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Local News

Byron Writers Festival turns 30 with a weekend of big ideas

The Echo - August 12, 2026 0

Books, big ideas, Viking ghosts and even an early morning ocean dip will take over Byron Bay this weekend as the Byron Writers Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Entertainment News

Early risers rejoice!

Byron Writers Festival - August 6, 2026 0

While most of the Bay is still hitting snooze, Byron Writers Festival’s early birds are invited to join us in the water, on the mat, or deep in headline discussions at this year’s festival – and the best part is, several of these sunrise sessions are free.

Interviews

Shane Howard on mining for gold in Musicland

Byron Writers Festival - August 5, 2026 0

Byron Writers Festival spoke with poet, musician, writer, singer, producer, and former Goanna frontman, Shane Howard. Speaking to Shane is like mining for gold. If by mining you mean reclining on a lilo in a pool with a cocktail, and the person doing the hard graft is handing you nugget after nugget of the good stuff.

Entertainment News

Free events across the Byron Writers Festival

Byron Writers Festival - August 4, 2026 0

A rich program of free events runs across Byron Writers Festival’s 30th anniversary weekend from 14 to 16 August.

Byron Echo

Putting the planet centre stage

Byron Writers Festival - July 30, 2026 0

As Byron Writers Festival marks its 30th year this August, some of the country’s sharpest minds turn to the defining question of our time: the future of the planet.

Interviews

A fungi love story captured in time-lapse

Byron Writers Festival - July 30, 2026 0

Award-winning filmmaker, directors and photography team, Catherine Marciniak and Stephen Axford have combined their expertise in art, science, and storytelling through their film Follow the Rain and are co-authors of a new book, Planet Fungi: A Photographer’s Foray.

Interviews

Antoinette Lattouf on courage, cultural barriers, and women who win

Byron Writers Festival - July 23, 2026 0

Award-winning journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s case against the ABC became central to debates on free speech, employee rights, institutional accountability, and the consequences of challenging media power.

Byron Echo

Get published – workshops and sessions at this year’s Writers Festival

Byron Writers Festival - July 23, 2026 0

For writers with a manuscript in the drawer or a story taking shape, the 2026 Byron Writers Festival offers a rare and practical window into the world of professional publishing.

Byron Echo

Big ideas for a changing world at Writers Festival

Byron Writers Festival - July 23, 2026 0

If the state of the world has you searching for answers, Byron Writers Festival’s 30th anniversary program delivers three days of urgent conversation on the forces shaping our future, from artificial intelligence to the housing crisis.

Byron Echo

Deadly stories: powerful First Nations voices at Byron Writers Festival 2026

Byron Writers Festival - July 9, 2026 0

This year’s festival celebrates some of the most vital and impactful storytelling in Australian literature, with a dedicated program of First Nations writers whose work spans historical fiction, picture books and Indigenous knowledge and whose voices are reshaping how this country understands itself.

Interviews

Evelyn Araluen on coming home to Country

Byron Writers Festival - July 8, 2026 0

Byron Writers Festival interviews prize-winning poet Evelyn Araluen who will present her new poetry collection, 'The Rot', at the 2026 Byron Writers Festival.

Byron Echo

First Nations voices at the opening and heart of writers festival

Byron Writers Festival - July 7, 2026 0

Byron Writers Festival opens on Bundjalung Country on August 14 with a Calling to Country led by local Arakwal Bundjalung custodian, Delta Kay, and this year will feature the inaugural Rhoda Roberts Oration, honouring the late, beloved Rhoda Roberts AO.

Byron Echo

Women to the front: the female voices shaping the 2026 Byron Writers Festival

Byron Writers Festival - July 2, 2026 0

The 2026 Byron Writers Festival program puts women front and centre. Journalists, novelists, and an award-winning columnist bring an extraordinary breadth of stories to Bundjalung Country this August.

Interviews

Osher’s next act: transforming recovery into a toolkit

Byron Writers Festival - July 2, 2026 0

Byron Writers Festival talks with best-selling author Osher Günsberg whose new book, So What? Now What? is a mental health toolkit and a compelling follow-up to his critically-acclaimed 2018 memoir, Back, After The Break.

