The Byron Writers Festival (11-13 August) is unfurling its welcome mat this year at the Bangalow Showgrounds on Arakwal land, Bundjalung Country. With an imaginative mix of established names and fresh voices, the Festival promises engaging dialogues, captivating narratives, and thought-provoking insights for lovers of story.
Celebrating a theme of ‘Wild Imagination’ for this year’s Byron Writers Festival, numerous Australian luminaries will grace the stages to share their insights and anecdotes, including 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame, esteemed ABC broadcaster and writer Richard Fidler, multi-talented Nakkiah Lui, and acclaimed author Pip Williams.
This year’s international contingent will be represented by Kevin Jared Hosein from Trinidad, the brain behind the groundbreaking historical novel Hungry Ghosts, and Northern Rivers-based author Marele Day who is celebrated for her distinctive writing.
With many more authors and speakers to be unveiled on 28 June, this year’s lineup promises to be bigger than ever, with Byron and surrounding natural beauty taking centre stage and bringing the Wild Imagination theme to life.
Zoe Pollock, the CEO & Artistic Director of the Festival, shared more about the motivation behind this year’s theme.
“The wildness of the Northern Rivers landscape, particularly our lush rainforests, is a daily reminder of our fortune to connect intimately with nature in this beautiful region,” she said.
“I believe we are at a historical crossroads. It is time we revived our ‘inner wild’ and redefined our place in the world. This year, we are proud to present a cohort of authors who echo this sentiment through their work – a collective of writers and thinkers who audaciously let their imagination run wild and represent the pinnacle of creativity.”
Know before you go
The Byron Writers Festival stands out in Australia’s cultural calendar as the largest regional Festival celebrating storytelling, literature, and ideas.
The Festival, which last year featured 140 writers, thinkers and commentators, is famed for its relaxed ambience and its eclectic program of panels, workshops and conversations celebrating storytelling in all its forms.
More than simply a literary festival, it’s also a relaxed, accessible, kid-friendly event with delicious food and wine and locally created arts and crafts to splurge on while you’re there.
There are sculptures to admire, fabulous people watching to be had, and an endless supply of books to pick up for yourself and get personally signed by the authors over the weekend.
The Festival will this year take place in the hinterland town of Bangalow, a mere 15-minute drive up the hill from Byron, at the Bangalow Showgrounds. The good news is that complimentary shuttle services will be available daily from Byron.
Early Bird 3-day passes for the Byron Writers Festival are up for grabs from 14 to 21 June at $235, giving members a saving of more than 20% off the full price.
The complete 2023 program will be unveiled on 28 June, after which tickets for the festival days, feature events, and workshops will be purchased.
