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Festival 2017

2019 Festival

2 – 4 August


EARLY BIRD TICKETS

On sale 8 – 14 May


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Welcome

Byron Writers Festival 2019


First guests announced and Early Bird tickets on sale now for one week only!

Announcing… Behrouz Boochani, Damon Gameau, Benjamin Law, Min Jin Lee, Alison Lester, Sisonke Msimang, Bruce Pascoe, Leigh Sales, Tara June Winch, and Markus Zusak.

We are thrilled to share a taste of what’s in store for Byron Writers Festival 2019. Join us this 2-4 August for three days with story creators, idea makers and risk takers in one of the world’s most beautiful coastal locations.

Book your Early Bird 3-Day Passes now and save! Available from 9am Wednesday 8 May until midnight Tuesday 14 May. The Full Program will be announced and all tickets will be on sale from 12 June.


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Meet the Writers

Our Early Bird line up is a taste of what’s to come. The final line up of over 140 writers and thinkers will be revealed on 12 June when the Full Program is announced and all ticket types go on sale.


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Behrouz Boochani is a Kurdish-Iranian journalist, scholar, cultural advocate, writer and an Honorary Member of PEN International. His memoir No Friend But the Mountains won the 2019 Victorian Prize for Literature. He has been detained as a refugee on Manus Island since 2013.

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Damon Gameau is a passionate advocate for good health and the environment. He is the creator of That Sugar Book and That Sugar Film. His most recent book and documentary is 2040, an innovative vision for regenerating the planet.

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Benjamin Law is an author, screenwriter, and journalist. He created the book and TV series The Family Law and is the editor of the upcoming anthology Growing Up Queer in Australia.

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Min Jin Lee is a journalist and author of Free Food for Millionaires and the New York Times bestseller, Pachinko. Born in South Korea, she now lives in Boston.

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Alison Lester is one of Australia’s most popular and bestselling creators of children’s books, including Are We There Yet?’, Magic Beach, Noni the Pony, and The Very Noisy Baby.

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Sisonke Msimang is a South African writer living in Perth. She is the author of the memoir, Always Another Country, and The Resurrection of Winnie Mandela. Sisonke is a bold new voice on feminism, race and politics.

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Bruce Pascoe is a writer of Tasmanian, Bunurong and Yuin descent. He has written several children’s books, as well as the multi-award winning Dark Emu which will be released in June as the children’s book Young Dark Emu.

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Leigh Sales is one of Australia’s most respected journalists and anchor of ABC’s 7.30. She has interviewed every living Australian prime minister and is the winner of two Walkley Awards. Her most recent book is Any Ordinary Day.

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Markus Zusak is the bestselling author of six novels, including Bridge of Clay and worldwide phenomenon The Book Thief. His work has been translated into more than forty languages, and has spent more than a decade on the New York Times bestseller list.

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Tara June Winch is a Wiradjuri author born in Australia and based in France. She was named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist and has won numerous literary awards. Her most recent novel The Yield, is due to be released in July.


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Ticket releases, announcements and pricing

8 – 14 May: Early Bird tickets and first guests announced
First guest announcement
Early Bird 3-Day passes, available for one week only
Tickets on sale from 9am Wednesday 8 May until midnight 14 May

3-Day Pass: $235 Members / $275 General

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12 June: Full Program announced and all tickets on sale|
Full program announcement
All tickets available, including 3-Day passes, 1-Day passes, Sunday Locals’ passes, Kids Big Day Out and separately ticketed Workshops and Satellite Events*.

3-Day Pass: $255 Members / $299 General
1-Day Pass: $110 Members / $135 General
Sunday Locals’ Pass*: $80, limited release, conditions apply. Supported by Stone & Wood
Sunday Kids Big Day Out Pass**, $40 (1 adult + 1 child. $20 for each additional child)
Sunday Family Pass**: $120 (2 adults + 1 child. $20 for each additional child)

Satellite Event ticket prices range from free to $35
Workshop ticket prices range from $35 to $120, with member discounts available.

