Byron Writers Festival

Byron Writers Festival Byron Writers Festival is a non-profit member organisation presenting workshops and events year-round

Byron Writers Festival creates and delivers programs that involve and enrich professional, amateur and aspiring writers, readers and creatives of all ages. Information about our year-round workshops and events can be found on our website’s Whats On page: https://byronwritersfestival.com/whats-on/

The annual Byron Writers Festival (held in August) is Australia’s largest and leading regional celebr

ation of storytelling, literature and ideas. Renowned for its relaxed atmosphere, the annual Festival delivers a diverse program of compelling conversations and panels that celebrate storytelling in all its forms. For up-to-date information on the Festival program, please visit our Festival page, and be sure subscribe to our e-newsletter for program announcements and ticket releases:
https://byronwritersfestival.com/festival/
https://byronwritersfestival.com/get-involved/subscribe/

Become a Member! Byron Writers Festival is passionate about the importance of stories, ideas and debate in shaping culture. Becoming a member of Byron Writers Festival offers a chance to be part of our growing community of writers, readers and storytellers and to support the creative arts in regional Australia. For information about member services, benefits and to sign-up, head to our website’s Members’ page:https://byronwritersfestival.com/become-a-member/

Joining us at Byron Writers Festival in 2026?⁠⁠Here’s our tips for making the most of the three-day festival in the hear...
22/06/2026

Joining us at Byron Writers Festival in 2026?⁠
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Here’s our tips for making the most of the three-day festival in the heart of Byron Bay this August.

Arrive early: The festival kicks off each day around 7:30am. Arrive early to immerse yourself in the jam-packed program.

Get a parking pass: Park-and-ride from the Cavanbah Centre for only $10 all day with shuttles running into the festival precinct.

Get your festival wristband: You need a wristband to enter festival venues. Visit the Box Office at the Railway Park Festival Hub or Bay St Stage Ticket Desk to exchange your three-day or one-day pass for a wristband.

Grab a Program and map: Our Festival Program has all session details and a map showing you how to navigate the Festival Precinct.

Meet your favourite authors: Your favourite authors will be available for book signings at two signing locations within the precinct daily.

Get your Feature Event tickets: Round out your day with a big conversation, poetry bash, or live game show in our separately ticketed Feature event sessions.

Eat, drink, play and stay in Byron Bay: The Festival is in the heart of Byron Bay township — support local businesses by eating, drinking, staying and playing locally.

Book your passes now: Book your three-day or one-day passes and join us this August 14—16 in the heart of Byron Bay.
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Passes are selling quickly, get yours now at byronwritersfestival.com⁠
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22/06/2026

In case you missed it, here’s what our team is reading this June — grab a copy and read along with us.⁠
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Alexis is reading Mantle by Romy Ash, which has been described as a powerful novel that explores how our fate is intertwined with the people around us, and the fate of the world. ⁠
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Jas is reading Find Me At The Jaffa Gate by Micaela Sahhar — a life-affirming encyclopaedia of a Palestinian family's history, from the daughter of a Nakba survivor. ⁠
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18/06/2026

Our full 30th anniversary lineup and festival program is now live!

We are thrilled to host over 150 renowned, prize-winning authors, poets and thinkers from around Australia and the world in the heart of Byron Bay this August 14—16.

All three-day and one-day passes, plus feature event passes, are now on sale at byronwritersfestival.com

18/06/2026

Byron Writers Festival 2026 full program revealed!

Join us for three packed days of storytelling, poetry, politics and big ideas this August 14—16 in the heart of Byron Bay.

The 2026 Festival unfolds across a dynamic, multi-venue precinct hosting over 150 renowned, prize-winning and global writers, including:

Richard Flanagan, Antoinette Lattouf, Roman Krznaric (UK), Geetanjali Shree (IND), Rafael Frumkin (USA), Thammika Songkaeo (SGP), Bob Carr, Kerry O'Brien, Niki Savva, Amy Remeikis, Robert Forster, Trent Dalton, Evelyn Araluen, Melissa Lucashenko, Richard Fidler, Osher Günsberg, Siang Lu, Debra Oswald, Sita Walker, Andrew Pippos, Antoun Issa, Sean Kelly, Micaela Sahhar, Amy Remeikis, Meg Mason, Claire Thomas, Tasma Walton, Luke Bateman and many more.

