas and storytelling in all of their variety and richness.”
More information and the full program is available on the Sydney Writers’ Festival website.
Category: Festivals Local news