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29 July 29 – 4 August
Workshops and Satellite Events running throughout the week

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2 – 4 August
Festival Weekend!

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Auslan interpreted symbol Auslan Interpretation available. Please email [email protected] if you require an interpreter.

Notes and conditions

  • All tickets are available to purchase online, over the phone via (02) 6685 5115 or in person at our offices in Byron Bay.
  • All tickets are subject to booking fees. Find out more about ticket types on Our Tickets and Pricing Explained page.
  • *Sunday Local’s Passes are available to residents of the Byron, Ballina, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed council areas. These tickets are limited in number and available for purchase from the festival office or online (maximum two tickets per person); purchasers will need to present proof of address at the Festival gate. Supported by Stone & Wood.
  • ** Children must be supervised by at least ONE adult at all times.
  • For full terms and conditions, click here.

Member benefits for the 2019 Festival

Not a member of Byron Writers Festival, or yet to renew your 2019 membership? Join today and save up to $74 on full price 3-Day passes. Other Festival member benefits include a special preview of the Full Program online and priority booking periods for Festival Satellite Events. Read the full list of annual Member benefits and click here to sign up now!

Never miss a beat

Sign up to our newsletter, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram as we continue to post Festival updates throughout the coming months.

Get a taste of the Festival

Never been and heard great things? Watch our show reel from last year’s Festival and relive the highlights with our 2018 photo gallery and podcast series.

Make a Donation

Did you know that Byron Writers Festival received relatively little public funding – under 20% of our total revenue – with a majority coming from people like you. To ensure we can continue to support and celebrate writers, readers and storytellers please make a donation today. As a not-for-profit organisation run with a small team of staff and volunteers, contributions of any size go a long way in enriching the creative culture of our community. Amounts over $2 are tax deductible. To find out more, click here.

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#byronwf2019



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ACCESSIBILITY

Auslan intrepretation available

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Get in touch if you require an interpreter:
[email protected]


2019 Festival Dates

2 – 4 August


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VIEW FESTIVAL PROGRAM

WRITERS

SATELLITE EVENTS

WORKSHOPS

KIDS BIG DAY OUT

Welcome

Byron Writers Festival 2019


It’s Festival Weekend!

The marquees are up, the stages are set and on Friday we throw open the gates! Head to the blog for a comprehensive guide to enjoying your 2019 Byron Writers Festival and get ready for three heartwarming days of ideas, storytelling, debate, laughter, and inspired conversation.

Ticket update

Due to legal capacity restrictions, 3-Day Passes and Saturday Passes have SOLD OUT as of 7pm Wednesday 31 July. We apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience caused.

Friday and Sunday 1-Day Passes, Kids Big Day Out Passes, Sunday Family Passes and Satellite Events are still available online and from the Festival Box Office on the day (if not sold out prior).

We strongly advise that you book now to avoid disappointment.


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Connect

#byronwf2019



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See Who’s Coming

Meet the writers and thinkers that make up our powerful and inspiring line-up of more than 140 Australian and international speakers spanning fiction, memoir, crime, environment, society, politics, poetry, art, comedy and music.

VIEW ALL WRITERS

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Behrouz Boochani

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Leigh Sales

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Jack Charles

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Min Jin Lee

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Markus Zusak

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Gail Jones

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Matthew Evans

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Kate McClymont

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Eddie Woo

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Tishani Doshi

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Tim Flannery

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Alison Lester

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Benjamin Law

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Clementine Ford

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Morris G

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Jennifer CLement

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The Hon. Kevin Rudd

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Nevo Zisin

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Sarah Hanson-Young

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David Stavanger

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Sisonke Msimang

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Bruce Pascoe

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Tara June Winch

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VIEW ALL WRITERSBUY TICKETS

Festival Program

Click the links below to explore the 2019 Festival Program in more detail.

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Dive into our three-day Festival program of 121 sessions with writers, environmentalists, poets, commentators, politicians and artists who together shape stories of hope, courage and change.

