FAQs

The next Sydney Writers' Festival will be held in May 2027. Some events may fall outside these dates and are advertised on individual event listings. Sign up to our enews to be the first to know when tickets go on sale.

Please aim to arrive 30 minutes before the event start time to ensure you give yourself plenty of time to locate the venue and find your seat.

Yes, you can get your book signed after most Festival events. Book signings take place in Bay 21 at Carriageworks or in the foyer of Sydney Town Hall and the State Library of NSW. 

Access information is listed on each event page. You can speak to our customer service team by emailing [email protected] or calling (02) 9256 4200.

Companion Card holders qualify for a complimentary ticket for their companion.

If you are attending as or with a current Companion Card holder, please contact our customer service team for more information on how to book.

Our staff are available to help at any time, please approach them for assistance if required.

You can find all relevant information on accessibility of our events, and what options we have available here.

Concession tickets are available to all children aged 16 and under and valid concession card holders, including full-time students, Health Care Card holders, Seniors Card holders and Pensioners Concession Card holders. You may be required to show proof of eligibility when entering the venue. Please make sure you have your concession card with you when you arrive.

Children aged two and under are eligible for free entry if they do not require a seat and can sit on a parent or guardian's lap. They do not receive a physical ticket. Those aged above two will need to book a ticket at concession price.  

GA/General Admission means that there is no allocated seating in the event. You can go in and sit where you please to get the view of the event that you desire, if that seat has not already been taken.

If you are looking to purchase additional tickets next to your current tickets, please call the box office on (02) 9256 4200 and we will discuss with you what is possible to get the best outcome for you and your friends.  

The Festival is made up of free and ticketed events. Please check the information provided on our website or in our brochure to determine whether a booking is required.

Please find the ticketing terms and conditions here.

Tickets are available to book online up to 15 minutes before an event commences.

The box office opens one hour prior to event start times for out of season shows with tickets available for purchase.

A booking fee will apply to your ticket purchase. You will be notified of all applicable fees prior to purchase. The fee amount is dependent on the value of your cart. This fee is applied whether the order is via our website, or over the phone. This fee is not applied if you purchase a ticket in person at the Box Office at the Venue.

The fee range is as below:

$1 – $39.99 = $3 booking fee

$40 – $49.99 = $4 booking fee

$50 – $59.99 = $5 booking fee

$60 – $69.99 = $6 booking fee

$70 – $79.99 = $7 booking fee

$80+ = $7.50 booking fee

All Print at Home (PAH) Tickets and Mobile Tickets are sent out seven (7) days prior to the event.

If you do not receive your tickets 48 hours out from your event, please email [email protected] or call the box office on 02 9256 4200 to get your ticket(s) arranged immediately. 

If you believe you are entitled to a refund, please email [email protected] or phone the box office on (02) 9256 4200 and we will discuss your request with you. Please refer to our full refund policy in our Terms and Conditions for more information on what can and cannot be refunded. 

If you are unable to attend the Festival and want to cancel your tickets, please contact us on [email protected] or (02) 9256 4200 and we will discuss your options with you.

Thanks for your interest! Visit our Volunteer page for the latest information. 

Invitations are issued at the discretion of the Artistic Director.

Each year, Sydney Writers' Festival receives hundreds of unsolicited submissions from authors wishing to speak at the Festival or putting forward ideas for the program. We are not able to respond to the submissions or return materials sent for consideration.

While publishers attend Sydney Writers' Festival, the Festival is not the appropriate avenue to present your book to publishers. We recommend you approach publishers through the usual channels, either by submitting your manuscript directly or by engaging a literary agent.

If you need advice on getting your book published, please visit the websites of the Australian Society of Authors or Australian Publishers Association.

No. For privacy reasons, we are unable to pass on contact details for authors and we cannot pass on messages. The best way to contact authors is through their publisher or agents.

You are welcome to recommend an author for consideration. Please email your suggestions to [email protected]. Due to the volume of suggestions, we are unable to respond to each one.

You can find the Privacy Policy here. 

Many events are recorded each year for our podcast program, but at this time there has been no decision made on which events will be published on the website. The best thing to do is to keep an eye on our e-newsletter and follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on your podcast app.

Podcasts will be released throughout the year and there is a large library of past podcasts available on our channel.

Yes, Sydney Writers’ Festivals offers a range of free events. In 2025, over 30% of our events were free. The majority of these are in Bays 22–24 at Carriageworks or in our In Your Neighbourhood program. 

For any general inquiries or feedback, please contact Sydney Writers’ Festival by emailing [email protected].

If you want to discuss your tickets with someone, please email [email protected] or call the box office on 02 9256 4200. We will aim to find a resolution.  

Please email [email protected] or call the box office on (02) 9256 4200 with your order number and details of the double charge so that we can investigate this for you.