Literary critic Beejay Silcox joins acclaimed novelist Christos Tsiolkas and debut author Steve MinOn in conversation as they reflect on their latest novels, exploring themes of desire, masculinity, ageing, class and queerness.

Six big thinkers fight for the future in a great debate for our times inspired by the legacy of Blue Mountains environmentalist Mick Dark. Drawing on backgrounds in science, technology, journalism, mathematics and literature, two teams go head-to-head on whether we really are heading for doom.

Two giants of Australian crime fiction, Garry Disher and Candice Fox, reveal the secrets to sustaining a series - from researching cases and generating fresh ideas, to crafting communities that feel authentic and storylines that defy expectations.

An intimate look inside women's love lives and pursuits of pleasure, All Women Want tackles the truth about why straight women aren't satisfied in the bedroom – and what to do about it.

A timely discussion with three of the country’s leading academics Melissa Phillips, Carl Rhodes and Sam Roggeveen on the tumultuous state of democracy, expertly facilitated by Beejay Silcox.

Join Festival Creative Director and Queerstories Producer Maeve Marsden, along with some of her favourite LGBTQI+ writers from the program, as they share their own work, unexpected tales of pride, prejudice, resilience and resistance.

Craig Silvey in conversation with Nicole Abadee about the two bestsellers he wrote ten years apart, his skill for writing outcasts and misfits, and the impact of success on his craft and career.

Honour the profound musical and cultural legacy of Archie Roach – a Gunditjmara, Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung and Bundjalung man – and Ruby Hunter – a Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha and Pitjantjatjara woman, with stories, personal reflections, musical performances and poems by four powerful Indigenous voices.

Craig Reucassel in conversation with authors Walter Marsh and Royce Kurmelovs on their books that defy crime genre conventions despite technically being true crime.

Whether you’re a seasoned poetry lover or someone who has always found this form a little intimidating, this event with Willo Drummond, James Jiang and David Stavanger will offer new ways to listen, interpret and connect with the written word.

What powers of perception, reflection and remembering are needed to craft a truly great memoir? And what tools can life writers use to extend memoir beyond memory to create literature that challenges, inspires and speaks to our times?

What does it really take to break into the creative industries when you’re still finding your voice? How can writing build connection, community and change in a world that feels like it’s shifting every day?

Beyond statistics and stereotypes, an individual’s experience of ageing is deeply personal. Three brilliant women Vivian Blaxwell, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Debra Oswald interrogate the myths and truths about growing older, and discuss how they address these issues through their work.

Three outstanding authors Dominic Hoey, Vijay Khurana and Sofie Laguna chats with Marieke Hardy, as they reflect on our timeless fascination with youth, the epic nature of teenage narratives, and the art of writing fiction about young adults for grown-up readers.

Without a superyacht or spaceship, what options remain for those wishing to escape the end times? Antony Loewenstein and Carl Rhodes are joined by Walter Marsh, the author of Young Rupert: the Making of the Murdoch Empire to tackle just how bad things have become and, most importantly, what we can do about it.

Multi-award winning author Hannah Kent reflects on her recent memoir Always Homesick, Always Home with Amy Sambrooke to share the stranger-than-fiction story behind her bestselling debut Burial Rites.

Three award-winning authors Randa Abdel-Fattah, Hasib Hourani and Jumaana Abdu discuss the fiction and poetry of the Palestinian diaspora and its role in evoking empathy, building solidarity and effecting change, with writer and human rights lawyer Sara M Saleh.

Three of the contributors from Words to Sing the World Alive, an exquisite celebration of First Nations languages, honour languages from across the continent, each penning an homage to their favourite and most significant words.

What does it take to include ghosts or spirits in your story, without risking your novel making its way onto the horror or fantasy shelves? Join debut novelists Steve MinOn and Natasha Rai as they discuss form, story and character, and the spirits haunting their work.

Acclaimed writer Drusilla Modjeska sits down with Nicole Abadee to discuss her richly illustrated book A Woman’s Eye, Her Art which focuses on six extraordinary female artists of the 20th century and why their work still matters.

Listen to five brilliant poets at the top of their game read work from their latest collections, traversing love, migration, food, fatherhood, desire, identity, mental health, masculinity and revolution.

Accomplished authors Julie Janson and Tasma Walton offer counter narratives to the dominant colonial histories too often taught, and share the wealth of their knowledges with Blakfulla Bookclub’s Merinda Dutton.

Come together with experts in lifestyle, politics and evolving technologies to play a little game of hypotheticals, discussing how their extensive research informs their hope – or despair – for the decades to come.

Australian icon Kylie Minogue is the musical muse for a sparkling new anthology. Join three of its contributors – Christos Tsiolkas, Jessica White and Patrick Marlborough – as they share readings of original works inspired by songs from Kylie’s back catalogue in this joyful fusion of music and literature.

Stan Grant’s latest book Murriyang is talking to his country in a new way. Hear Stan discuss his most poetic and inspiring work yet with journalist and ABC Sydney host Rae Johnston as he offers a means of moving beyond the binaries and embracing a path to peace and forgiveness.

There’s no denying the popularity of romantasy – these books are flying off the shelves. Join these exciting new voices as they discuss their novels, what drew them to the genre, and how young women writers are changing the game.

Globalisation, new technologies, artificial intelligence and publishing trends are reshaping the complex art of translation. In this future-facing discussion, three award-winning translators explore these challenges and opportunities.

Urgent and essential, Randa Abdel-Fattah and Antony Loewenstein discuss After Zionism, a collection that brings together some of the world's leading thinkers to dissect the century-long conflict between Zionism and the Palestinians.

Be among the first to hear about Australian icon Bryan Brown’s newest thriller, The Hidden, in conversation with fellow actor and newly minted crime writer, Toby Schmitz.

Two incredible novelists will be led in conversation by poet Anne-Marie Te Whiu to explore the power of different expressions of yearning in their latest books.