Byron Writers Festival

Byron Writers Festival has unveiled its full 2025 program, assembling more than 160 literary voices for a dynamic three-day celebration from August 8–10. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Bangalow Showground, this year’s festival explores the theme ‘Passion and Purpose’ through more than 100 sessions of bold storytelling, big ideas and timely cultural conversation.

International highlights include celebrated UK author Esther Freud, American-Canadian journalist John Vaillant, and Indian creatives Akhil Katyal and Ita Mehrotra. They join a stellar line-up of Australian voices spanning genres, generations and disciplines.

Literary lovers can look forward to appearances by Nick Bryant, Hannah Ferguson, Don Watson, Barry Jones, Peter Greste, Andrew Denton, Richard Denniss, Simon Holmes à Court and ABC’s Elder-in-Chief Jackie Huggins, who will explore themes ranging from Australian and American politics to youth media, First Nations history and energy policy.

Beloved writers and commentators such as Helen Garner, Robert Dessaix, Gina Chick, Jamila Rizvi, Rosie Waterland, Tony Armstrong, Kumi Taguchi and Jess Hill will share personal stories, reflections and fresh perspectives. The program also features bestselling authors Zoë Foster Blake, Anita Heiss, Tigest Girma and Di Morrissey, alongside acclaimed crime writers Michael Robotham, Dervla McTiernan, Shankari Chandran, Chris Hammer and Jane Caro. Celebrated Australian storytellers Michelle de Kretser, Melanie Cheng, Robbie Arnott, Gail Jones and Jock Serong will also bring insight, depth and imagination to the Byron Writers Festival stage.

Both one and three-day passes are now available via the festival website, with separately ticketed evening events offering even more to discover.