Byron Echo

Fresh ink: new releases making their festival debut

The Echo - June 29, 2026 0

This year’s Byron Writers Festival is a first-look destination, with several of Australia’s most anticipated new books arriving at the festival before the ink has barely dried.

Interviews

The ghosts of generations – Siang Lu at Byron Writers Festival 2026

The Echo - June 29, 2026 0

The Byron Writers Festival talks to author Siang Lu about his book, Ghost Cities, which won the Miles Franklin Award in 2025.

The Good Life

Attica chef Ben Shewry: be kinder to all things rather than toxic

The Echo - July 29, 2025 1

Melbourne’s culinary icon and award-winning restaurateur Ben Shewry – of Attica fame – takes centre stage at the 2025 Byron Writers Festival. Ben will...

Interviews

Byron Writers Festival in conversation with writer and artist, Kirli Saunders

The Echo - July 29, 2025 0

Proud Gunai Woman Kirli Saunders (OAM) is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, author of nine books, poet and singer-songwriter who will bring her bold, boundary-pushing voice to the Byron Writers Festival.

Entertainment News

Poetry, comics and dinner parties of a different kind

The Echo - July 29, 2025 0

From a hands-on comic and zine workshop, to the heart-thumping, exhilarating Australian Poetry Slam, there are events and workshops as part of the Byron Writers Festival for all kinds of storytelling.

Entertainment News

Literary heavyweights coming to Byron Writers Festival

The Echo - July 22, 2025 0

This year’s writers festival boasts one of the most impressive lineups in years, featuring big names in Australian and international literature.

Interviews

Interview with Esther Freud, international headliner at Byron Writers Festival

The Echo - July 22, 2025 0

Byron Writers Festival talked to British novelist Esther Freud in the lead-up to this year's festival.

Interviews

Interview with Terraglossia author Debra Dank

The Echo - July 22, 2025 0

Debra Dank is passionate about the environment, especially as her Country, on the Beetaloo Basin, is under threat of being fracked. Her latest book is Terraglossia

The Good Life

Byron Writers Festival: cake creator Nadine Ingram

The Echo - July 22, 2025 1

With a career spanning Michelin-starred kitchens, to her own artisan bakery, beloved Sydney baker and Flour and Stone founder Nadine Ingram joins Byron Writers...

Entertainment News

The best new release books at Byron Writers Festival

The Echo - July 22, 2025 0

From practical non-fiction on how to ditch fossil fuels in the home, to the best new crime, sci-fi, and spellbinding fiction from international guests, there is something for everyone at this year’s Byron Writers Festival.

Entertainment News

Writers Festival Kids Program – family festival fun!

The Echo - July 22, 2025 0

If you know a budding bookworm, the Byron Writers Festival Kids Program is the perfect place to nurture their love of storytelling while having an absolute blast!

Interviews

Q&A with TV star and kids author Tony Armstrong

The Echo - July 22, 2025 0

Tony Armstrong found national acclaim as an AFL player turned TV personality. Now he’s a successful children’s book author and will share his latest book Maggie the Dragon at Byron Writers Festival’s Kids Program.

Entertainment News

Passion for politics at Byron Writers Festival

The Echo - July 21, 2025 0

Planning your big weekend at Byron Writers Festival? We take a look at the hot button topics at Australia’s largest regional writers festival this August.

Interviews

Sit down with performer Ziggy Ramo

The Echo - July 21, 2025 0

Ziggy Ramo is an award-winning artist whose work spans music, literature, film, and performance. This year, Ramo brings his powerful voice and vision to Byron Writers Festival.

Entertainment News

Big names and big issues explored at writers festival

The Echo - July 17, 2025 0

This year’s Byron Writers Festival is a star-studded celebration of national icons and local legends gathered under the festival theme Passion & Purpose.

Byron Echo

Cheer up, slow down, chill out at Byron Writers Festival

The Echo - July 30, 2024 0

With just one week until Byron Writers Festival 2024, take in the good vibes coming to Bangalow Showground.

