Who we are

Byron Writers Festival, 8—10 August 2025, is the largest regional literary festival in Australia, attracting thousands of audiences annually to experience shared moments of human connection. We present some of the best writers from around the world for an immersive, outdoor event in the Northern Rivers that celebrates writing and stories in all forms.

Tickets are on sale now for Byron Writers Festival ’25.

What we do

We present a major three-day, site-specific outdoor festival in the leafy, peaceful surrounds of the Bangalow Showground on Bundjalung Country in Byron Shire. Year-round, we present literary events, provide support and mentorship for writers, and deliver creative writing programs for regional schools.

Our Mission

To present world-class gatherings in the Northern Rivers that enrich and transform the lives of our audience and community.

Our history

The Northern Rivers Writers’ Centre was incorporated in 1995, the home of the much-loved Byron Bay Writers Festival, first held in 1997. In 2016, the Centre and the Festival were amalgamated under one banner and renamed Byron Writers Festival. The Byron Writers Festival is staffed by a small dedicated team led by a volunteer Committee. The organisation is not-for-profit and receives its core funding from Create NSW.

In 2020, the annual Byron Writers Festival was elevated to Key Festival status by the NSW Government.

The Byron Writers Festival is held on the lands of the Arakwal Bumberbin peoples of the Bundjalung Nation, we pay respect to the traditional owners of these lands and acknowledge them as the original storytellers of this region.