International highlights, Festival livestream and more
Sydney 15 May,2025
Wednesday at Sydney Town Hall
Liane Moriarty and David Nicholls
Wednesday 21 May, 6pm | Sydney Town Hall
Join international bestselling novelists Liane Moriarty and David Nicholls as they discuss turning their powerful stories into global onscreen hits. With Claire Nichols.
Marian Keyes: My Favourite Mistake
Wednesday 21 May, 8pm | Sydney Town Hall
Revisit the chaotic Walsh Family in a raucous and warm-hearted conversation with bestselling Irish author Marian Keyes. With Holly Wainwright.
International highlights
Rumaan Alam’s American Dream
Thursday 22 May, 5pm | Carriageworks
Examine the promise (or lie) of the American Dream in the 21st century with New York Times bestselling author Rumaan Alam in this thought-provoking event. With Sisonke Msimang.
Torrey Peters: Stag Dance
Saturday 24 May, 5.30pm | Carriageworks
Torrey Peters’s sophomore work, Stag Dance, pushes the very limits of trans writing. Join her for an hour-long romp through gender apocalypse, secret romance and cross-dressing lumberjacks. With Yves Rees.
Lemn Sissay: Let the Light Pour In
Saturday 24 May, 4.30pm | Carriageworks
Be rapt with defiant joy and join master of the spoken word Lemn Sissay for a transformative night of storytelling and performance.
Big issues
A Matter of Life and Death
Thursday 22 May, 11am | Carriageworks
Hear from international lawyer Michelle Lesh and celebrated writer Ailsa Piper on life-altering grief and their unexpected journeys of discovery, community and love. With host Michaela Kalowski.
The Power of Choice
Friday 23 May, 4pm | Carriageworks
See photographs from award-winning photographer Julian Kingma’s collection The Power of Choice and hear him discuss the choice of voluntary assisted dying with Andrew Denton in this powerful event. With host Ashley Hay.
Join online
Livestream the Festival
Sydney Writers’ Festival is for everyone – including those who can’t make it down to Carriageworks during the Festival.
This year, we are streaming select events live from Carriageworks for everyone, wherever you are, to access at home. Watch along, send in questions directly to the Sydney stage and be a part of the Festival in 2025.
Purchase a day stream ticket for $35 and get access to the full day’s content.
From the blog
In This Together Q&A: Mariana Enriquez
Mariana Enriquez is the queen of macabre political and queer horror. Her latest short story collection, A Sunny Place for Shady People, is about all kinds of hauntings in the suburbs of Argentina.
See Mariana at the Festival in Mariana Enriquez en Conversación.
In This Together Q&A: Dylin Hardcastle
Dylin Hardcastle is a Sydney-based author whose most recent work, A Language of Limbs, uncovers Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ history with a tender dual-narrative.
See Dylin at the Festival in Queer Love and Longing.
From our Partners
Dendy Cinemas
Dendy Cinemas is the home of quality cinema. Loved by locals and casual moviegoers alike, Dendy offers something for everyone – from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible to beloved retrospectives. With special deals most days of the week, it’s a true gem for film lovers and truly a cut above the rest.
Win the ultimate van life camper with Matso’s
Born in remote Broome, Matso’s has always embraced a spirit of adventure and discovery – crafting heat-beating refreshments since 1997.Now, we’re giving you the chance to experience the ultimate freedom of van life with the opportunity to win the ultimate van life camper – valued at $110,000! To enter, purchase any Matso’s to enter the draw until 23 June 2025.
Single or multipacks = 1 entry
Cases = 4 entries
The more you buy over the promotional period, the more chances you have to win! Limit of 1 entry per person, per day.
Sydney Writers’ Festival acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. They are the first storytellers of our land and we honour their tradition of passing down stories. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our events take place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
