Byron Writers Festival Celebrates 30 Years with a Sold-Out Festival in the Heart of Town
Byron Writers Festival’s 30th anniversary edition sold out across the weekend of 14–16 August, with over 10,000 festival attendees gathering in Byron Bay for three days of ideas, stories and conversation.
For the first time, Byron Writers Festival unfolded across the heart of Byron Bay itself, turning the township into a true sanctuary for ideas, stories and conversation; a space for authors, readers and enthusiasts to collectively come together and celebrate a remarkable weekend.
Friday set the tone with the inaugural Rhoda Roberts Oration, a deeply moving tribute from Chair of Creative Australia and proud Quandamooka man, Wesley Enoch, which left few dry eyes in the crowd. A full marquee was enraptured by Antoinette Lattouf who brought Women Who Win to the stage, a powerful and insightful look at a woman who took on the system and won. Tom Forrest brought the joy with Gone Bush, a funny, personable session that moved between talking to Country and exploring family connection through food.
Saturday belonged to Richard Flanagan, as his sold-out evening feature event on Heresies had audiences captivated from the first word, and Trent Dalton, whose conversation with Richard Glover offered an undiluted laugh-out-loud funny and deeply personal insight into the man behind some of Australia's most notable novels, and it was standing room only at the Manosphere as Louise Milligan, Luke Bateman and Paul Callaghan discussed the pressures on men and boys, and the need for culture, community and connection.
Kerry O'Brien delivered one of the peak moments of the festival with the Thea Astley Address on Lessons from History, an urgent and timely speech on Australia’s past and future, drawing a full house with the audience overflowing outside the tent. The Literary Lunch with Bob Carr was an experience like no other: delicious political anecdotes served alongside food from one of Byron's top restaurants.
Meg Mason shared her highly anticipated new novel Sophie, Standing There to a delighted audience, while Bundjalung storytellers Ella Noah Bancroft, Delta Kay, Dakota Feirer shared the meaning of the ocean up on the Bay Street Stage.
Sunday opened with the free kids program, as NRL legend Sam Thaiday shared his children's book How the Fish Got TheirBones with the next generation of budding writers. The Byron Surf Club was at capacity as award-winning women novelists Julie Janson, Debra Oswald, and Geetanjali Shree explored age and re-centering women in their literature. Robert Forster brought decades of stories and tales from tour to life in his debut fiction novel, Songwriters on the Run, ahead of the festival closing on its highest note as The Big Voice Choir, led by Janet Swain, brought everyone together in song, joined by Australian music icon Shane Howard (Goanna) for an unforgettable rendition of Solid Rock.
More than 10,000 festivalgoers filled Byron Bay for a landmark weekend of powerful ideas, memorable conversations and community connection as Byron Writers Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary in its new home.
Official festival bookseller The Book Room’s top-selling titles included Lucianne Tonti’sGood Witch taking the top spot, as well asAntoun Issa's Rebirth: A Love Story From the Depths of War, Roman Krznaric'sHistory for Tomorrow, Micaela Sahhar’s Find Me at the Jaffa Gate, Zoe Terakes’sEros: Queer Myths for Lovers, Sita Walker’s In a Common Hour, Richard Flanagan’s Heresies, Meg Mason’s Sophie, Standing There, Debra Oswald’s One Hundred Years of Betty, and Antoinette Lattouf’s Women Who Win.
The masses woke early for the inaugural Saturday swim with the Saltwater Cleanse in the bay, and took in the morning headlines with Coffee & News programming each morning.
The 30th anniversary festival was supported by a record number of volunteers, with 176 dedicated literary lovers helping the event run smoothly all weekend.
Byron Writers Festival Artistic Director and CEO, Jessica Alice, celebrated the festival’s weekend in Byron.
“It was a privilege to celebrate the festival’s 30th year in the heart of Byron Bay with warm and engaged crowds and some of the world’s best writers, and to see it unfold so naturally throughout town. We’re looking forward to growing and developing the festival in its new home, deepening our relationship with the whole Byron community, and elevating the role of writers in public life.”
Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye welcomed the festival’s move into the town;
“Having Byron Writers Festival woven through the heart of our town for the first time was a joy. I loved meandering through the streets, watching visitors and locals alike immersing themselves in it all, alongside our local businesses and the delights of our foreshore.
The inaugural swim was a real highlight, as was the Rhoda Roberts oration. Having a free tent with a stellar line-up as well as all the ticketed events was a real value add. Seeing so many people moving through town, filling our cafes and shops, showed exactly why we want this festival woven into Byron for years to come.
This festival met the moment of climate, culture and community. Having people gather to discuss ideas that challenge us, deepen our thinking, or simply inspire us is an honour, and it’s exactly what this moment calls for.”
The festival also wishes to acknowledge founding board member Lynda Dean, who passed away over the weekend. Lynda was a free spirit who embodied the festival and its vision, and was a pillar of the community. She served on the organisation’s board since its inception. She will be dearly missed.
About Byron Writers Festival:
The annual Byron Writers Festival is Australia's favourite regional celebration of books, storytelling and ideas, presented on beautiful Bundjalung Country. The line-up predominantly features Australian writers and thinkers, alongside international guests, showcasing contemporary literature in all forms and genres. Originally established in 1995 as the Northern Rivers Writers Centre, 2026 will mark the 30th year of the organisation’s flagship festival.