VIEW FULL PROGRAM

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A sideshow of separately ticketed events featuring a curated selection of Festival guests. Satellite events take place over the Festival weekend throughout the Northern Rivers’ region, and many of them are free!

VIEW SATELLITE EVENTS

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Get inspired, sink your teeth into your craft and learn from the best with one of our Festival Workshops, taking place throughout the week leading up to Festival weekend in Byron Bay.

VIEW WORKSHOPS

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Immerse yourself in the magic of storytelling on Sunday 4 August. A day out for all the family to enjoy, jam-packed in with interactive presentations and drop-in creative workshops.

VIEW KIDS BIG DAY OUT

Tickets

All 2019 Festival tickets including 3-Day Passes, 1-Day Passes, Kids Big Day Out Passes, Sunday Family Passes, Satellite Events and Workshops are now on sale. Available until sold out.

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SOLD OUT

A 3-Day Pass gives access to all 121 sessions happening in the main Festival Program on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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$299 General
$255 Members & Students

<b>SOLD OUT</b>


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A 1-Day Pass gives access to sessions happening in the main Festival Program for your chosen day – Friday or Sunday.
—
$135 General
$110 Members & Students

<b>SATURDAY SOLD OUT</b>


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Admits one child and one accompanying adult to the Kids Big Day Out marquee on Sunday only.
—
$40 for one child (6-12 years) and one accompanying adult
$20 each additional child (Pre-schoolers free)


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Admits one child and two accompanying adults. Children gain access to the Kids Big Day Out marquee only. Adults gain access to the whole Sunday program but cannot leave their children unsupervised, so will need to tag team.
—
$120 for one child (6-12 years) and two accompanying adults
$20 each additional child (Pre-schoolers free)


Festival Information

Key information for getting to and from Byron and the event site, accommodation, tickets and FAQ’s.
Travel

To the Festival

How to get to and from the festival site by shuttle bus, train or car. Information on flights, trains and buses to and from Byron Bay.
Read More

Stay

Accommodation

Find out more about Elements, our on-site accommodation partner, as well as links to other accommodation providers in the area.
Read more

Festival

Site Map

The 2018 Festival site map will be made available soon.
View Map

Festival

FAQ

Get the answers to our most frequently asked questions here.
Read more

Festival

Volunteers

2018 Festival Volunteer applications are now closed. For questions related to your application, please refer to our Volunteer page FAQs.
Read more

Festival

Accessibility

We are continually aiming to improve access to Byron Writers Festival and enhance the experience of patrons of all abilities. Read on for details about Festival accessibility.
Read more

Festival 2018

Relive the memories with our 2018 Photo Gallery


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All ears for Trent Dalton, Elise Valmorbida and Matt Haig in ‘How Fiction Can Foster Empathy’

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Tim Rogers and Tristan Bancks on ‘How to Get Boys Reading’

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Selina Tusitala Marsh and Ben Hobson

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All eyes and ears for Tracey Moffatt’s stunning visual presentation

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The crowd erupts following Lemn Sissay’s reading from ‘Gold From the Stone’

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Lemn Sissay gives his powerful reading

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‘What if Women Ruled the World’ with Jacqui Lambie, Bri Lee and Anne Aly

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Whale researcher Micheline Jenner

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Tanya Plibersek was grace personified

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Charles Massy

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Our next generation leans in

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Sarah Wilson

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Gillian Triggs delivers the Thea Astley address ‘Speaking Up in a Post Truth World’

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Kerry O’Brien, Jenny Hocking and our AUSLAN interpreter relay the secrets behind ‘The Dismissal’

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Kon Karapanagiotidis holds the Power of Hope in the palm of his hand

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Manal al-Sharif listens to her co-panellists stories

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Hyeonseo Lee

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Kitty Flanagan sets us off in stitches in Friday morning’s Comedy panel with Mandy Nolan and Andrew Hansen

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Trent Dalton

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CORE FUNDERS


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MAJOR PARTNERS


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