Choose your tickets
Festival Pass ticket
Enjoy four days of live-streamed events straight from the Sydney Writers' Festival stage. Come to as little or as much as you like from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 May. Doors open at 9:45am each day. Retro Cafe will be open every day except Sunday 25 May.
Enjoy four days of live-streamed events straight from the Sydney Writers' Festival stage. Come to as little or as much as you like from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 May. Doors open at 9:45am each day. Retro Cafe will be open every day except Sunday 25 May.
$20.00+ $1.97 feeTHURSDAY 22 MAY Day Pass ticket
Enjoy as many sessions as you can fit into your day. Doors open at 9:45am. Retro Cafe will be open 10:00am - 5:00pm
Enjoy as many sessions as you can fit into your day. Doors open at 9:45am. Retro Cafe will be open 10:00am - 5:00pm
$10.00+ $1.53 feeFRIDAY 23 MAY Day Pass ticket
Enjoy as many sessions as you can fit into your day. Doors open at 9:45am. Retro Cafe will be open 10:00am - 5:00pm
Enjoy as many sessions as you can fit into your day. Doors open at 9:45am. Retro Cafe will be open 10:00am - 5:00pm
$10.00+ $1.53 feeSATURDAY 24 MAY Day Pass ticket
Enjoy as many sessions as you can fit into your day. Doors open at 9:45am. Retro Cafe will be open 10:00am - 2:00pm
Enjoy as many sessions as you can fit into your day. Doors open at 9:45am. Retro Cafe will be open 10:00am - 2:00pm
$10.00+ $1.53 feeSUNDAY 25 MAY Day Pass ticket
Enjoy as many sessions as you can fit into your day. Doors open at 9:45am. Retro Cafe will be closed. Light refreshments offered.
Enjoy as many sessions as you can fit into your day. Doors open at 9:45am. Retro Cafe will be closed. Light refreshments offered.
$10.00+ $1.53 feeTHURSDAY 22 MAY 10–11AM MARKUS ZUSAK: THREE WILD DOGS AND THE TRUTH ticket
Twenty years after his international sensation The Book Thief, Markus Zusak turns to non-fiction. Listen as Markus extols on love and human-animal connection in his memoir about his three big pound dogs. In conversation with Richard Glover. Doors open at 9:45m.
Twenty years after his international sensation The Book Thief, Markus Zusak turns to non-fiction. Listen as Markus extols on love and human-animal connection in his memoir about his three big pound dogs. In conversation with Richard Glover. Doors open at 9:45m.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeTHURSDAY 22 MAY 12–1PM GINA CHICK: WE ARE THE STARS ticket
Hear Alone Australia winner Gina Chick regale you with stories of her extraordinary life, from her unconventional childhood to deep links with nature as an adult. With Rosemarie Milsom.
Hear Alone Australia winner Gina Chick regale you with stories of her extraordinary life, from her unconventional childhood to deep links with nature as an adult. With Rosemarie Milsom.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeTHURSDAY 22 MAY 2–3PM DAVID NICHOLLS: YOU ARE HERE ticket
Travel the winding road of love through first encounters and second chances with bestselling novelist and screenwriter David Nicholls, in conversation with Jennifer Byrne on his latest love story.
Travel the winding road of love through first encounters and second chances with bestselling novelist and screenwriter David Nicholls, in conversation with Jennifer Byrne on his latest love story.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeTHURSDAY 22 MAY 4–5PM PAST AND FUTURE OF INDIGENOUS RECOGNITION ticket
Respected Indigenous leader Thomas Mayo and historian Clare Wright reflect on the history of First Nations movements for change in Australia and look at next steps. With Lorena Allam.
Respected Indigenous leader Thomas Mayo and historian Clare Wright reflect on the history of First Nations movements for change in Australia and look at next steps. With Lorena Allam.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeTHURSDAY 22 MAY 6–7PM KALIANE BRADLEY: THE MINISTRY OF TIME ticket
Question what it means to change the world by defying history with Kaliane Bradley’s bestselling debut, which blends time travel, romance and spy thriller. With host Melanie Kembrey.
Question what it means to change the world by defying history with Kaliane Bradley’s bestselling debut, which blends time travel, romance and spy thriller. With host Melanie Kembrey.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeFRIDAY 23 MAY 10–11AM THE MORIARTY SISTERS ticket
Join the Moriarty sisters, Jaclyn, Liane and Nicola, as they discuss their career beginnings, different publishing paths and many successes with writer and broadcaster Sarah Macdonald. Doors open at 9:45am.
Join the Moriarty sisters, Jaclyn, Liane and Nicola, as they discuss their career beginnings, different publishing paths and many successes with writer and broadcaster Sarah Macdonald. Doors open at 9:45am.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeFRIDAY 23 MAY 12–1PM HELEN GARNER: THE SEASON ticket
Hear iconic Australian writer Helen Garner’s reflections on football and the cycles of life in The Season, her first full-length book in a decade. In conversation with David Leser.
