Sydney Writers Festival

Wednesday 20 May

Siang Lu: Ghost Cities

When: 6-7pm

Where: Epping Branch Library, Chambers Court, Epping, NSW, 2121

The 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Ghost Cities is inspired by the vacant, uninhabited megacities of China.

Following multiple narratives, including one of a young man fired from his translation job for relying entirely on Google Translate, Siang Lu’s recent novel is an imaginative and delightful work, shortlisted for some of the most prestigious literary prizes in the country.

Join Siang as he unpacks how his novel draws on Chinese history to explore the absurdity of modern life. In conversation with comedian Jennifer Wong.

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Thursday 21 May

Shorts

When: 11-11.55am

Where: Carriageworks, Track 12, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Short stories are the delectable morsels of the literary world, able to capture potent parts of the human experience in pages.

In this panel discussion, three short story writers share their craft. Multi-award-winning writer Tony Birch’s latest Pictures of You collects his short fiction from the past two decades, while The Fireflies of Autumn: And Other Tales of San Ginese by Moreno Giovannoni spans the 20th century in a Tuscan town. Tony Tulathimutte’s international bestseller Rejection is an obsessive and ambitious collection for the contemporary internet age.

Discuss the often-overlooked form with Tony, Moreno and Tony. With host Carody Culver.

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Your Next Favourite Book

When: 3-3.55pm
Where: Carriageworks, Bay 24, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Whatever type of reader you are, find your next favourite book with the Festival’s most exciting new releases.

In this special free panel event, gain insights into the writers to watch with Festival guests Rebecca Armitage (The Heir Apparent), Tyree Barnette (Stolen Man on Stolen Land), Raaza Jamshed (What Kept You?), George Kemp (Soft Serve) and Chloe Wilson (The Thornbacks).

Hear from writers Rebecca, Tyree, Raaza, George and Chloe, with host Michael Williams, and walk away with a list of reading recommendations.

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My Writing Soundtrack

When: 5-5.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 19: The Booktopia Stage, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Music and writing have been closely linked for millennia in song and oral storytelling traditions.

In exploring this connection, these writers share the soundtracks that fuel their creativity. Writer Lay Maloney (Weaving Us Together), poet and fiction writer Ellen van Neerven (Personal Score) and Mark Chester Harding and Kirli Saunders of Cooee discuss how rhythm, melody and silence shape the stories they tell. From finding flow in a favourite song to writing in complete quiet, this conversation delves into the intimate relationship between sound and the creative process.

Hosted by Melanie Saward and featuring a special music performance.

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Poetics as Resistance

When: 5-5.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Track 12, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Poetry has a long history of bucking the status quo, grammatically or otherwise.

For Goorie and Koori poet and Stella Prize winner Evelyn Araluen (The Rot), Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Poetry winner Maxine Beneba Clarke (beautiful changelings) and poet and playwright Nikita Gill (Hekate: The Witch), poetry is a place for deep connection, profound reckoning and feminist resistance.

Hear Evelyn, Maxine and Nikita perform readings of their work and discuss the forces of feminist resistance behind their poetry. With host Sara M. Saleh.

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The Library That Made Me

When: 6-7pm

Where: State Library of NSW, Library Auditorium, Macquarie Street Wing, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000

In connection with the publication of The Library That Made Me: 200 Years of the State Library of NSW, an illustrious line-up of guests reflect on the libraries that shaped them as readers and writers.

From tiny mobile school libraries to the Mitchell Reading Room, hear about how these hubs of writing, reading and creativity sparked something magical in some of the world’s finest thinkers. With CEO of Red Room Poetry Jonty Claypole, writer Winnie Dunn (Dirt Poor Islanders), The Future Library manager Anne Beate Hovind, playwright Suzie Miller (Prima Facie) and poet Jazz Money (mark the dawn). Hosted by Phillipa McGuinness.

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Simply The Best

When: 7-7.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 24, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

What does it take to become a glittering literary prize winner?

Which matters more: what you write or when you write it? Can you feel you’re writing a prize winner while you’re writing it?

In this free panel discussion, join 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Siang Lu (Ghost Cities), the 2026 Stella Prize winner and the 2026 Christina Stead Prize for Fiction winner as they share their insights for writing a winner and what comes afterwards. With host Beejay Silcox.

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Rhythm of Truth Poetry Gala

When: 8-9.15pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 20, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Revel in a love of lyric and rhythm with potent poetry performances from some of the most spectacular wordsmiths at the Festival.

In this special evening event, Evelyn Araluen (The Rot), Maxine Beneba Clarke (beautiful changelings), Nikita Gill (Hekate), Omar Musa (Fierceland) with musical accompaniment from cellist Mariel Roberts Musa, Michael Pedersen (The Cat Prince: & Other Poems) and David Stavanger (The Drop Off) take to the stage to share words of truth and beauty.

Join this spectacular line-up for an incredible evening, with host Sara M. Saleh.

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Friday 22 May

ABC Radio National: The Bookshelf

When: 10-10.55am

Where: Carriageworks, Track 12, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Join us for this broadcast of ABC Radio National’s weekly book review program, The Bookshelf, as they announce the 2026 Top 100 Books theme – and begin the conversation.

