The 2024 Festival is open!

Last night we officially opened the 2024 Festival with a moving poetry performance from Jazz Money and an intimate conversation between Ann Patchett and Annabel Crabb. We also had a full day of events at the State Library of NSW with writers including Lauren Groff and Kate Grenville. The atmosphere of this Festival is already lively and inspiring. And we’ve only just begun!

Check out the Friday highlights for the best ticket availability for events tomorrow and explore the full program on our website to grab tickets for Saturday and Sunday.

On our blog, our Festival Blogger Winnie Dunn reflects on Opening Night and we’re getting to know the Guest Curators for the 2024 Festival, Jazz Money and Amy Thunig, with their curated events and other picks from the Program.

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A person at a lectern reading poetry
Two women sitting on stage talking and laughing with microphones in their hands

From our Festival Blogger

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SWF Opening Night: Jazz to the sound of three Anns

Our Festival Blogger Winnie Dunn reflects on Opening Night with Ann, Annabel, Jazz and Newtown kebabs.

“True. The best writers you have ever met were at kebab shops.”

Friday highlights

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Abdulrazak Gurnah: Afterlives

Friday 24 May, 2pm | Carriageworks

Explore his writing and unpack the legacies of empire with acclaimed writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, whose 10th novel explores displacement, loss and love during and after German occupation of East Africa. In conversation with Sisonke Msimang.

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5km From the Frontline

Friday 24 May, 6pm | Carriageworks

Hear from journalist Alisa Sopova and photographer Anastasia Taylor-Lind, whose extraordinary documentary photography series offers a unique, personal and deeply affecting look at the Ukraine war. With ABC RN’s Hamish Macdonald.

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The Secret Lives of Women

Friday 24 May, 1pm | Carriageworks

Uncover hidden women as cross-cultural novelists Elizabeth Acevedo, Balli Kaur Jaswal and Sara M Saleh discuss the rich inner worlds of their characters, whose aspirations are often obscured by duty and expectation. In conversation with ABC RN’s Kate Evans.

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Queerstories

Friday 24 May, 7.30pm | Carriageworks

Celebrating the culture and creativity of the LGBTQI+ community one true story at a time, Queerstories has played to crowds big and small, from Mudgee to Murwillumbah, Albury to Adelaide, Brisbane and beyond. Featuring J.M. Field, George Haddad, Brydie Lee-Kennedy, Bebe Oliver and K Patrick.

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FEAST

Friday 24 May, 7.30pm | Carriageworks

Revel in tales of culinary delights and join five of the Festival’s funniest writers and comedians for a night of storytelling, laughter and food obsession. Featuring James Colley, Alex Elliot-Howery, Madeleine Gray, Yumi Stynes, Oliver Twist and host Jennifer Wong.

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Do We Need Books?

Friday 24 May, 7.30pm | Carriageworks

Are you ready to answer the ultimate literary question, once and for all: do we really need books? Battle out the ultimate bookish question with philosopher A.C. Grayling and art historian and content creator Mary McGillivray in this live recording of Principle of Charity podcast hosted by Emile Sherman and Lloyd Vogelman.

View your tickets on My Tickets

Before you arrive at your events, make sure to have your tickets ready. When you log in to our website, you can view all of your tickets on My Tickets, navigable through the ticket icon in the website menu. This is an easy-to-use and convenient new functionality on our website that keeps everything in one place for you.

On the blog

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Meet our Guest Curator: Jazz Money

Jazz Money is a Guest Curator for the 2024 Festival. Her curated events create a rich exploration of poetry, fireside stories from First Nations storytellers and a unique conversation about Blak criticism.

A person sitting on a couch with their head resting on their hand, looking at the camera and smiling

Meet our Guest Curator: Amy Thunig

Amy Thunig will be talking about the perils of writing about family and hosting a conversation about storytelling and survival. In the Family Day Program, Amy’s curated events bring authors of very special books for young people to our stages.

Livestream the Festival

This year, we are streaming our events live from Bay 17 for everyone, wherever you are, to access at home. Watch along, send in questions directly to the Sydney stage and be a part of Sydney Writers’ Festival in 2024. Purchase a day stream ticket for $35 and get access to the full day’s content.

 

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

 

 

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.

The Sydney Writers’ Festival office is open Monday–Friday (excluding public holidays), 9am–5pm.

Ticketing Enquiries

Email: ticketing@swf.org.au
Phone: 02 9256 4200