Sydney Writers’ Festival has positioned itself as a defender of literary free speech by including Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah in its 2026 program, after her removal from Adelaide Writers’ Week sparked a mass boycott and director resignation earlier this year.
The festival runs 17-24 May with more than 200 events featuring over 250 writers at venues including Carriageworks, Sydney Town Hall and the State Library of NSW. Audiences of over 100,000 are expected across the eight days.
The inclusion reflects the festival’s explicit stance on controversial programming. “A festival like ours, which holds freedom of expression as a core value, is not in the business of cancelling or censoring writers,” said CEO Brooke Webb and Artistic Director Ann Mossop.
However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from Jewish community leaders who describe a heavily one-sided approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Former festival chair Kathy Shand, who sits on the board of the Sydney Jewish Museum, resigned in February 2025 following disagreements about programming. “Freedom of expression should not justify programming that undermines the festival’s responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive environment,” Shand said.
The controversy mirrors the Adelaide Writers’ Week upheaval, where 180 writers boycotted after Abdel-Fattah’s removal and director Louise Adler resigned in protest. “The board’s decision to disinvite Abdel-Fattah weakens freedom of speech and is the harbinger of a less free nation, where lobbying and political pressure determine who gets to speak and who doesn’t,” Adler said.
This year’s theme, “Show Me the Truth,” explores trust and storytelling in uncertain times. The program spans fiction, non-fiction, poetry, politics, memoir, journalism and children’s literature with 39 international guests joining over 220 Australian writers.
First Nations voices feature prominently, including Evelyn Araluen, Tony Birch, and Bruce Pascoe, who calls for urgency on the climate crisis through poetry. The representation reflects a growing wave of Indigenous authors reshaping Australian literature.
The Great Debate returns to Sydney Town Hall on 21 May with the topic “We Can’t Handle the Truth,” led by teams captained by Annabel Crabb and David Marr.
Access has expanded significantly with over 55 free events, up from around 33 in previous years. Family Day on Sunday 24 May offers free storytelling, workshops, performances, and Russ the Story Bus. Ticketed sessions range from free to $45, with festival passes from $140.
R.F. Kuang has already added a second show due to overwhelming demand, signalling strong early ticket uptake for headline international authors. Popular sessions at Carriageworks typically fill quickly given the venue’s finite capacity.
The festival positions itself among the top five literary events globally and has brought thousands of writers to Sydney since 1997. For budget-conscious families, the expanded free programming means experiencing major festival atmosphere without paying premium session fees.
Quick Facts
Sydney Writers’ Festival
Australia’s largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Since 1997, the festival has brought together world-class novelists, poets, journalists, public intellectuals and thought leaders with Australian and international audiences. Held annually in May, it features over 200 events across multiple Sydney venues, with approximately one-third of events free to attend.
Carriageworks
Located at 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, Carriageworks is a 45,000-square-metre creative precinct and the primary venue for the Sydney Writers’ Festival since 2018. The former railway workshop hosts the festival’s main precinct, transforming into a hub of literary conversations, book signings, and performances across eight days each May.
City of Sydney
The local government authority for central Sydney. The City of Sydney is a major supporter of the Sydney Writers’ Festival, recognising it as a cultural project vital to shaping Sydney’s creative identity and connecting local audiences with ideas from around the world.