The country was rapt for Radio National’s audience vote and broadcast countdown of the Top 100 Books of the 21st Century in October. This time round, what theme, time period and focus? All will be revealed with Festival guests Tony Birch (Pictures of You), Lily King (Heart the Lover) and Siang Lu (Ghost Cities) as they join hosts Cassie McCullagh and Kate Evans from ABC Radio National’s The Bookshelf to discuss their picks.

Join Tony, Lily and Siang in conversation with Cassie and Kate and let your own list-making begin.

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S.A Cosby: King of Ashes in conversation with Matthew Condon

When: 1-1.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Track 12, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

A car accident, a debt and a son returning home – three puzzle pieces that could solve the mystery of a woman’s disappearance 20 years earlier.

For the Carruthers family at the centre of New York Times–bestselling crime novelist S.A. Cosby’s newest novel, King of Ashes, everything connects. But, like their father always told them, nothing lasts forever. This is a bold, brutal and heartbreaking new suspense story from the future of American crime fiction.

Dig through the ashes of a family’s secrets and betrayals with S.A. in conversation with Matthew Condon (Three Crooked Kings).

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Past, Present, Emerging

When: 3-3.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Track 12, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Behind every great writer is a long line of trailblazers lighting their way.

In this special panel discussion, iconic Aboriginal writers share their literary lineages. Hear from Victorian Premier’s Literary Award winner Tony Birch (Pictures of You), Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Melissa Lucashenko (Not Quite White in the Head), NSW Premier’s Award for Literature winner Bruce Pascoe (Big Sky) and ARA Historical Novel Prize winner Tasma Walton (I Am Nannertgarrook) as they discuss the Blak books that made them, what they’re reading now and what stories we need for the future.

Join Tony, Melissa, Bruce and Tasma in conversation with Melanie Saward.

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Bora Chung: The Midnight Timetable

When: 6-6.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 20, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Dolls, sepia photos, antique clocks – these objects seem to hold onto malevolent energy.

In the labyrinthine research facility at the centre of The Midnight Timetable, a new guard is starting to suspect there’s more to the objects being guarded than the boss is letting on. This new collection of horror stories by South Korean author Bora Chung offers a fresh take on the fable form, interweaving eerie confessions, echoing hallways and chilling ghost stories with sharp wit and biting social critique.

Enter the International Booker Prize–shortlisted author’s strange, shadowy world, in conversation with Siang Lu.

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If Queers Weren't Meant to Have Kids

When: 6.30-7pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 24, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Parents face a lot of scrutiny, especially queer parents and their rainbow families.

In their satirical picture book for adults, If Queers Weren’t Meant to Have Kids..., acclaimed Indigenous journalist Narelda Jacobs and her wife Karina Natt offer cheeky rebuttals to the intrusive questions and arguments queer families encounter. In this conversation, Narelda and Karina reflect on the making of the book and their own experiences fielding commentary from well-meaning, and otherwise, observers.

Join Narelda and Karina for a free, fun and thoughtful conversation.

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Queerstories

When: 8-9.30pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 20, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Vulnerable and fierce, hilarious and heartbreaking, Festival favourite Queerstories celebrates the culture and creativity of the LGBTQIA+ community one true story at a time.

Each guest is invited to share the story they want to tell, but are never asked to; unexpected tales of pride, prejudice, resilience and resistance. Hear from feminist scholar Raewyn Connell, performance maker and music director Victoria Falconer, writer George Kemp, restauranteur and writer Steve MinOn and playwright and writer Sofi Oksanen. Hosted by Maeve Marsden.

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Saturday 23 May

The Writers Who Made Us

When: 10-10.30am

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 24, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

In the Writers Who Made Us series, Festival guests highlight the writers who have influenced their writing life and work.

Stella Prize–shortlisted novelist Jumaana Abdu (Translations) speaks to the writer, scholar and critic Edward Said. Miles Franklin Literary Award and ALS Gold Medal–shortlisted writer Fiona Kelly McGregor (Iris, The Trap) reflects on two writers who have shaped her writing career, poet Alice Oswald and Palestinian author Isabella Hammad. Writer and Queensland Literary Award winner Steve MinOn (First Name Second Name) explores the influence of Michael Mohammed Ahmad on his work.

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FEAST: Food Fights

When: 1-1.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 24, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

The feast never ends in the return of this Festival favourite event!

Chinese Australian writer, comedian and food enthusiast Jennifer Wong (Chopsticks or Fork?) plays host in this special event, rounding up Festival guests to share their heartfelt and humorous stories of food.

Join Durkhanai Ayubi (She Who Taste Knows), Natalia Figueroa Barroso (Hailstones Fell Without Rain), Shirley Le (Love), Daniel Nour (How to Dodge Flying Sandals), Debra Oswald (One Hundred Years of Betty), Michael Shaikh (The Last Sweet Bite) and others with their tales of dinner disasters, festive frivolities and heaping spoonfuls of love.

