About the Festival

Word Play presented as part of BWF, is an Education Program for Young Readers, Storytellers and Illustrators in Grades Prep to Year 12. Students from across Queensland come to Brisbane for an opportunity to experience a diverse program of literary experiences. This program is designed to ignite imaginations and inspire young people as they make their way in the world. In 2017 for the first time Word Play offered a very well received Professional Development Program for teachers which will return in 2018. You can download below.

First presented as the Warana Writers Convention in 1962, just six sessions were presented over one day. We now present over 150 events, with more than 20,000 literary lovers descending onto State Library of Queensland and QAGOMA annually in September to hear from their favourite authors.

The 2018 Festival will run from 6 - 9 September at State Library of Queensland, the home of the Brisbane Writers Festival. Tickets are available now.

Following the huge success of Love YA in May this year it comes back as part of BWF. Love YA (8 September) is a day to celebrate the characters, the authors, and the adventures that make the world of Young Adult fiction inviting, inspiring, and unforgettable. With everything from author signings, panel discussions, workshops, and a cosplay comp or two, Love YA offers the opportunity to indulge and learn from all things YA in an unmissable day of fun. 

Premiering as part of BWF last year was the extraordinary immersive experience, Angel's Palace inspired by the award winning novel Carpentaria by First Nations' author Alexis Wright. In the spirit of the spiegeltent, Angel’s Palace is a travelling artwork and pop-up venue in one, touring with a suite of multi-disciplinary performances that invoke the voices of First Nations' storytelling and literature, ignite imaginations and resonate with communities everywhere. The Palace was designed by Gordon Hookey and is a multi-media venue that will take your breath away.  With performances and installations brought to life by creative collaborators, including director Alethea Beetson and Alexis Wright, Angel's Palace is a uniquely Australian story that at the same time connects with First Nations' narratives around the globe. For more information about how you can bring Angel's Palace to your community please phone: (07) 3255-0254 or email info@bwf.org.au 

UPLIT is committed to connecting Queensland through story through the various programs and events the organisation presents. In 2018, the Brisbane Writers Festival, UPLIT's flagship program, will weave together an exciting program of ideas and literature to take place from Tuesday 4 until Sunday 9 September (Word Play and BWF). The full program will be announced and on-sale in July 6. Subscribe to our eNews now to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other bookish news, and join us as we celebrate 56 years of reading, writing and ideas.