Byron Echo

Getting into Deep Water with James Bradley

The Echo - July 30, 2024 0

James Bradley’s magnificent book Deep Water is a hymn to the beauty, mystery and wonder of the ocean. Byron Writers Festival spoke with him about the world beneath.

Byron Echo

Kids Big Day Out – festival fun for all the family!

The Echo - July 30, 2024 0

On Sunday 11 August at Byron Writers Festival the Lilly Pilly marquee transforms into a giant immersive storytelling arena where authors and illustrators will entertain, inspire and delight.

Local News

Inspiring the next gen of readers

The Echo - July 30, 2024 0

A stellar line-up of authors and performers will entertain the younger generation of readers and authors, with the return of the Byron Writers Festival’s Kids Big Day Out.

Byron Echo

Hot button issues explored at Byron Writers Festival

The Echo - July 23, 2024 1

This year’s festival features the authors of topical new books on politics in America, India, and the Middle East, as well as feminism, land rights, inequality, law and media.

The Good Life

A Seat at My Table: Philoxenia, by Kon & Sia Karapanagiotidis

Sandra Davey - July 23, 2024 1

This is a beautiful cookbook rich in colour, flavours, history, culture and heart. Who better to document Greek recipes than Greek-Australian Kon Karapanagiotidis, someone...

Interviews

Byron Writers Festival: interview with Irish novelist Caoilinn Hughes

Byron Writers Festival - July 23, 2024 0

Byron Writers Festival caught up with Irish storyteller Caoilinn Hughes about her latest novel, The Alternatives.

Byron Echo

Young readers well catered for with contemporary books and rising stars

The Echo - July 18, 2024 0

This year’s festival features some of the buzziest young authors, including Bri Lee, author of Eggshell Skull with a new novel called The Work. Lee will appear alongside zeitgeisty author Jessie Tu with The Honeyeater.

Byron Echo

Experience books in a whole new way at Byron Writers Festival

The Echo - July 17, 2024 1

“Living eulogies”, launches and poetic performances – Australia’s largest regional writers festival embraces the theatrical with a series of evening feature events.

Byron Echo

Treating trauma with MDMA – Q&A with Rebecca Huntley

The Echo - July 16, 2024 0

Sociologist Rebecca Huntley will launch her new book Sassafras at Byron Writers Festival. We speak with her about her experience of new drug treatments.

Byron Echo

Byron Writers Festival 2024: Bruce Pascoe Q&A

The Echo - July 10, 2024 0

Byron Writers Festival guests Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood’s book Black Duck: A Year at Yumburra is a personal and beautiful reflection on life, Country and the consequences of Dark Emu through six seasons on their farm. Here Bruce Pascoe answers some questions about the experience.

Byron Echo

Dive head first into some 2024’s biggest books at the Byron Writers Festival

The Echo - July 10, 2024 0

With the festival just over a month away, here’s a taste of some of the biggest and most compelling books in the Byron Writers Festival 2024 program.

The Good Life

Karkalla at Home: 110 recipes using native foods

The Echo - July 9, 2024 7

Karkalla at Home is a vibrant cookbook that brings Australia’s wonderful bounty of unique native foods into the home kitchen with more than 110...

Letters

How can we keep paying for incompetence

Annie Radermacher, Brunswick Heads - August 29, 2026 0

The only way forward is going backwards. That’s how I explain the current situation of Byron Shire Council. The ongoing neglect of our major...

National News

Greens urged to back pathway to end native forest logging

The Echo - August 28, 2026 0

Some of NSW’s most respected and long-standing forest campaigners and scientists have today urged the Greens not to support the Nationals' attempt to disallow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method.

Local News

Ballina Council makes decision on Ross Lane

David Lowe - August 28, 2026 0

With the absence of all four of its progressive councillors for various reasons, Ballina Council pushed ahead with its agenda at yesterday's monthly meeting, including a decision which is likely to close Ross Lane for months while the road is upgraded.

Local News

Mullumbimby puts new governance models first, and now wants to build it

The Echo - August 28, 2026 0

Imagine Northern Rivers says Mullumbimby is the only community across the region to rank new models of governance and decision-making as the number one element of its preferred future, and last week locals gathered to work out how to make it real.