Magabala authors at Sydney Writers Festival 2026
Sunday, May 17 – Sunday, May 24, 2026
Sydney Writers’ Festival brings together a broad and engaged community around the sharing of books, writing and ideas. Catch these Magabala authors at several events across the weekend!
Ellen van Neerven (1 event)
My Writing Soundtrack: Writers on the meaning behind and within music (Thursday 21 May 5-5.55pm)
Tickets from $30
Hear from Lay Maloney, Ellen van Neerven and Mark Chester Harding and Kirli Saunders of Cooee as they explore the connection between music, writing and creativity. Including a special musical performance.
Kirli Saunders (2 events)
Show Me the Truth Gala: Finding nuance, connection and truth in words and stories (Wednesday 20 May 6-7pm)
Carriageworks, Bay 17
Tickets from $50
The great wordsmith Oscar Wilde once said, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”In times of distrust, misinformation and obfuscation, writers must dig deep into the material of their work – words, ideas and stories – to distil the truth of our world and humanity. In this special storytelling gala, writers Robbie Arnott, Nikita Gill, Lily King, Michael Pedersen and Kirli Saunders come together to share experiences, predictions, hopes and memories around the 2026 Festival theme, Show Me the Truth. This event also includes a musical performance by Cooee featuring Kirli and Mark Chester Harding. Reflect on the power of language to connect us, with Robbie, Nikita, Lily, Michael and Kirli.
My Writing Soundtrack: Writers on the meaning behind and within music (Thursday 21 May 5-5.55pm)
Tickets from $30
Hear from Lay Maloney, Ellen van Neerven and Mark Chester Harding and Kirli Saunders of Cooee as they explore the connection between music, writing and creativity. Including a special musical performance.
Luke Patterson (1 event)
Dreaming Big: Voices from the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre (Friday 22 May 11-11.55am)
Free event
Hear First Nations writers Gary Lonesborough, Bruce Pascoe, Luke Patterson and Melanie Saward explore the challenges and responsibilities of authentic storytelling about the effects of the justice system on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
Bruce Pascoe (3 events)
Dreaming Big: Voices from the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre (Friday 22 May 11-11.55am)
Free event
Hear First Nations writers Gary Lonesborough, Bruce Pascoe, Luke Patterson and Melanie Saward explore the challenges and responsibilities of authentic storytelling about the effects of the justice system on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
Past, Present, Emerging: On First Nations writing yesterday, today and tomorrow (Friday 22 May 3-3.55pm)
Tickets from $30
Hear from Tony Birch, Melissa Lucashenko, Bruce Pascoe and Tasma Walton as they discuss their literary lineages.
Fireside: Sky Stories: Sharing First Nations’ knowledge of the universe and stars above (Saturday 23 May 6-6.45pm)
Free event
Explore astronomy, astrophysics and climate crisis through science and philosophy with astrophysicist Ray Norris and Aboriginal farmer and writer Bruce Pascoe in this free fireside event.
Ray Norris (1 event)
Fireside: Sky Stories: Sharing First Nations’ knowledge of the universe and stars above (Saturday 23 May 6-6.45pm)
Free event
Explore astronomy, astrophysics and climate crisis through science and philosophy with astrophysicist Ray Norris and Aboriginal farmer and writer Bruce Pascoe in this free fireside event.
Get your tickets or register for free events at the link below.
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