Brisbane Writers Festival 2023

Brisbane Writers Festival is spinning a rollicking festive tale of entertainment across five days, four nights and more than 100 events from May 10-14, 2023.

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.

The 2023 Festival is an unmissable adventure from beginning to end with over 150 live events including author talks, panel discussions, workshops and all-new Literary Salons. More than 60 Brisbane authors will feature alongside a star-studded line-up of national and international guests.

Australian headline authors include Stan Grant, Grace Tame, Tim Winton and Kate Morton while international highlights include Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh and US author Gabrielle Zevin.

BWF’s 2023 Country of Focus is South Korea and guest curator Sung-Ae Lee has developed a program examining the nuanced and coded approach of South Korean authors as they tackle topics still culturally taboo in their homeland.

Australia’s traditional storytellers share culture and spark connections with panels and conversations featuring First Nations authors including Lionel Fogarty, Brooke Blurton, Alexis Wright and Lystra Rose.

Lee is joined by guest curators Daniel Browning (Aboriginal First Nations), Samantha Faulkner (Torres Strait Islander First Nations), Matthew Condon (Brisbane Stories), Megan Daley (Word Play) and Karen Lee (LoveYA).

Irvine Welsh returns to BWF to talk about his latest release, The Long Knives, as well as reflects on his grungy modern classic, Trainspotting, 30 years after its release. He also lends insight to the Blockbuster Crime panel alongside crime fiction luminaries Tracey Lien, Candice Fox and Garry Disher.

From page to stage, Regurgitator’s Ben Ely reflects on the 30th anniversary of the iconic Brisbane band while writer and music aficionado Tony Wellington heads down memory lane with Brisbane rock scholar Andrew Stafford. (Supported by 4ZZZ).

Stepping on set, Bryan Brown talks about his noir-ish novel Sweet Jimmy, and joins Trent Dalton, Holly Ringland and Witi Ihimaera to discuss adapting books for the screen.

Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty, Inga Simpson and Aaron Fa’aoso examine the inextricable links between national identity and sport in Australia in This Sporting Life.

The five-day festival sees the return of the internationally renowned Literary Death Match as well as an elegant Mother’s Day High Tea at Customs House (supported by Feros Care) with special guest Holly Wainwright interviewed by Frances Whiting.

Word Play, BWF’s program for students from Prep to Year 12 (supported by The University of Queensland), returns as well as Love YA, presented in partnership with Brisbane City Council Libraries (supported by Griffith University).

Brisbane Writers Festival showcases dynamic and diverse literary talent from across Brisbane, across Australia and across the oceans, inspiring audiences and building relationships through the power of words.

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

Tracey Lien, Candice Fox and Garry Disher’ appearance supported by QBD Books.  

Country of Focus: South Korea is supported by the Korean Cultural Centre Australia and Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea.  

Grace Tame’s appearance is supported by WOW (Women of the World) Australia. 

Brisbane Writers Festival is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com