Following a record-breaking 2025 event, Sydney Writers' Festival has announced that it’s switching things up – bringing a series of literary events to Sydney’s State Library throughout the year. Launching this September, the program will feature more than 70 events, with headline speakers including game-changing activist and former Greens leader Bob Brown, plus a range of beloved Aussie authors including Hannah Kent and Michelle de Kretser.
Backed by $1.5 million in funding from the NSW Government, the year-round program is the first stage in what Minister for the Arts John Graham has described as “a comprehensive strategy to support the writing and literature sector,” which “aims to boost the writing industry in NSW, and strengthen the cultural heartbeat of our city.”
Alongside the series of talks, workshops and readings (which kick off on September 18, with more events yet to be announced), the partnership between Sydney Writers’ Fest and the State Library will see a dedicated literature hub brought to life within the library – creating opportunities for more Sydneysiders to connect with books and storytelling. The initiative will also work to support emerging writers in NSW, with the Festival CEO Brooke Webb citing the shared aim to “champion more writers, inspire readers, and nurture vibrant literary communities across NSW.”
Why now? According to Sydney Writers’ Fest, overall book sales are higher now than pre-2020, with 73 per cent of people aged under 30 reading for pleasure. This renewed interest in literature is also demonstrated by the boom in ‘Book-Tok’, and record numbers at SWF’s 2025 event (with more than 101,000 readers rocking up at Carriageworks back in May).
In case you were concerned, the festival will still go ahead in September – this new year-round program is coming to life on top of, not in place of, the beloved fest.
You can learn more and check out the full program over here.
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