Welcome to BAD 2025 at the Sydney Mechanics' School Of Arts! We have THREE days filled with crime fiction, true crime and social justice events, crime walks and writing workshops. There will also be manuscript feedback sessions, pitch sessions, a bookclub and a book launch. Come and hear the writers you love and meet some new favourites.

We look forward to seeing all our BAD friends from Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th September. On the last day, join us from 5pm in the Henry Carmichael Theatre for the Danger Awards with a drink, nibbles and what is bound to be a fabulous showdown between two BAD scholars on the best ever crime books... you won't want to miss it!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAM.

OUR GIFT TO YOU: DAY-PASS DISCOUNTS

As a gift for those especially keen on crime, we are offering day-pass discounts when four panel sessions on the same day are booked together. Simply add to your cart all four STANDARD or all four CONCESSION tickets for panels on the same day - Thursday, Friday or Saturday - and receive $15 automatically discounted from your cart. Note that this does not apply if you book the same panel twice or if you book four panels across different days.

LIVESTREAM TICKETS

Zoom links will be distributed to Livestream ticket holders during the week of the festival.
Recordings will NOT be available to watch immediately after the festival if you cannot watch live, but will be available to the public to watch on our YouTube channel a few weeks after the festival.
Only the panel sessions are Zoom livestreamed, not workshops or pitch sessions.

BOOKING AND VENUE INFORMATION

Please choose your tickets carefully and check the dates and times, as we do not offer refunds. If you can no longer attend sessions to which you purchased tickets, we may be able to swap your tickets to different sessions (if they are not sold out) or change the name on your order if you would like to gift your tickets to a friend.

It is important to note that on Thursday 11th September, workshops and panels run within the same time frame, so ensure you double check that nothing you book clashes with another before proceeding.

VENUES

All our events are held at the Sydney Mechanics' School Of Arts (SMSA), located a few minutes walk from Town Hall Station, in the following rooms:

The Henry Carmichael Theatre on Level 1
The Tom Keneally Centre on Level 3
The Norman Selfe Room on Level 3
The Windeyer Room on Level 1
The Woolley and Lawson Room on Level 1

The SMSA is accessible via ramp or stairs at the entrance on Pitt Street. All levels of the SMSA, are accessible via lifts.

Visit the SMSA website if you'd like to plan your visit or look at their accessibility information ahead of the festival.

If you have any questions about the festival or problems with the booking process, please email us at media@badsydney.com

Contact the host of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival 2025