Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge that Byron Writers Festival takes place on the traditional lands of the Arakwal Bumberbin Peoples of the Bundjalung Nation. We pay respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge them as the original storytellers of the lands and waterways of this Country.

Year-round

Mick Fanning in Conversation

All Heart is about growing up in a loud, loving family. It’s about chasing a dream and experiencing the highest of highs. It’s about being broken into pieces by unimaginable loss; about three brothers and a father dying too soon. It’s about doing whatever it takes, and learning whatever you can, to find your way again. 

With honesty and humility, Mick opens up about the moments that shaped him – the wins, the waves, the parties, the people he lost, the mates who never left, and the family that helped him on his journey.

All Heart is more than the story of a champion surfer and global sporting icon. It’s the story of a man who took life’s hardest knocks on the chin and kept on pushing forward, and a reminder that our greatest achievements aren’t always the ones the world gets to see.

‘A story of heartbreak, courage and hope from one of the most inspiring people I know.' Chris Hemsworth

Ticket and Book Bundle

Get your copy of All Heart when you book your ticket, and collect it at the event.

General Admission Ticket and Book Bundle $62+GST

Festival Friends Ticket and Book Bundle $57+GST

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event thanks to The Book Room.

About Mick Fanning

Mick Fanning is a three-time surfing World Champion who has become one of Australia’s most admired sporting figures. Born in Penrith and raised on the Gold Coast, he captured world titles in 2007, 2009 and 2013, earning a reputation for precision, speed and an ability to stay composed when the stakes were highest. His life has been shaped by experiences far beyond competition, including the passing of his three older brothers and a shark encounter during a 2015 event that was broadcast live across the globe. Those moments profoundly shifted his perspective, strengthening his resilience and gratitude. Now an inductee of the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame, Fanning is also a father, husband and entrepreneur whose influence extends well beyond surfing, defined as much by character and humility as by championship success.

Cost
General:
$
40
Friends (Members):
$
35
Free
TBC
When
October 14, 2026 6:30 PM
TBC
Support us

Byron Writers Festival is Australia's largest regional literature festival and the beating heart of the Northern Rivers' intellectual and cultural life.

Byron Writers Festival is a registered charity with DGR status. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

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