Festival '26

Join Arakwal custodian Delta Kay for this special Calling to Country on land of the Bundjalung Nation.

In Rebirth, Antoun Issa powerfully captures his mother's experiences of love, heartbreak and new hope during the violence of the Lebanese Civil War. With Mark Isaacs.

‍

Phil Brown tells (almost) all in a hilarious, heartfelt and revealing session about his career in literature and journalism. Described by Trent Dalton as 'a memory box of jewels from a true Brisbane treasure'. With Hilarie Dunn.

‍

Join one of the country’s most admired political commentators, Niki Savva, for a riveting and deeply informed analysis of Australia’s epoch-making 2025 election. Hosted by Richard Fidler for a special recording of ABC Conversations.

‍

Presented by ABC Conversations

‍

Do you want to write, publish or do more with your book? This practical, one-hour workshop will leave you with a clearer head, a fuller heart, and the permission to create.

‍

Supported by Bold Authors

‍

‍

Experience a literary morning on the airwaves with ABC North Coast's Live Broadcast hosted by Bridie Tanner with festival guests Nicholas Timms, Amy Remeikis, Tasma Walton, Richard Denniss, Jay McKenzie and Julio Carrasco.

‍

Join Ella Noah Bancroft (Sun and Moon), Marie Elena Ellis (I Am the Desert) and Maria van Neerven (Two Tongues) in discussion about First Nations languages' resurgence and revival, and expanding our notions of 'literacy' to concepts of Country. With Daniel Browning.

‍

Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

‍

Acclaimed writer Kathryn Heyman discusses her luminously beautiful novel Circle of Wonders – an uplifting celebratory song to life, and a homage to human resilience. With Marele Day.

‍

Join one of Australia's most respected and longstanding public figures, Bob Carr, for a deeply moving session about losing the love of your life and doing what it takes to survive. With Mick O'Regan.

‍

Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

‍

Chilean poet, musician and novelist Julio Carrasco discusses his work with Cassgrande, a Chilean art collective responsible for multidisciplinary interventions in urban spaces, including the Bombing of Poems. With Karena Wynn-Moylan.

‍

In this festival highlight, meet international guest Geetanjali Shree – winner of the 2022 International Booker Prize for her novel Tomb of Sand, an urgent yet engaging protest against the destructive impact of borders, whether between religions, countries or genders. With Susan Wyndham.

‍

Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

‍

With self-publishing, authors manage not just their writing but also their brand, distribution and potential for success. Learn more about how to make it as an independent author, from print-on-demand to distribution services, with the team from IngramSpark and Bold Authors' Anna Featherstone.

‍

Supported by Ingram Spark

‍

What happens when Australia chooses courage? Join public policy commentators Richard Denniss and Amy Remeikis for a galvanising discussion about what can be done in the face of rising inequality, rising fossil fuel production, and declining faith in democracy. With Leanne Minshull.

‍

Supported by The Australia Institute

‍

Join celebrated NZ writer and swimmer Ingrid Horrocks and scientist Amanda Reichelt-Brushett for a compelling dicussion of where we swim and what it means to live among other animals on a watery planet. With Byron Shire Mayor and daily swimmer Sarah Ndaiye.

‍

In celebration of whale migration season in Byron Bay, join poets Luke Patterson and Dakota Feirer and novelist Tasma Walton to honour the cultural significance of whales and our personal connections to these majestic animals. With Grace Lucas-Pennington.

‍

Supported by Southern Cross University

Take a forensic look at the changing state of media as newsrooms and grassroots initiatives evolve with the country's leading journalists, Sean Kelly, Antoinette Lattouf, and Niki Savva. With Nour Haydar.

‍

Supported by The Byron Shire Echo.

Join American novelist Rafael Frumkin (Confidence) for an exploration of creative appropriation where writers use real people, real relationships and real pain as material. In conversation with Chris Harrigan, Rafael explores the ethics of writing about real people, and the relationship between identity — queerness, gender and family — and the writer's right to her own material.

‍

Supported by Fireside Agency

‍

With her trademark wit and wisdom, Melissa Lucashenko reflects on being caught in a siege, on the marginalised lives of prisoners and the urban poor, on Blak identity and Australian literature in a wide ranging discussion of her journalism and essays. With acclaimed journalist and academic Daniel Browning.

