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Byron Writers Festival is Australia’s favourite regional meeting place of storytelling and ideas This year’s program invites contemplation of a life well-lived, with literature and art at its centre. It celebrates the act of creation, of writing and art making, community building, and the good, hard work of progress.
Tickets, tickets, get your tickets! Create your perfect festival experience with a range of ticket options. The 3-Day Pass gives you full access to over 110 sessions from Friday to Sunday. The 1-Day Pass offers complete access to all sessions on your chosen day. Bring young readers along for the Kids Program on Sunday morning or extend your experience with the Feature and Satellite Events, separately ticketed sessions with special guests from the 2025 program. Get your tickets at www.byronwritersfestival.com.
Meet your literary heroes After each session in the main program, festivalgoers can take part in book signings with some of Australia’s most celebrated writers and international guests. The book signing is where the stories come to life again through personal chats and writer autographs. Don’t miss your opportunity to connect with the authors who’ve shaped your bookshelf and your thinking. Buy your books at the official onsite bookstore The Book Room and have them personally signed by your favourites.
A feast for your senses Getting to the festival From fresh, local eats to artisan coffee and cool afternoon sips, we’ve got your cravings covered. Wander the festival grounds and discover a vibrant mix of food stalls serving up everything from vegan delights to gluten-free goodness. Need a caffeine fix? Our coffee carts are ready to pour a warming brew – BYO keep cup. When the sessions wrap, the conversation doesn’t stop – head to our Festival Bar at the A&I Hall from 4pm on Friday and Saturday, and during Feature Events. Sip, mingle, and keep the good times going.
PARKING at Bangalow Showground
The Kids Program
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Byron Writers Festival ’25. Join us for three days of conversation and performances with esteemed Australian and international writers who have gathered here in the Northern Rivers for Australia’s largest regional writers festival. This year’s festival program themed Passion and Purpose is an invitation to nurture your creativity and curiosity with the brightest minds in literature, art, media and politics.
Bring the kids for a day of fun, imagination, and inspiration at Byron Writers Festival’s beloved Kids Program! On Sunday 10 August, the Lilly Pilly marquee becomes a buzzing storytelling arena hosted by comedian Peter Helliar, featuring an exclusive appearance by Tony Armstrong, storytime with Anita Heiss, and live music from The Gumboots. Catch the magic of Spaghetti Circus stilt-walkers, make your own flower crowns, and dive into creativity at the StoryBoard space with free drop-in workshops for young writers and illustrators. If your kids love books and art, this is their dream day out!
requires you to pre-purchase a $10 pass per day. The carpark opens at 7.30am and festival gates open at 8.00am each day. Vehicle entry is via Market St and pedestrian access via Station Lane, Bangalow. We encourage you to carpool with friends or hop on our free shuttle bus. www.byronwritersfestival.com/travel
FREE FESTIVAL SHUTTLE
Hop on the free festival shuttle running hourly from Friday 8 August to Sunday 10 August between Byron Bay Interchange (Butler St), Cavanbah Centre (Ewingsdale Rd), and the festival site. Buses leave the Interchange every hour from 7:30am, stop at Cavanbah Centre five minutes later, and return from the festival site with the last departure at 6pm. Free parking is available at Cavanbah Centre for shuttle riders.
Artistic Director’s note
Whether you are joining us for the first time or as a return guest, I look forward to sharing with you what makes this event the premier destination for creative types – from novelists, poets, journalists and musicians. Pick up the buzziest books from literary headliners and discover bold new voices, and immerse yourself in Byron Writers Festival ’25. – Jessica Alice, Artistic Director
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August 6, 2025 The Byron Shire Echo 19