Hear iconic Australian writer Helen Garner’s reflections on football and the cycles of life in The Season, her first full-length book in a decade. In conversation with David Leser.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeFRIDAY 23 MAY 2–3PM ALAN HOLLINGHURST: OUR EVENINGS ticket
Hear Alan Hollinghurst discuss his seventh novel, a rich and pleasurable account of a lifetime in modern England and the search for identity. In conversation with Georgina Godwin.
Hear Alan Hollinghurst discuss his seventh novel, a rich and pleasurable account of a lifetime in modern England and the search for identity. In conversation with Georgina Godwin.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeFRIDAY 23 MAY 4–5PM COLM TÓIBÍN: FROM BROOKLYN TO LONG ISLAND ticket
Hear how Laureate of Irish Fiction Colm Tóibín returned to the Lacey family of international bestseller Brooklyn with the long-awaited sequel, set 20 years after Rose’s death. With ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans (The Bookshelf).
Hear how Laureate of Irish Fiction Colm Tóibín returned to the Lacey family of international bestseller Brooklyn with the long-awaited sequel, set 20 years after Rose’s death. With ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans (The Bookshelf).
$5.00+ $1.31 feeSATURDAY 24 MAY 10–11AM BAKERS’ DELIGHT ticket
With host Jennifer Wong, get special insight into the art and business of baking from the queens of Australian pastry, Flour and Stone's Nadine Ingram, Beatrix Bakes's Natalie Paull and Lune Croissanterie's Kate Reid. Doors open at 9:45am.
With host Jennifer Wong, get special insight into the art and business of baking from the queens of Australian pastry, Flour and Stone's Nadine Ingram, Beatrix Bakes's Natalie Paull and Lune Croissanterie's Kate Reid. Doors open at 9:45am.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeSATURDAY 24 MAY 12–1PM A.C. GRAYLING ON CANCEL CULTURE ticket
Philosopher A.C. Grayling traces ‘cancel culture’ back to the ancient Greeks and tries to find a middle ground among the incendiary debates fanned by contemporary culture wars.
Philosopher A.C. Grayling traces ‘cancel culture’ back to the ancient Greeks and tries to find a middle ground among the incendiary debates fanned by contemporary culture wars.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeSATURDAY 24 MAY 2–3PM BEN MACINTYRE: THE SIEGE ticket
Ben Macintyre discusses his definitive account of the 1980 Iranian embassy siege in London which put the SAS on the world stage. With ABC Radio National’s Richard Fidler (Conversations).
Ben Macintyre discusses his definitive account of the 1980 Iranian embassy siege in London which put the SAS on the world stage. With ABC Radio National’s Richard Fidler (Conversations).
$5.00+ $1.31 feeSUNDAY 25 MAY 10–11AM TRUMPOCALYPSE NOW ticket
Listen in as experts on US politics Peter Beinart, Nick Bryant and Emma Shortis unpack Trump’s first months in office and what to expect over the next four years. With host Barrie Cassidy. Doors open at 9:45am. Please note Retro Cafe will be closed. Light refreshments offered.
Listen in as experts on US politics Peter Beinart, Nick Bryant and Emma Shortis unpack Trump’s first months in office and what to expect over the next four years. With host Barrie Cassidy. Doors open at 9:45am. Please note Retro Cafe will be closed. Light refreshments offered.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeSUNDAY 25 MAY 12–1PM THE HOT MESS SHOW WITH JEFF KINNEY ticket
Join Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney for wild on-stage antics. Celebrate the latest Wimpy Kid book while satisfying your craving for family fun! Rec. ages 7–12. Please note Retro Cafe will be closed. Light refreshments offered.
Join Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney for wild on-stage antics. Celebrate the latest Wimpy Kid book while satisfying your craving for family fun! Rec. ages 7–12. Please note Retro Cafe will be closed. Light refreshments offered.
$5.00+ $1.31 feeExpressions of interest - SUNDAY 25 MAY 2–3PM MAKING A WRITER ticket
Expressions of interest only. Please add your name to the waitlist to express your interest and we will notify you directly if we offer this session. Prominent writers Colm Tóibín and Charlotte Wood discuss how they became writers and what Ireland and Australia’s literary culture means to them. With host Michael Williams. Please note Retro Cafe will be closed. Light refreshments offered.
Expressions of interest only. Please add your name to the waitlist to express your interest and we will notify you directly if we offer this session. Prominent writers Colm Tóibín and Charlotte Wood discuss how they became writers and what Ireland and Australia’s literary culture means to them. With host Michael Williams. Please note Retro Cafe will be closed. Light refreshments offered.
Sold out$5.00+ $1.31 fee