‍

Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

‍

How do you get your story out there without a traditional publisher? Learn how to publish your own books and ask all the questions from experts in the field.

‍

Supported by Ingram Spark

‍

Sita Walker, high school teacher and acclaimed novelist, dicusses her hope-filled masterpiece about contemporary high schools, the people that inhabit them and how it can take just one lunchtime to change a life forever. With Carody Culver

Multi-award-winning investigative journalist Marian Wilkinson uncovers an engrossing story of power and influence, pollution and protest in her exposé of Australia's fossil-fuel giant Woodside. With Royce Kurmelovs.

‍

Supported by Quarterly Essay

‍

Join Bob Carr, George Megalogenis and Julianne Schultz for the analysis on Donald Trump's second presidency, and what the rapidly changing political environment means for Australia. With Amy Remeikis.

‍

Shortlisted for the 2026 Stella Prize, Marika Sosnowski's poetic and precise meditation on resistance and revolution, 58 Facets, weaves together the narratives of Holocaust survivors and Israeli war criminals with Syrian activists, revolutionaries and dissenters. With Debbie Whitmont.

Michael Winkler’s first novel Grimmish became a cult hit with Helen Garner saying it filled a need she didn't know she had. Join Michael for a journey into his latest novel Griefdogg and the world of Mildura model citizen, husband and father Jeffrey who decides to live as the family pet and discovers he can sense secret grief in others. With ABC Bookshelf's Kate Evans.

‍

Supported by The Book Room

‍

Self-published author Maggie Walters shares her incredible story of inherited wounds, and of how family can be both the wound and the cure. With Anna Featherstone.

‍

Supported by Bold Authors

‍

Arrernte Warlpiri poet Marie Elena Ellis, Tom Forrest (Outback Tom) and Gamilaroi poet and musician Luke Patterson offer an antidote to the trauma focus of mainstream media when it comes to reporting on Blak lives. While there is healing and survival in humour, sometimes laughter comes from just having a great sense of humour. With Bebe Oliver.

‍

Join Byron-bred, debut novelist Nicholas Timms for an entertaining ride into his heart-pounding, suspenseful thriller The Lineup set here in Byron Bay. With Mark Isaacs.

‍

Join Australia Institute Co-CEOs Richard Denniss and Leanne Minshull and Research Manager Alice Grundy as they share how to turn passion into action. Australia is a wealthy country, but it funds the arts like a poor one. Learn how to make change for good.

‍

Presented by The Australia Institute.

‍

Book tickets to this free event here.

Join a highly decorated panel of award-winning Australian and international writers, Melissa Lucashenko, Siang Lu, and Geetanjali Shree, to discuss their ambitous works that confront colonial legacies and create new possibilities in literature. With Merinda Dutton.

‍

What if the choices of women centuries apart could echo across time? Join winner of the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards for Fiction, Ingrid Horrocks, in conversation about her acclaimed collection All Her Lives and the stories of extraordinary women fighting to define themselves on their own terms. With Ashley Hay.

‍

Victor Steffensen (Firesticks Alliance) offers a positive pathway for healing the planet based on traditional Indigenous knowledge systems with his new book The Knowledge: Learning from ancestral wisdom to save our changing global environment, the follow-up to the bestselling Fire Country. With Kylie Day.

‍

Join award-winning investigative journalist and novelist Louise Milligan for a dive into her latest crime novel Shellybanks, a haunting tale of secrecy and survival set in Ireland. With Angela Catterns.

‍

Jack Toohey's Better Things Are Possible is a timely manifesto for political, social, and cultural progress, and choosing hope over apathy. A rallying cry to replace defeatism with resilience and channel energy into solutions, find out how rebellious hope will change the world. With Nour Haydar.

‍

Supported by The Guardian

‍

Award-winning journalist and former Labor advisor Sean Kelly gives his definitive account of the Albanese government and explores whether Labor is still up for the good fight. With Julianne Schultz.

