About the Festival

5 - 8 September 2019

At BWF our aim is connect Queenslanders through story, celebrate leading writers and thinkers from around the world and inspire deep thought and curiosity. For the past 57 years Brisbane Writers Festival has been bringing communities together to debate, share experiences and celebrate the power and wonder of literature. We present over 150 events at the State Library of Queensland and QAGOMA each year, showcasing brave, intriguing and thought provoking local and international writers to over 20,000 patrons annually.

Previous guests have included Anosh Irani, Min Jin Lee, Veronica Roth, Alexis Wright, Dame Quentin Bryce, Kevin Kwan, Robert Drewe, Alec Doomadgee, Irvine Welsh, Geoffrey Robertson Q.C, Dervla McTiernan, Kate Grenville, Richard Fidler, Clementine Ford, Benjamin Law, Anita Heiss, Helen Garner, Sarah Waters, Lauren Weisberger, Jon Ronson, John Safran and Michelle de Kretser.

The next Brisbane Writers Festival will be held from 5 - 8 September 2019 at the State Library of Queensland and QAGOMA. Sign up to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with all the Festival news. 

3 - 6 September 2019

Word Play is an annual education program for young readers, storytellers and illustrators in Grades Prep to Year 12. Students from across Queensland and further afield come to the State Library of Queensland for an opportunity to immerse themselves 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. Word Play also includes professional development opportunities for educators.

7 September 2019

Love YA 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 for readers of all ages.

Angel's Palace is 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 us on (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. Subscribe to our eNews now to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other bookish news, and join us as we celebrate 57 years of reading, writing and ideas.