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July 9, 2026

First guests revealed for Byron Writers Fest

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Best-selling author Jane Harper is just one in a stellar line-up of talent coming to Byron Bay.

The first wave of authors set to grace the Byron Writers Festival stages for the 2024 event have been announced.

The annual event attracts local and interstate visitors and will be held August 9–11 at the Bangalow Showground.  

New Artistic Director, Jessica Alice, says the festival’s theme is ‘From the ground up’, and will feature: international bestsellers Trent Dalton and Jane Harper; acclaimed writer and farmer Bruce Pascoe; Booker Prize winner Richard Flanagan; Irish novelist Caoilinn Hughes; PEN award-winning author and poet Nam Le; playwright and novelist Suzie Miller; investigative journalist and debut novelist Louise Milligan; and local speculative fiction writer, Mykaela Saunders.

Writers; Emily Brugman, Sarah Armstrong and Marele Day, right with the new Writers Festival Director Jessica Alice. at Tuesday,s Festival Launch at Bangalow's Nimbella Gallery.
Writers Emily Brugman, Sarah Armstrong and Marele Day (right) with the Writers Centre’s new Director Jessica Alice. at Tuesday’s Festival Launch at Bangalow’s Nimbella Gallery.

A taste of things to come

Ms Alice says the first announcement of celebrated guests gives a taste of things to come, and the full program of more than 100 writers, thinkers and commentators will be revealed on June 19.

She says, ‘The festival will host literary luminaries whose work represents deep wisdom, radical insight and thoughtful engagement with their readers’. 

‘This first release is a glimpse of a richly diverse program with some of the biggest names and brilliant voices to discover,’ she said.

Byron Writer's Festival artistic director, Jessica Alice.
Byron Writer’s Festival artistic director, Jessica Alice.

From the ground up 

‘Our theme “From the ground up” will connect with Country, community and culture, from environmental movements to First Nations self-determination and the futures we build for ourselves today,’ said Ms Alice.

Early bird three-day passes are now on sale at www.byronwritersfestival.com.



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