‍

Supported by Quarterly Essay

‍

Elizabeth Harrower wrote some of the most intense, original and highly regarded novels of the twentieth century, then abruptly stopped writing in the 1970s. Join Susan Wyndham for a fascinating session as she unmasks a literary legend. With ABC's Kate Evans.

‍

Explore celebrated novelist, playwright, and poet Julie Janson's series of novels Compassion, on the lives of Aboriginal women in 1800s New South Wales, and Benevolence as a counter narrative to colonial history in Australian literature, as well as her latest poetry collection My Kaathi Sister. With Grace Lucas-Pennington.

‍

Supported by Copyright Agency Cultural Fund

‍

Through his fun, relatable ‘bush style’ cooking videos on TikTok and Instagram, Tom Forrest (Outback Tom) has amassed millions of followers who love his recipes and adventures from the heart of the Kimberley. Don't miss this delicious discussion with celebrated Bundjalung chef and restaurateur Mindy Woods.

‍

Supported by Southern Cross University

‍

Acclaimed Chilean poets Julio Carrasco and Faumelisa Manquepillan Calfuleo discuss resistance, connection, and culture in their works. With Javier Encalada.

‍

Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

‍

Explore Walgun (Cape Byron) on a 1.5 hour guided Aboriginal tour with Bundjalung woman Delta Kay. On this tour, guests are taken on an easy walk while learning about significant places and hearing local Aboriginal history and traditional stories.

‍
Find more details and book here.

‍

Join Flow Hive’s Cedar Anderson and Stuart Anderson, and bee expert and postdoctoral researcher Anneliese Austin as they explore the fascinating world of bees, inventive approaches to beekeeping, and the vital role pollinators play in sustaining biodiversity, agriculture and our environment. With want-to-bee beekeeper Leila McKinnon.

Join Courtney Adamo for a discussion of parenting, raising caring kids and creating a happy, comfortable and stylish family home. With Zoe Tuckwell.

‍

Three brilliant local writers discuss their books – a novel, a thriller and a memoir – and their unique approaches to storytelling. With Naima Brown.

Immerse yourself in the Bay and celebrate the coming of winter’s end with the new annual Saltwater Cleanse. Hosted by Delta Kay and Mandy Nolan, we invite you to join us for a morning dip under a new moon to set your intentions for the next season.

‍

This event is by donation, registrations are essential.

‍

Please register here.

Start your day right and get ahead of the news. Join journalists Sean Kelly and Royce Kurmelovs for a discussion of the week's headlines.

Join political animals Bob Carr, Niki Savva and Debbie Whitmont as they assess the state of play in Australian federal politics, the biggest issues of the day, and what lies ahead. With Misha Ketchell.

‍

Supported by The Conversation

‍

Across the world, far-right and authoritarian regimes are in flux. From the United States to Hungary, Syria to Chile, some have risen and others have fallen. But what comes after and what is the role of the writer? Explore regimes, rebellion and rebuilding with Julio Carrasco, Julianne Schultz, Marika Sosnowski and chair David Heilpern.

‍

Join three brilliant literary novelists for a discussion about settings, landscapes and place in their work, and how these elements define the stories they tell. With Mick O'Regan.

‍

Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

‍

Join world champion surfers Pauline Menczer and Joel Taylor and endurance athlete and passionate surfer Turia Pitt for inspiring stories of resilience, inclusivity, surf culture and making surfing accessible to everyone. With Nell Schofield.

‍

Supported by Byron Shire Council

‍

Join Richard Fidler, Zoe Terakes and Lucianne Tonti for an immersive conversation about the allure of ancient texts, characters and stories — and why they are still so compelling today. With Kate Evans.

‍

In the fading glow of Australia's print journalism era, Andrew Pippos paints a portrait of a vanishing world and a love story for the ages in his intelligent and disarming novel The Transformations. With Chris Hanley.

‍

Supported by First National Byron

‍

Join award-winning author and actor Tasma Walton as she shares the true story of her ancestor Nannertgarrook, which became the basis for her powerful novel about maternal love that endures against pitiless odds. With Merinda Dutton.

‍

Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

‍

For more than twenty years, Griffith Review has published the finest emerging and established writers. In this session, three brilliant wordsmiths – Micaela Sahhar, Fiona Wright and Alice Grundy – discuss their latest contributions to the journal, exploring how privilege and power influence our daily lives. With Griffith Review Editor Carody Culver.