Tickets are selling quickly, get yours at byronwritersfestival.com.

Today we reveal our complete program for the 30th anniversary edition of the festival.Bringing together more than 150 wr...
16/06/2026

Today we reveal our complete program for the 30th anniversary edition of the festival.

Bringing together more than 150 writers, thinkers, poets and storytellers from Australia and around the world for three days of ideas, stories and conversation on Bundjalung Country, Byron Bay, from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 August 2026.

The full list of authors, feature events and all program sessions are now live at byronwritersfestival.com

Who are you most excited to see?

07/06/2026

Join Turia Pitt at Byron Writers Festival this August.

Tickets are now on sale at byronwritersfestival.com

From poetry to biography, memoir to motivation, these four books will inspire you with stories of life, love and legacy....
06/06/2026

From poetry to biography, memoir to motivation, these four books will inspire you with stories of life, love and legacy.

These four incredible authors will be joining us at Byron Writers Festival 2026 — an opportunity to hear them in conversation, exploring their journey and unpacking the deeply human stories behind their work.

Get a copy from your local bookstore, and join us at the festival to hear from each author live.

Tickets are now on sale at byronwritersfestival.com

Fiction lover? Here are four books by local authors appearing at the festival this August.⁠Mantle by Romy Ash: Deeply mo...
04/06/2026

Fiction lover? Here are four books by local authors appearing at the festival this August.
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Mantle by Romy Ash: Deeply moving and utterly original, Mantle is a powerful novel that shows us our fate is intertwined with the people around us, and the fate of our world. ⁠
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The Lineup by Nicholas Timms: Point Break meets Rear Window in this heart-pounding, suspenseful thriller set in Byron Bay.⁠
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The Pact by Lisa Walker: An unmissable psychological dark academia thriller − Saltburn meets Lucy Clarke's The Hike.⁠
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How to Lose the Lottery by Jay McKenzie: A stunning, heartwarming debut about love, friendship and risking it all for 2026. ⁠
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These four authors will be bringing their latest novels to the festival — read them now and come along to be a part of live conversations with each author about their book.⁠
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The full program will be announced on June 17, stay tuned!⁠
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Get your tickets now at www.byronwritersfestival.com

Here are our June Book Club picks!Mantle by Romy AshDeeply moving and utterly original, Mantle is a powerful novel that ...
03/06/2026

Here are our June Book Club picks!

Mantle by Romy Ash

Deeply moving and utterly original, Mantle is a powerful novel that shows us our fate is intertwined with the people around us, and the fate of our world.

Romy Ash will be joining us at Byron Writers Festival in August, so it's a fantastic time to read along with us and hear from her live at the festival.

Find Me at the Jaffa Gate by Micaela Sahhar

Winner of the 2026 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction and longlisted for the 2026 Stella Prize, Find Me at the Jaffa Gate is a tender family memoir about Palestinian diaspora keeping traditions alive even as they lose home and history. A lyrical lament on loss and ritual, and the recovery of meaning.

Which book will you be reading in June? Let us know your choice.

28/05/2026

Meet more of the incredible local authors joining us at Byron Writers Festival 2026.

Announcing Kirra Pendergast, Lisa Walker, Maggie Walters, Pauline Menczer, Sarah Armstrong, Sonya Voumard, Courtney Adamo, Tricia Shantz, Tristan Bancks, Nicholas Timms and Romy Ash.

These homegrown authors join a stellar lineup including Geetanjali Shree, Trent Dalton, Zoe Terakes, Richard Denniss, and Siang Lu.

Tickets are now on sale at www.byronwritersfestival.com

Address

2/58 Centennial Circuit
Byron Bay, NSW
2481

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

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