Program Changes

The following events have changed since the publication of the 2026 Sydney Writers' Festival Program Guide. 

Wednesday 6 May

• NEW EVENT: A second time for the event Niall Williams in Conversation has been added to the program and is taking place on Wednesday 6 May, 1–2pm.

Sunday 17 May

• TIME UPDATE: After Bondi on Sunday 17 May is now running from 1.45–3pm.

Thursday 21 May

• TIME UPDATE: Back to Back Barries LIVE on Thursday 21 May, 9–9.30am is now running from 9–9.45am.

• PARTICIPANT UPDATE: DOBBY is unable to attend Sydney Writers' Festival and will no longer be appearing in Middle of the Air: Music and Lyrics on Thursday 21 May, 7–7.55pm.

• TIME UPDATE: Secrets of the Lodge on Thursday 21 May is now running from 11–11.55am.

Friday 22 May

• TITLE UPDATE: Dreaming Big: Voices from the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre on Friday 22 May, 11am–12pm is now titled Dreaming Big: Voices from Detention.

• VENUE UPDATE: Susan Choi: Flashlight on Friday 22 May, 12–1pm is now taking place in Bay 17 at Carriageworks.

• VENUE UPDATE: Tony Abbott: Australia: A History on Friday 22 May, 12–1pm is now taking place in Bay 20 at Carriageworks.

• PARTICIPANT UPDATE: Lucy Clark is unable to attend Sydney Writers' Festival and will no longer be appearing in The Guardian's Are You Game Show on Friday 22 May, 5–6pm. Alyx Gorman will be appearing instead.

Saturday 23 May 

• TITLE UPDATE: The Future of Democracy: Trump's America with Jon Sopel on Saturday 23 May, 12–1pm is now titled The Future of Democracy: Democracy After Trump with Jon Sopel.

• NEW EVENT: A second date for the event An Evening with R.F. Kuang has been added to the program and is taking place on Saturday 23 May, 7.30–8.30pm.