Literary luminaries for Byron Writers Festival revealed

A WHO’S who of Australian authors and public figures will descend on the Northern Rivers for the Byron Writers Festival, with novelist and playwright Tom Keneally, media personality Andrew Denton and former foreign correspondent Peter Greste among the headline guests.

Surfer Layne Beachley, 2024 Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer and entrepreneur and skincare founder Zoë Foster Blake will also take the stage at the event, which will be held at Bangalow Showground from August 8 to 10.

Festival director Jessica Alice said this year’s program is an epic one, designed to reflect the theme Passion and Purpose.

“I’m so thrilled to finally be able to reveal all with our incredible line-up of writers coming to the festival this year,” she said. “We’re really bringing together some iconic, legendary writers from Australia and around the world as well as phenomenal new voices for a big celebration of everything we love about books, writing and the sharing of ideas.”

Among the international drawcards are Pulitzer Prize finalist John Vaillant from Canada, UK author Esther Freud, and Indian poet, writer and scholar Akhil Katyal.

They join a powerhouse list of previously announced Australian authors, including literary icon Helen Garner, Alone Australia season one Zoë winner Gina Chick, 2025 Stella Prize winner Michelle de Kretser and The Book Thief author Markus Zusak.

“Everyone knows that the Byron Writers Festival is the biggest and most well-loved regional writers’ festival in Australia and it’s such a beautiful part of the world but also a place where we’re having really important discussions,” said Alice. “This is a hotspot for creativity and we’re also on the frontline of climate change.”

A dedicated Sunday Kids Program will also run as part of the event, featuring popular children’s authors such as Peter Helliar, Zanni Louise and Tony Armstrong.

Several Northern Rivers locals will also feature in the lineup, including Humans of Lismore creator Denise Alison, along with Sonya Voumard, Naima Brown, P.A. Thomas, Kayte Nunn, Lisa Messenger and Sarah Megginson.

To see the full program or buy tickets, visit byronwritersfestival.com