Brisbane Writers Festival 2023

Have we got a story for you!


In 2023, Brisbane Writers Festival is spinning a rollicking tale of festive entertainment across five days, four nights and more than 100 events. The plot? Full of twists and turns. The characters? A diverse cast of writers, readers and thinkers coming together to enjoy a lively line-up of panel discussions, salons, special events and more.

From blockbuster bestsellers to literary luminaries and everything in between, BWF 2023 is an unmissable adventure from beginning to end.

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#Program Highlights

Climate of Fear

BWF118

Main Festival

Climate of Fear

slq The Studio

Jenny Odell on Saving Time

SPE015

Special Event

Jenny Odell on Saving Time

Auditorium 1, slq

Guillaume Pitron on The Dark Cloud

BWF102

Free event / Main Festival

Guillaume Pitron on The Dark Cloud

Auditorium 1, slq

Bill Hayes on Sweat and Insomniac City

The Edge Auditorium, slq

Spies Like Us

BWF098

Main Festival

Spies Like Us

Auditorium 2, slq

This Sporting Life

BWF104

Main Festival

This Sporting Life

The Edge Auditorium, slq

Mothers and Others

BWF110

Main Festival

Mothers and Others

Queensland Terrace, slq

Gabrielle Zevin: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

The Edge Auditorium, slq

Katherena Vermette on The Strangers

Auditorium 2, slq

Wherever You Go, There You Are

BWF120

Free event / Main Festival

Wherever You Go, There You Are

Queensland Terrace, slq

Writing the Landscape

BWF114

Main Festival

Writing the Landscape

Auditorium 1, slq

Not Sticking to the ‘Rules’: Self-fashioned Writing

Queensland Terrace, slq

#Irvine Welsh

Irvine Welsh on The Long Knives

BWF109

Main Festival

Irvine Welsh on The Long Knives

The Edge Auditorium, slq

Irvine Welsh on Trainspotting

Selling Fast

SPE011

Special Event

Irvine Welsh on Trainspotting

The Edge Auditorium, slq

Blockbuster Crime

SPE013

Special Event

Blockbuster Crime

The Edge Auditorium, slq

#First Word and Last Word

First Word Opening Address

Sold Out

SPE008

Special Event / Free event

First Word Opening Address

Queensland Terrace, slq

Closing Address with Alexis Wright (streamed in appearance)

Selling Fast

Queensland Terrace, slq

#Country of Focus: South Korea

Representing South Korea’s Others

The Parlour, slq

Not Sticking to the ‘Rules’: Self-fashioned Writing

Queensland Terrace, slq

Self-expression and Social Critique: Women’s writing in South Korea

Auditorium 2, slq

#Treats and Tidbits

See the full program
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