Here’s an overview of the Festival events from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November:

• Friday through to Sunday: 11 half-day writing workshops and three full-day writing workshops.

• Friday daytime: 2 author panel events, including The Book Showdown with Benjamin Law, and Bruce Pascoe in conversation, both set in the extraordinary Megalong Valley.

• Friday evening: Opening Night:Echoes and Edges featuring an amazing line-up of speakers and music, and MTNS MADE, a free event featuring Blue Mountains locals.

• Saturday morning: Welcome to Country at The Carrington Hotel.

• Saturday daytime: 20 author events, held at The Carrington Hotel and the Katoomba Community Centre (Tibbi Whalan Hall).

• Saturday daytime: Kids’ program at Katoomba Library.

• Saturday evening: 3 author events perched high over the Jamison Valley in a glass-walled skyway at Scenic World.

• Saturday evening: Queerstories, a national storytelling project curated by Maeve Marsden.

• Sunday morning (early): Inspired by Nature, author readings and discussion held deep in the rainforest below Scenic World.

• Sunday daytime: 20 author events held at The Carrington Hotel and the Katoomba Community Centre (Tibbi Whalan Hall).

Will there be a children’s program?

Yes. The children’s program includes three sessions at Katoomba Library.

What’s the Skyway Cabaret event all about?

Held on Saturday evening, the Skyway Cabaret will see six authors share their work accompanied by an improvised soundtrack while suspended over the Jamison Valley in a fully enclosed cable car. A melding of music and literature in a truly stunning location. Drinks and nibbles will be provided. Yes, it’s a little quirky, but what better place to watch the sunset while drinking a glass of bubbles.

Do I need to be a writer to enjoy the Festival?

Nope! If you like to read, think, or even just meet new people, then you’ll enjoy yourself.

Where can I get a printed program?

A full PDF of the program will be available on the website on 1 September. In addition, a ‘Festival At a Glance’ printed program will be available at all Festival venues over the course of the weekend.

Will there be international writers this year?

The program features mostly Australian writers, but this year we’re excited to be welcoming international writers Josh Silver (UK), San San (China) and Hazel Phillips (NZ), as well as Australian author Bobuq Sayed who is currently based in the USA.

What kind of tickets are available, and when?

The best way to enjoy the Festival is to purchase a day or weekend pass. Being a passholder means that you can wander freely between events, and decide spontaneously each day which events you’d like to attend.

Subject to availability, we release single tickets for many events closer to the Festival. However, single tickets may not be available for some headliners, or for popular speakers in the smaller venues.

You can also purchase multipacks, which are released at the same time as single tickets. Multipacks enable you to curate your own Festival experience for the day or for the weekend, selecting the events that most interest you and are available both as five and ten-ticket bundles.

How can I buy tickets?

You can buy tickets online from this website. If you have difficulty navigating online purchases, please call us on 02 4782 5674 during business hours. We can help you place your order over the phone.

Who is eligible for a concession ticket?

Concession pricing is applicable to young people under 30, seniors, pensioners, students and those with a Healthcare card. There is also special pricing available for people receiving disability pensions, as well as MOBTIX tickets for First Nations audience members.

For those living in the Blue Mountains, a special Sunday locals pass is also available.

Will there be any free events?

Yes. Once the full program goes live, you will be able to view a list of these events – simply go to our Events page and filter on ‘Free Events’.

Do I have to decide in advance what events I’m going to see?

Yes and no. In general, there are four events running concurrently at any time of the day on both Saturday and Sunday. If you purchase a day or weekend pass, we’ll send you details of the sessions for each timeslot and will ask you to express a preference for each time slot. We won’t hold you to this preference on the day, but this information will help us manage seating, venues and capacity.

Do Festival sessions have allocated seating?

No. If you want a ‘front row’ seat, then you’re best to get to the session early. However, if you have accessibility needs, please email us at hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au and we can ensure you are reserved a suitable seat.

Will I receive a wristband? Do I need to print my ticket?