‍

Supported by Griffith Review

‍

Luke Bateman, former NRL star and gambling addict, says his love of books and his mum saved him. Luke has now amassed thousands of followers online and is in the process of writing his first fantasy novel series. Join Luke and ABC North Coast Breakfast presenter Bridie Tanner for a revealing, entertaining and powerful session about masculinity, addiction and the love of books.

‍

How can we be good ancestors? Explore how to make transformative change through cultural leadership, legacy, and long-term thinking in a short-term world with Paul Callaghan, Jane Caro, and Roman Krznaric. With Louise Adler.

‍

Supported by Southern Cross University

‍

In Three Shocks, one of our greatest political journalists charts Australia’s course into the new century. Join George Megalogenis for an analysis into what's changing – from migration to the changing face of the labour force, and our shifting trade partners. With Angela Mackay.

‍

Supported by The Book Room

Amid global fuel shocks and renewed climate denialism, join Richard Denniss, Ben Roche and Marian Wilkinson for an informed and hopeful discussion about what it will take to end our fossil fuel dependence, and the political and industrial forces at play. With Isabelle Reinecke.

‍

Explore the natural beauty and poetic pathways of Byron in this walking tour featuring performances by acclaimed poets.

‍

Please meet at Bay St Stage at 10:30am.

‍

Supported by Australian Poetry and Tasmanian Walking Company.

Drawing on a lifetime of journalism and bearing eye witness to half a century of massive global change, Kerry O'Brien delivers the annual Thea Astley Address. In Lessons From History, Kerry traces the two revolutions that have shaped the perfect storm we now find ourselves in – the digital tsunami and neoliberalism – that have seriously undermined the democracy we’ve taken for granted since federation. Hosted by Richard Flanagan.

Witness the next generation of poets as they speak up through slam! Poets Out Loud presents a showcase of fresh young voices from the Northern Rivers, with big prizes up for grabs. Hosted by Sarah Temporal and featuring the 2025 Australian Poetry Slam Champion Arantza Garcia Ferrand.

‍

Presented by Poets Out Loud

‍

Poets Out Loud empowers voices of all ages through events and projects based in the Northern Rivers. Established in 2019 by prize-winning poet Sarah Temporal, our inclusive, hands-on approach has seen hundreds of regional youth speak up through poetry.

‍

This is a free event, registrations are essential. Register here.

From the award-winning, bestselling author of Sorrow and Bliss comes an achingly tender, poignant, funny and bittersweet story of love, loneliness and finding connection in unlikely places. Join Meg Mason in conversation about her latest novel Sophie, Standing There. With Ashley Hay.

Join Miles Franklin winner Siang Lu for a revealing conversation about his profound and highly imaginative novel, Ghost Cities, that draws on Chinese history to explore the absurdity of modern life and work. With ABC Radio National's Cassie McCullagh.

A joyous conversation with readings by some of our favourite writers – Antoun Issa, Pauline Menczer, Zoe Terakes – sharing stories of queer life and love. With Daniel Browning.

Voting in the 2026 ABC Radio National Top 100 Books countdown is about to open and in this second year, it’s the Top 100 Australian Books.

‍

As you ponder your Top 10, Kate and Cassie from ABC Radio National's The Bookshelf bring together a panel of writers to reveal the Australian books that have saved them, shaped them or confronted them. Trent Dalton, Claire Thomas and Steve MinOn share scenes and moments from their own bookshelves.

‍

Sponsored by ABC Radio National.

Brilliant novelists Kris Kneen, Andrew Pippos, Thammika Songkaeo and Steve Toltz discuss love, families, conflict and connection at the heart of their stories. With Steph Harmon.

‍

Join Evelyn Araluen (The Rot), Dakota Feirer (Arsenic Flower) and Amy Remeikis (Screw Nice) for an empowering discussion about how the demand of marginalised people to be 'nice' or compliant in the face of injustice undermines progress, and what to do about it. With Carody Culver.

