Purchase tickets to multiple Festival events and receive a discount.

  • Buy 3 events and get 5% off
  • Buy 4 events and get 10% off
  • Buy 5 or more events and get 15% off

The discount is automatically applied at cart to the face value of your tickets.

Explore the program and book today. 

Do I need to buy tickets to attend SWF events?

The Festival is made up of free and paid events. All paid events require booking, and most free events do too. Events do sell out quickly, so we recommend you book your tickets in advance.

How do I book?

The best way to book tickets for the Sydney Writers’ Festival is via our website. Simply click the Book Tickets button on the page of the event you want to attend.

Online

Online booking is available 24/7 via our website.

Phone

Our Box Office staff can book your tickets for you over the phone (you can use the Event Code in the brochure or on the webpage as a handy reference). The Box Office team is available at (02) 9256 4200 at the following times: 

Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm

Select weekends: 10am–4pm
(18 and 19 March; 20 and 21 May, and 27 and 28 May)

The Sydney Writers’ Festival Box Office is closed on the Easter long weekend (Good Friday–Easter Monday, 7–11 April) and ANZAC Day (25 April).

Tickets for events at Carriageworks and Sydney Town Hall can be booked directly through the Sydney Writers’ Festival.

Sydney Writers’ Festival uses different ticketing agencies for some of our events and venues. If you search for the event you want to attend on the Sydney Writers’ Festival website, the Book Tickets button on each page will take you to the right place.

When will I get my tickets?

All tickets for the 2023 Festival will be issued electronically. You can either bring a physical printout of your e-ticket(s) to your event(s) or show your e-ticket(s) on a mobile device.

Tickets purchased before 15 May will be sent out the week prior to the festival. Tickets purchased after 15 May will be sent on purchase. If you have not received an e-ticket 48 hours before your first event, please contact our Box Office team at ticketing@swf.org.au or (02) 9256 4200.

How much are tickets?

Prices vary depending on the event you wish to attend, and a single booking fee of $6.00 applies per booking transaction made through Sydney Writers’ Festival (bookings for free events will not incur transaction fees). Please check event web pages for individual pricing information or call our Box Office team on 02 9256 4200.

When are event box offices open?

During the week of the Festival, you can book tickets in person at the onsite box office.

Carriageworks Box Office

Tuesday 23–Wednesday 24, 2pm–last event
Thursday 25–Sunday 28 May, 9am–last event.

Do I need an account to buy tickets via swf.org.au?

Yes. Once you have an account, you will be able to purchase tickets online, save bookmarked events to your account (look for the My Events symbol on the top of each web page) and print a schedule of your events.

I don’t have a Sydney Writers’ Festival account.

Create a new account on our website. Please remember your email and password for future reference. When you log in next time, your user name will be your email address.

I receive the SWF e-newsletter, do I already have an account?

You are halfway there! Please select ‘retrieve your password’ here to finalise your account setup.

I already have an account but haven’t logged in for some time.

If you can’t remember your account password, select ‘retrieve your password’ here to reset it.

If you have any questions or experience any issues with your account, please don’t hesitate to call our Box Office team on 02 9256 4200 during business hours.

Can I print a schedule of My Events?

Yes. Your bookmarked events will carry across to your My Events page. Here, you can easily print a schedule of your events (or save them as a PDF). Please log in to your account to save these events to your account and purchase tickets.

Can I buy tickets on the day?

Yes, subject to availability. Visit the Sydney Writers’ Festival Box Office at Carriageworks or the box office at the venue of the event you are attending. We recommend booking online to avoid box office queues. Tickets are available to purchase online up to one hour prior to the event starting (subject to availability).

Am I eligible for a concession price?

Concession prices are available for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Health Care Card holders and Pensioner Concession Card holders. Proof of concession eligibility is required at point of sale and upon entering venues.

Can I purchase a gift certificate?

Spoil someone you love with a Sydney Writers' Festival Gift Voucher. Gift Vouchers are valid for 36 months from date of purchase and can be redeemed from the Sydney Writers' Festival Box Office and website. Purchase a Gift Voucher on our website.

How do I book accessible tickets?

Sydney Writers’ Festival strives to make its events available for all to enjoy. Please contact our Box Office team by phone on 02 9256 4200 or email at ticketing@swf.org.au to make accessible bookings or enquiries.

All Festival venues are accessible, including wheelchair and level access.

To book accessible seats for events at Riverside Theatres, please contact the venue box offices directly

Riverside Theatres

02 8839 3399

boxoffice_riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

For all other events, please refer to the individual event listings for booking details.

For more information on accessibility, please visit our access page.

Companion Card holders

Companion Card holders qualify for a complimentary ticket for their companion. Please contact the Sydney Writers’ Festival Box Office directly on 02 9256 4200 for assistance with your booking.

National Relay Service

Sydney Writers’ Festival accepts phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users can phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9256 4200. Speak and Listen users can phone 1300 555 727, then ask for 02 9256 4200. Internet relay users can visit relayservice.gov.au, then ask for 02 9256 4200.

For more details on the Auslan-interpreted and open-captioned event and venues fitted with a hearing loop system, please visit our access information page.

 

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Can I refund or exchange my tickets?

Sydney Writers’ Festival regrets that it is not possible to refund completed bookings, except as required by law or in accordance with the LPA Ticketing Code of Conduct. Exchanges are only permitted to another performance of the same event. Any exchanges must be made at the original point of sale and may be subject to exchange fees and availability.

What is your Ticketing policy in relation to COVID-19?

If you are unable to attend your purchased event due to a COVID-related reason, such as exhibiting COVID symptoms, contracting COVID, being exposed to COVID, or being subject to quarantine or isolation orders, please contact the Sydney Writers' Festival Box Office as soon as possible. We can discuss the most appropriate exchange, credit or refund options for your circumstances. We may require evidence supporting your request for a refund.

What happens if I lose my tickets?

If you can’t access your e-ticket(s), please contact the Sydney Writers’ Festival Box Office at least one hour prior to the event to have a ticket reissued.

What happens if I am running late for an event? Do I get a refund on my ticket?

Being late affects the event participants and the audience. Sydney Writers’ Festival reserves the right to exclude latecomers to certain events or to admit them only during a suitable break in the proceedings. Check the time on the ticket and plan ahead. Sydney Writers’ Festival regrets it is not possible to refund a missed event.

Fees and charges

The ticket prices listed on the website are inclusive of GST and credit card charges do apply. As a registered charity, Sydney Writers’ Festival charges a transaction fee to cover the costs associated with providing our booking facilities. We endeavour to keep our booking fees as low as possible. Transaction fees do not apply for  Children’s and YA (young adult events).

Program changes

Every effort has been made to ensure program details are correct; however, details are subject to change where necessary and without notice. Please be advised that event speakers and or content may be subject to change. We cannot refund these tickets if the event is still taking place.

Please refer to our Changes page on swf.org.au.

Where can I find your Privacy Policy?

You can read our full Privacy Policy on our website. 

Please read our full terms and conditions.