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Melissa Lucashenko: A Writing Life

When: 1-1.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 8, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

For three decades, Melissa Lucashenko has published fiction of biting wit and heartrending love.

She has won some of Australia’s most prestigious awards, including the Miles Franklin Literary Award, the Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance, the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and the ARA Historical Novel Prize. Not Quite White in the Head is the first time her Walkley Award–winning non-fiction and journalism have been published together. Offering criticism and wisdom in equal measure, the essays in this collection are deeply imbued with Melissa’s moral clarity and strong sense of justice.

Hear Melissa reflect on her life of letters preceding this collection with Winnie Dunn.

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Walking Eveleigh with Jazz Money and Belinda Castles

When: 1.30-2.30pm

Where: Carriageworks, Public Space, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

The best way to know a place is to walk through it.

In her latest book Walking Sydney: Fifteen walks with a city’s writers, Belinda Castles walks with writers through Sydney to get a people’s-eye view of our city’s living history. In this special event, Belinda recreates one of these walks with multi-disciplinary artist and poet Jazz Money (mark the dawn) around the historic Carriageworks site and surrounding suburb of Eveleigh.

Get a unique and insightful perspective of Sydney with Belinda and Jazz.

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Silenced

When: 2-2.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 17, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Disciplineby Randa Abdel-Fattah. Women Who Win by Antoinette Lattouf. Bugger by Michael Mohammed Ahmad. Three outspoken new books which each explore themes of censorship, silencing and resilience in the face of turmoil, heartbreak and hardship.

In this rare and captivating dialogue, three of Australia’s most celebrated authors from the Palestinian and Lebanese diaspora expose the challenges they’ve each faced in speaking truth to power and unpack the gut-wrenching truths at the core of their latest works.

Facilitated by one of Australia’s most dynamic and forthright journalists working today, Jan Fran, this event promises to be a cornerstone moment in the history of Arab Australian literary expression.

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Theatre Kids

When: 2-2.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 20, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

You can take the kid off the stage, but you can’t take the stage off the kid.

These writers are theatre kids through-and-through but they’re trying their hands at another, quieter, form with their debut books.

In this panel discussion, actor and playwright George Kemp (Soft Serve), playwright of acclaimed Counting and Cracking S. Shakthidharan (Gather Up Your World in One Long Breath) and actor Zoe Terakes (Eros) discuss the influence of their theatrical sensibilities on their writing and share a reading of their work. Hosted by theatre maker, music director, and cabaret artist, Victoria Falconer.

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Randa Abdel-Fattah: Discipline

When: 6-6.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 20, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

The personal and the political collide in a novel about deeply resonant experiences of silencing, solidarity and self-serving action.

Set in Sydney in 2021 amid increasing bombardments in Gaza, rising tension at home and the arrest of a Year 12 student protester, Randa Abdel-Fattah’sDisciplinetells the prescient story of an academic and a journalist navigating their relationships to the violence from within the Arab diaspora.

Hear Australian Research Council Future Fellow researcher and awarded writer Randa Abdel-Fattah unpack the complex social, cultural and political forces at play in her new novel, in conversation with Bernadette Brennan.

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Big Beginnings

When: 7-7.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 24, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

A writer’s first introduction to readers with their debut is a momentous occasion.

In this panel discussion, three debut novelists discuss their emergence as writers and the journey to publication.

Florence Knapp’s Sunday Times bestseller The Names has been sweeping the world with its intricate story of family, violence and forging your own identity. First Name Second Name by Steve MinOn is similarly embedded in a turbulent family history, one which stretches from around the world and back again. In the far reaches of Scotland’s islands, a man tends his lighthouse with his son before trouble arrives in Michael Pedersen’s Muckle Flugga.

Join Florence, Steve and Michael as they discuss debut novels with host Madeleine Gray.

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Sunday 24 May

The Love Fest

When: 3-3.55pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 19: The Booktopia Stage, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Join the multi-award-winning writers of Sweatshop Literacy Movement for a celebration of Love, a mesmerising new anthology of stories, poems and essays by 35 writers from Indigenous, migrant and refugee backgrounds.

In this powerhouse presentation, The Love Fest combines a critical dialogue between anthology editor Shirley Le and award-winning novelist Winnie Dunn with a series of reading performances from acclaimed contributors Tyree Barnette, Natalia Figueroa Barroso, Mark Mariano and Daniel Nour.

Journey through dingy streets and pristine sunsets, delve deep into the tormented soul and uncover that big crazy thing called the human heart.

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Closing Address: A Braver Australia

When: 5.45-7pm

Where: Carriageworks, Bay 17, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015

Change is possible. But it requires courage.

We are in a moment of increasing tensions, rising inequality, climate crisis and loss of democratic freedoms. In this special Festival event, writers reflect on what it takes to make change and consider how we can create a braver Australia.

Hear from writer and activist Tony Birch, novelist Shankari Chandran, artist Ben Quilty, Chief Political Analyst at The Australia Institute Amy Remeikis, researcher and writer Amy Thunig-McGregor and activist and author of Better Things Are Possible Jack Toohey as they present their reflections on courage and change. With contributing host, writer Sisonke Msimang.

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