Now in its 20^th year, Byron Bay Writers Festival is bringing together politicians, novelists, historians, journalists, biographers, poets, memoirists, comedians and songwriters to celebrate literature and ideas. This year, the event features a program of over 160 sessions from Friday August 5 to Sunday August 7 that are designed to challenge, entertain and inform and inspire. The focus of the program is firmly on Australian writing, with recognition of our physical place in the world through the inclusion of Indonesian and Asian authors. The Byron Bay Writers Festival enjoys a close relationship with the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and believes that through words and ideas, bridges are formed that cross cultures and schisms. Fundamentally, the festival provides a forum for intelligent discussion and guests are invited to address the issues that matter to them as writers and which necessarily concern us all. It is a celebration of the vitality of thought and creativity with a healthy emphasis on fun.

The Byron Bay Writers Festival is organised by the staff and Committee of the Northern Rivers Writers’ Centre, a member based organisation receiving core funding from Arts NSW.