Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) returns bigger and better in 2024 with a program of plot twists and page-turners from May 30 to June 2. The 2024 festival is an unmissable adventure from beginning to end with more than 150 live events including author talks, panel discussions, special events and workshops.
More than 60 Brisbane authors will feature alongside a star-studded line-up of national and international guests, with most events held in the festival hub at the State Library of Queensland in the South Bank Cultural Precinct. Australian headline authors include Melissa Lucashenko, Julia Baird, Kate Ceberano, Chris Hammer, and Trent Dalton, while international highlights include Booker Prize-shortlisted author Paul Murray, bestselling crime writer Michael Connelly, fantasy legend Naomi Novik, English novelist and screenwriter Louise Doughty and superstar fantasy author Samantha Shannon.
This year BWF is joined by guest curators Melanie Saward (Aboriginal First Nations) and Lenora Thaker (Torres Strait Islander First Nations). We’re also thrilled to be joined this year by the authors of Sing Lit Station, bringing us the most dynamic voices in contemporary Singaporean letters. BWF Artistic Director Jackie Ryan said the 2024 program would serve up something for everyone, spanning every genre and bringing together some of the finest writers and thinkers today.
Michael Connelly makes his BWF debut to discuss his latest release, Resurrection Walk, and the exploits of his two most enduring characters, Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller. He also lends insight to the International Crime panel alongside crime fiction luminaries Louise Doughty and Dann McDorman, and a panel with local stars Bryan Brown and Dinuka McKenzie. Australia’s traditional storytellers share culture and spark connections with panels and conversations featuring First Nations authors including Daniel Browning, Jackie Huggins, Melissa Lucashenko and Anita Heiss. Podcast and art history sensation Katy Hessel talks about the overlooked women in art history VAULT Editor Alison Kubler, and joins a panel on feminist progress with Suzie Miller, Amy Remeikis and Balli Kaur Jaswa. Naomi Novik makes her first appearance in over 10 years as she discusses her latest work, the Scholomance trilogy: a magical school story resplendent with monsters and myth.
Other international authors include brilliantly contrarian novelist and screenwriter Lexi Freiman on The Book of Ayn, crime writer Jake Adelstein on The Last Yakuza and current Women’s Prize longlister Sarah Ogilvie on The Dictionary People.
We’ve got plenty of Queensland favourites, too. Get in quick for locals including Trent Dalton, William McInnes, Anna McGahan, Samuel Wagan-Watson, Matthew Condon, Hedley Thomas, Laura Jean McKay, Simon Cleary and Clare Christian. Politics and power are considered in sessions such as Rogue Corporations and Political Prisoners, Pardon My Speech and Democratic Fragility.
Love music or fashion? We’ve got you covered with illustrator extraordinaire Megan Hess as well as musical legends Kate Ceberano, Ed Le Brocq and Stuart Cou. Bri Lee, Madeleine Gray, Amy Lovat and Siang Lu will dissect modern life, while historical fiction writers Heather Morris, Mirandi Riwoe, Melissa Ashley and Christine Wells will take audiences to bygone ras. For Matildas fans, Fiona Crawford will be examining how Sam Kerr and our women’s team have changed the game and the profile of women’s sport.One of Australia’s most celebrated writers Charlotte Wood will discuss her new novel Stone Yard Devotional, a profound meditation on grief, faith and goodness, with Kristina Olsson. The four-day festival also sees the return of the Marion Taylor Gala dinner at the Queensland Art Gallery’s Water Mall with bestselling English author Louise Doughty delivering the keynote.
From blockbuster bestsellers to literary luminaries and everything in between, BWF 2024 is an unmissable adventure from beginning to end.
To peep the entire program and grab tickets, head to the BWF website.