Day and weekend passes receive a wristband; single ticket and multipack ticketholders don’t.

For day and weekend passes, please come to the ticket registration desk at The Carrington Hotel to pick up your wristband when you arrive.

The registration desk at The Carrington Hotel will be open from 2:00pm until 8:00pm on Friday 30th October, and from 8:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. You may need to show proof of ID to collect your day or weekend pass.

For single ticket holders, you can either show us your ticket on your mobile phone or print out a ticket – whichever is easiest. If that’s not possible, we can look up your name at the registration desk.

I can no longer attend the Festival. Can I get a refund for my ticket?

For more information, please read our refund policy.

Where are the Festival events held (not including workshops)?

With the exception of Scenic World and the Megalong Valley, all venues for Festival events are within two minutes’ walk of one another.

• Three of the four main stages for the Festival’s panels and interviews will be in venues at The Carrington Hotel, at 15-47 Katoomba Street, Katoomba

• The fourth venue –Katoomba Community Centre (Tibbi Whalan Hall) – is located at 81-83 Katoomba Street, Katoomba.

• The kids’ program will be held at Katoomba Library.

• Skyway Cabaret and Inspired by Nature will be at Scenic World, 1 Violet Street, Katoomba.

• Friday’s Megalong Valley program will be held at the Old Stables, 853 Megalong Road, Megalong Valley. You will need your own transport to get there.

Where are the Festival workshops held?

Workshops will be held at three venues:

• The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, 30 Parke Street, Katoomba

• The Varuna Reading Room, 141 Cascade Street, Katoomba

• Blue Mountains Sauna, 7 Quinns Avenue, Leura (please note that this venue is not wheelchair accessible).

How do I get to Katoomba?

Trains service Katoomba every hour, and Katoomba station is only two minutes’ walk from the main Festival venue. Getting to Katoomba by car is also straightforward, with ample parking nearby.

Where can I park?

You can find detail about parking at www.bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au/parking.

Can I purchase food on site?

Yes. There will be lunch and dinner available from the bar at The Carrington Hotel, as well as dinner at the Brasserie above The Old City Bank Bar. There are also numerous cafes and restaurants in Katoomba Street itself.

Are all venues wheelchair accessible, and where can I find more information about steps and access for each venue?

If you go to the Venues page on this website, you’ll find details about steps and access for each specific venue. We can also allocate a volunteer to help you move between venues during the Festival itself.

Please note that there are two events held in venues which are not wheelchair accessible: Inspired by Nature at Scenic World on Sunday morning and Benjamin Law’s workshop at Blue Mountains Sauna.

Is there a T-Loop at the Festival venues?

We will have a T-loop available in both the Grand Dining Room at The Carrington and the Katoomba Community Centre (Tibbi Whalan Hall).

Do you provide Auslan interpreters?

We have interpreters booked for the Festival weekend and will provide audiences the opportunity to request interpreters for specific sessions when the full program is announced.

Is there parking for those with disabilities at the Festival?

There are a limited number of accessible parking spots at the Coles car park. If you contact us in advance, we can arrange for a volunteer to help you get from the car park to registration, and to move between venues.

A number of accessible parking spots will also be available at both The Carrington Hotel and the TAFE car park for those with an Accessible Parking Permit. Please email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au to check availability.

Patrons can also be dropped off near the accessible entrance to the right of The Carrington Hotel. Please email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au to confirm your access requirements.

For the Megalong Valley events, there is accessible parking immediately adjacent to the building.

Is there accessible seating at the Festival?

Yes, at every event there will be a number of accessible seats reserved for those who need them. You can ask for accessible seating when you arrive at the venue or, if you prefer, you can email us in advance: hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au.

Can I bring a companion to assist me?

Yes. We are members of the Companion Card scheme. If you require a ticket for your carer, companion or support worker, please email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au.

Where can I find more information about access at the festival?

Please head over to our Accessibility page.

Can I volunteer with the Festival?

Yes! We’d love to welcome you as a volunteer to the Festival. Head to our Volunteers page for more info.