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For a few special days every year, Sydney comes alive with writers, journalists, public intellectuals and book lovers – who gather for the Emerald City’s long-standing celebration of literature, reading and ideas: the Sydney Writers' Festival.
In good news for literature lovers who like to plan ahead, SWF has just unveiled its sprawling 2026 program, promising more than 200 events featuring over 250 writers from Australia and around the world. Running from May 17-24, the week-long literary takeover will once again centre on Carriageworks, with other events popping up across the city.
This year’s theme, “Show Me the Truth,” explores trust, storytelling and the murky business of separating fact from fiction in uncertain times. Expect conversations spanning everything from fantasy epics to political memoirs, with 39 international authors joining more than 220 Australian writers on the program.
It’s a celebration of Aussie creativity at its heart, but big-name international guests headline the lineup. Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will discuss leadership and her memoir A Different Kind of Power, and Patrick Radden Keefe will unpack his investigative reporting career and bestselling nonfiction. Superstar author R. F. Kuang will reflect on her meteoric rise, and Slow Horses creator Mick Herron will share insights into adapting crime fiction for the screen.
There’s more literary star power in the form of Booker Prize luminaries including Roddy Doyle, Susan Choi and Yann Martel. Meanwhile, younger readers can expect a good dose of chaos when Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey brings his famously goofy characters to life on stage.
Several flagship conversations are set to spark debate. After Bondi (May 17) will reflect on community resilience after tragedy, while The Story That Changed My Life (May 19) will see journalists including Kate McClymont and Lyse Doucet discuss the reporting that transformed their careers. On May 21, the beloved Great Debate will return to Sydney Town Hall with the cheeky topic We Can’t Handle the Truth, led by teams captained by Annabel Crabb and David Marr.
The festival will officially open on May 19 with the Show Me the Truth Gala, featuring performances from poets and novelists including Nikita Gill and Robbie Arnott. It will wrap up on May 24 with a closing-night conversation about activism and change: A Braver Australia.
Budget-conscious bookworms will be well catered for too. The festival will offer more than 55 free events, including Family Day on May 24, foodie storytelling event FEAST: Food Fights (May 23) and fireside sessions like Sky Stories with Bruce Pascoe and astrophysicist Ray Norris.
Tickets for the 2026 festival go on sale from 10am on Saturday, March 14, with the full program now live here.
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