Sydney Writers’ Festival’s much-loved Live & Local program returns in 2025, streaming a curated selection of headline events to more than 140 libraries, theatres and cultural venues nationwide from Thursday May 22 to Sunday May 25. Now in its most expansive year to date, audiences from Alice Springs to Albany, Queanbeyan to Kalgoorlie will gain free access to world-renowned storytellers and urgent conversations — all direct to their local communities.
“Live & Local is one of the most powerful ways we connect with readers around the country,” said Ann Mossop, Artistic Director of Sydney Writers’ Festival. “We know not everyone can make it to Sydney, but that shouldn’t mean missing out on extraordinary conversations. Whether you’re joining us from a city library or a small regional town, Live & Local gives audiences the chance to hear from some of the world’s most compelling writers, completely free of charge.”
HIGHLIGHT AUTHORS
This year’s Live & Local program features a stellar lineup of international and Australian literary voices.
International stars include Diary of a Wimpy Kid creator Jeff Kinney, who brings laughs and family fun with The Hot Mess Show; acclaimed Irish author Colm Tóibín, discussing his much-anticipated novelLong Island (2024); and Samantha Harvey, fresh from winning the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital.
Among the homegrown highlights are The Moriarty Sisters – Jaclyn, Liane and Nicola – who offer insights into their shared storytelling journey; Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief (2005); and Gina Chick, winner of Alone Australia, sharing vivid, life-affirming tales from her wilderness memoir We Are the Stars (2024).
EXCITING EVENTS
Audiences can look forward to a wide-ranging program of free, livestreamed sessions that offer something for every kind of reader.
Indulge your sweet tooth with Bakers’ Delight, a warm conversation with Australia’s leading pastry queens – Nadine Ingram, Natalie Paull and Kate Reid. Dive into high-stakes politics with Trumpocalypse Now, as experts and political commentators Peter Beinart, Barry Cassidy, Emma Shortis, and Nick Bryant unpack the implications of Trump’s second term.
Fans of intrigue and espionage won’t want to miss Spies, Lies & Secrets, where former French spy Jack Beaumont and historian Ben Macintyre share insider perspectives on real-life special-intelligence and the stories it inspires. In Untrue Crime, Ian Rankin, Kate McClymontand Shankari Chandranexplore the murky boundary between fact and fiction in crime writing, and the ethical questions that come with telling stories of justice and wrongdoing.
Rounding out the program is audience favourite Queerstories, a bold and heartfelt night of LGBTQIA+ storytelling, featuring the likes of Torrey Peters and Rumaan Alam.
Live & Local 2025 is co-presented by Sydney Writers’ Festival and partner venues around Australia. All sessions are free to attend at participating locations.
Visit swf.org.au for more information.
