Festival 2017
First guests announced and Sunday Locals’ Passes on sale
Announcing… Julia Baird, Tony Birch, Malcolm Turnbull, Alice Pung, Evelyn Araluen and Hayley Katzen
We are thrilled to share a taste of what’s in store for Byron Writers Festival 2021. Join us this 6-8 August for a three-day festival of ideas, conversation and storytelling in one of the world’s most beautiful coastal locations.
Award-winning journalist and Phosphorescence author Dr Julia Baird, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and activist, historian and acclaimed author Tony Birch are some of the leading lights headed to Byron Bay to provoke and inspire audiences. Also joining the line-up are best-selling writer, essayist and lawyer Alice Pung, Goorie/Koori poet and co-editor of Overland Literary Journal Evelyn Araluen and Northern Rivers author Hayley Katzen, whose brilliant memoir Untethered has made waves in the local literary scene.
Read on to discover more about these guests and their books.
Mark 23 June in your calendar for the full program announcement and all tickets on sale.
No Early Bird 3-Day Passes
To help us deliver a Covid-safe event, the Festival Board has decided we will only be selling 1-Day Passes this year (on sale from 23 June). This means no Early Bird release of 3-Day passes. We expect to be back to selling 3-Day Passes in 2022. For more information on 2021 ticket changes, please refer to our FAQs webpage.
Sunday Locals’ Passes now on sale!
A limited release of Sunday Locals’ Passes are now available for purchase purchase online, over the phone or from the festival office. The discounted ticket is for entry to the Festival on Sunday 8 August.
Cost: $90 (saving up to $45). Conditions apply*
*Available to residents of the Byron, Ballina, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed council areas. Purchasers will need to present proof of address (maximum two tickets per person) upon ticket collection at the Festival Box Office. Limited release, available until sold out.
Proudly supported by Stone & Wood.
Meet the Writers
Evelyn Araluen
Evelyn Araluen is a Goorie/Koori poet, researcher and co-editor of Overland Literary Journal. Born and raised on Dharug country, she is a descendant of the Bundjalung Nation. Her debut poetry collection is Dropbear.
Julia Baird
Dr Julia Baird is a globally renowned author and award-winning journalist. She hosts The Drum on ABC TV and writes columns for The New York Times and The Sydney Morning Herald. Her latest book is Phosphorescence which became an instant bestseller when it was published in 2020.
Tony Birch
Tony Birch is an activist, historian, essayist and acclaimed author of the novels The White Girl, Ghost River and Blood. His most recent releases are the poetry collection Whisper Songs and the short story collection, Dark as Last Night.
Hayley Katzen
In 2005, Hayley moved to her girlfriend’s cattle farm. Here, apart from learning how to fight fires, work cattle and shovel manure, she completed an MFA (Creative Writing). Her personal essays and short stories have been published widely. Untethered is her debut memoir.
Alice Pung
Alice Pung is an award-winning Australian writer, editor and lawyer. Her books include the bestselling memoirs Unpolished Gem and Her Father’s Daughter, and the novel Laurinda. She is the editor of the anthology Growing Up Asian in Australia, and her latest book is the novel One Hundred Days.
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull was the 29th Prime Minister of Australia. Prior to entering politics, he enjoyed successful careers as a lawyer, investment banker and journalist. The Bigger Picture is his political memoir.
2021 Key Dates and Ticketing Info
19 May: First guests announced, Sunday Locals tickets on sale (limited release)*, $90
22 June: Full program and 24 hour priority booking window available for members: 1-Day Pass, $110 members
23 June: Full program announced and all Festival, Workshop and Satellite Event tickets on sale: 1-Day Pass, $110 members / $135 general
6-8 August: Festival Weekend
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.
- For full terms and conditions, click here.
Stay Covid Safe
Byron Writers Festival is committed to the wellbeing of all Festival attendees, participants and staff. We will be keeping updated with Covid safety restrictions and will continue to strictly follow the guidelines as set out by the NSW Department of Health.
Enjoy the Byron Writers Festival 2021, Stay Covid Safe and please check our Stay Covid Safe webpage and NSW Department of Health website regularly for updates or changes.
Member benefits for the 2021 Festival
Not a member of Byron Writers Festival, or yet to renew your 20120 membership? Join today and save up $25 on full price 1-Day passes. Other Festival member benefits include a special preview of the Full Program online and a 24 hour priority booking window. Read the full list of annual Member benefits and click here to sign up now!
Got a question?
For further information about the 2021 Festival and how it will run, please refer to our FAQs page.
Stay in the loop
We encourage you to remain signed up to our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for important Festival updates and announcements.
#byronwf2021
Auslan intrepretation available
Get in touch if you require an interpreter:
[email protected]
2 – 4 August
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.
See Who’s Coming
Festival Program
Tickets
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>
A 1-Day Pass gives access to sessions happening in the main Festival Program for your chosen day – Friday or Sunday.
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$135 General
$110 Members & Students
<b>SATURDAY SOLD OUT</b>
Admits one child and one accompanying adult to the Kids Big Day Out marquee on Sunday only.
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$40 for one child (6-12 years) and one accompanying adult
$20 each additional child (Pre-schoolers free)
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.
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$120 for one child (6-12 years) and two accompanying adults
$20 each additional child (Pre-schoolers free)