Join changemakers Ella Bancroft, Osher Günsberg and Jack Toohey for an inspiring conversation about using your platform to take action, build community, and make a difference. With Mandy Nolan.

‍

Supported by Southern Cross University

‍

Against the rise of the 'manosphere', join Luke Bateman, Paul Callaghan and Louise Milligan for a much needed discussion about the pressures on young men, misogynist movements and what can be done about them. With Jane Caro.

‍

Supported by Northern Rivers Community Foundation

Fall in love with stories on screen with acclaimed screenwriter Debra Oswald and actor/writer Tasma Walton, and get an insight into the magic and craft of film and TV. With Nell Schofield.

‍

Supported by Basq House

‍

Knowledge for First Nations peoples comprises living systems of language, story, practice and Country. Join renowned practitioners to explore the depth and complexity of these knowledges and what it means to protect and share them today. With Bebe Oliver.

‍

Supported by Blak & Bright

‍

What are the books that shape our culture? Join international guest Rafael Frumkin with writers Kári Gíslason and Julie Janson to discuss the books that wield influence and form the new canon. With Suzy Freeman-Greene.

‍

Supported by The Conversation

What would the world be like if divine feminine power had never been devalued? Join Lucianne Tonti for a deep dive into Good Witch that is both history and manifesto, reckoning and celebration. With Courtney Miller.

‍

Supported by Organic India

‍

Join Richard Denniss, Melissa Lucashenko and Jack Toohey for a timely discussion about the housing crisis, from policy to lived experience, and what we need to do to ensure everyone has the right to a home. With Alice Grundy.

Supported by The Australia Institute.

‍

Celebrate the art of reading with some of the festival's finest writers – from reading's role to imagine brighter futures, to the importance of nurturing reading as a skill and vocation. With Kris Kneen.

‍

Supported by Copyright Agency Cultural Fund

‍

Poet Evelyn Araluen and novelist Steve Toltz, along with online safety expert Kirra Pendergast, explore the world of AI, the risks it poses to creativity and creative workers, and how we reaffirm the value of human creation. With ABC Radio National's Natasha Mitchell.

‍

Supported by Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

From literary fiction, to crime and poetry, climate and the environment permeates storytelling as an intrinsic experience of our world. Explore how three diverse writers imagine climate and our collective future. With David Heilpern.

International best-selling author and beloved media personality Osher Günsberg shares some of his life lessons and offers a fierce, funny and unforgettable guide to getting you unstuck and back into action. With Leila McKinnon.

‍

In the 1970s and ‘80s, Byron became the Laurel Canyon of Australia. The Music Farm was built and the Arts Factory opened in town. Tricia Shantz has captured a seminal time and place in Musicland: When the Music Came to Byron 1970 - 1995. Shane Howard (Goanna), Murray Burns (Mi-Sex) and industry legend Mark Pope join Tricia Shantz to launch her new book and share stories from this incredible time.

‍

Supported by Jilly Wine Co.

Registrations to compete on the day open from 2pm Saturday 15 August at Byron Library.

‍

Australian Poetry Slam - Byron Heat
Step out from the herd. Listen and get HEARD! Show up, listen, applaud and vote, or get on the mic. Join the search for the people’s poet.
Sign up on the day to compete in the slam.
Featuring winner of the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam Champion, Arantza Garcia Ferrand.

‍

Where: Byron Bay Library, Cnr Middleton & Lawson Street Byron Bay
When: Saturday 16 August 3.00pm - 5.00pm
Cost: Free Event. Bookings required.

‍

Hosted by Miles Merrill

Supported by Word Travels

‍
Register for free here.

Join Bundjalung artist, weaver and fashion designer Kylie Caldwell and regenerative fashion consultant and journalist Lucianne Tonti (Sundressed, Good Witch) for a discussion about sustainable and ethical fashion and the cultural history of textiles and weaving. With Courtney Gibson.

Greet the day with a beautiful guided yoga session.

‍

Book your free ticket here.

John West Youth Poetry Cup & Writers at the Rails
Sunday 16 August
The Railway Friendly Bar, Byron Bay
Hosted by David Hallett

‍

12:00pm - 2:00pm
John West Youth Poetry Cup
* Registrations open 12:00pm

‍

2:00pm - 4:30pm
Writers at The Rails
Features & Open Mic

‍

FREE *Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

Start your day right and get ahead of the news. Join journalists Antoun Issa and Royce Kurmelovs for a discussion of the week's headlines.

