Each year, the Sydney Writers’ Festival is one of the biggest events on the cultural calendar, drawing local and international visitors to Sydney for an exciting program of special events.
In 2026, the Sydney Writers’ Festival returns from 17–24 May for its 29th year, transforming the harbour city into a meeting place for ideas, stories and the people who shape them.
Bigger and better than ever
This year’s theme, “show me the truth,” underpins more than 200 events featuring over 250 writers, thinkers and storytellers from around the world. In an era of misinformation and rapid technological change, the festival asks who we can trust, and how stories shape what we believe.
Artistic Director Ann Mossop says the program is one of the festival’s most wide-ranging to date.
“Audiences hungry for powerful ideas and enthralling conversations will find a feast at the Festival, as so many of the world’s most brilliant contemporary writers come together on our stages. From the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, to Booker Prize-winners and shortlisted authors like Susan Choi, Yann Martel, and Roddy Doyle, book lovers can hear from writers who have shaped how we think and feel today.”
Since the first festival in 1997, Sydney Writers’ Festival has been hosting the best writers, journalists and intellectuals from all corners of the globe. Each year, a range of free events cater to a broad audience range – particularly students and aspiring authors looking for an insightful but cheap day out – and guests can also access a free podcast program with over 3.5 million downloads so far.
According to the festival’s Chief Executive Officer, Brooke Webb, “from the moment we announced our 2026 program, the response has been extraordinary. Audiences have embraced the events, conversations and ideas on offer, with record-breaking ticket sales across the opening weekend and strong momentum continuing since.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing the Festival alive with engaged audiences throughout the week. There are still tickets available, and we encourage everyone to join us for what promises to be another unmissable year.”
A program to remember
Festival highlights include a night with Maria Reva, whose novel Ending was longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. Reva’s book – which tells the story of three angry women in Ukraine living funny, active, impactful lives when Russia invades – has taken audiences by storm. She sits down with book critic Beejay Silcox to discuss her successful debut and her experiences as a Ukrainian-Canadian author.
Make sure to also get tickets for Yann Martel’s appearance. His latest novel revisits the Trojan War through the eyes of a common man, reshaping the ancient epic as we know it. Acclaimed for his Booker Prize-winning novel, Life of Pi, Yann’s first novel is decades is set to get audiences talking.
In a special edition of a forever-popular festival mainstay event, ‘State of the Art: The Booker Prize’ welcomes shortlisted and winning authors David Szalay, Roddy Doyle, Susan Choi, Yann Martel and Charlotte Wood to discuss their impactful novels and the ideas behind them.
But despite its lineup of award-winning talent, the festival is not only about literary prestige. It is equally committed to expanding the boundaries of what a writers’ festival can be. Conversations extend into journalism, politics, science and food, meaning there is something for every reader.
Those interested in politics and technology should attend ‘The Seven Rules of Trust,’ a session featuring Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales. In a world where information is abundant but not always reliable, the discussion will centre around how trust is built, and broken, online.
For visitors who love international news, Walkley Award-winning journalist Lorena Allam, Four Corners journalist Avani Dias, BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, SBS broadcaster Anton Enus, Walkley Award-winning journalist Kate McClymont and bestselling writer Patrick Radden discuss the stories behind some of their biggest headlines. The panel, titled ‘The Story That Changed My Life’, takes you into the newsroom and behind-the-pages of some of the most groundbreaking cases in the last decade.
For lovers of fantasy and mystery, get your tickets to an evening with R.F. Kuang. Bestselling author of Katabasis, Yellowface and Babel, the international sensation discusses her literary career with host Carody Culver, diving into the Ancient Greek stories that inspired her latest novel, and offering insights into her creative process.
Making a holiday out of it
For travellers, the experience of the festival extends beyond the sessions themselves. Located primarily at Carriageworks, the entire CBD will be at your fingertips. It’s easy to spend a full day moving between talks, pausing for a meal overlooking the harbour, or continuing conversations over a glass of wine. The atmosphere is relaxed but engaged, with audiences ranging from dedicated readers to curious first-timers.
Make sure to stop for a bite to eat at Pepper Seeds, a 15-minute walk from the festival hub. This popular restaurant, run by Tom Sangpoowong, brings the flavours of northern Thailand to life with a range of contemporary dishes. Think 24-hour slow-cooked beef rendang curry with roasted pumpkin, or king prawns with coconut cream. There’s also a two-or-three-course banquet meal for those who can’t decide where to start, which comes with a range of small bites and mains.
Or, if you’re craving authentic Italian delights, check out Kindred. This small boutique venue focuses on handcrafted dishes, making most of their pasta and dough from scratch each day. The menu reflects the best local ingredients, with standout favourites including housemade sourdough bread with cured butter, carrot triangoli with goat’s cheese and pistachios, and parsley fettuccini with blue swimmer crab, yellow squash and confit cherry tomato.
To read about more wonderful things to see and do while you’re visiting Sydney, click here.