Amy Remeikis, one of our most astute political commentators and voice of a dispossessed generation, argues for a complete revision of how we see 'the untouchable prime minister' John Howard’s tenure – and illuminates the path to a better future. With Sean Kelly.

Join bestselling author and media personality Osher Günsberg (So What? Now What?) and writer, poet, editor and critic Fiona Wright (Kill Your Boomers) for an exploration of neurodiversity – from autism to OCD and atypical anorexia – and how we should think about difference and creativity. With ABC Radio National's Natasha Mitchell.

Filmmakers Stephen Axford and Catherine Marciniak reveal the magical world of fungi and the story of their discovery of a new species. With Kris Kneen.

‍

Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

‍

Award-winning women novelists Julie Janson, Debra Oswald, and Geetanjali Shree explore age and 'invisibility', and the ways they represent and re-centre women in literature. With Ashley Hay.

‍

Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

‍

Inspire the writers of the future with a free morning of fun for kids at the Bay St Stage! Let imaginations run wild with wonderful storytellers Tristan Bancks, Sarah Armstrong and Sam Thaiday, then get ready to sing, dance and blast off with Poppy Galactic!

‍

Supported by First National Byron.

‍

‍This is a free event, but tickets are essential, book here.

Join poet Ender Başkan and novelists Steve MinOn, Thammika Songkaeo and Sita Walker for a conversation about writing across cultures, borders and through time. With Kári Gíslason.

With her trademark no-nonsense analysis and drawing from her personal experiences, Jane Caro (Rich Kid, Poor Kid) lays out the facts about the current inequity between public and private schools and what Australia can do to get a public education system worthy of such a wealthy country. With Mick O'Regan.

‍

Supported by The Australia Institute

Join award-winning poet Evelyn Araluen (Dropbear) in conversation about her acclaimed new collection The Rot, which Michelle de Kretser descibes as 'a blaze of a book.' With Grace Lucas-Pennington.

‍

Join award-winning writer Micaela Sahhar for an in-depth conversation with ABC's Sarah Kanowski about Sahhar's family history and her moving chronicle of Palestinian diasporic life in Find Me at the Jaffa Gate.

‍

Supported by ABC Radio National

See all the information for Inside Publishing day, including how to get tickets here.

Prize-winning author Claire Thomas discusses her latest exhilarating feat of storytelling, the novel On Not Climbing Mountains, on the fragilities of the natural world, the pains of grief and memory, and the endless reverberations of art. With Chris Hanley.

‍

Supported by First National Byron

Three wonderfully clever Australian crime writers, Louise Milligan (Shellybanks), Mark Smith (Where Truth Ends), and Lisa Walker (The Pact), discuss their work and what keeps us turning the pages. With Matthew Condon.

‍

Supported by Ink Gin

One of Britain's most popular public philosophers, Roman Kriznaric presents unexpected and hopeful lessons from human history that could help us overcome the global challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. With ABC Radio National's Natasha Mitchell.

Join novelist and poet Fiona Wright and comedian Mandy Nolan for a hilarious and astute conversation about Fiona's audacious book Kill Your Boomers that asks just how far you'll go to get your dream house.

‍

Supported by The Guardian

From the Booker-shortlisted author comes an audacious comic lament for a world that no longer knows itself. Join Steve Toltz in conversation about his latest novel A Rising of the Lights in conversation with fellow acclaimed author Michael Winkler.

‍

Supported by The Guardian

See all the information for Inside Publishing day, including how to get tickets here.

‍

Join celebrated playwright, screenwriter and novelist Debra Oswald in conversation about the magnificent 100 Years of Betty, spanning the life of an ordinary extraordinary woman living through a century of massive change. With Angela Catterns.

‍

Supported by Honey Bee Homes

Ruby Jean Cottle (Black River) and BookTok sensation Luke Bateman dive into Ruby's latest novel White Mountain and celebrate their great loves – vampires, romance and fantasy.