Big skies,
Open minds
80+ speakers
56 events
14 workshops
3 days
1 unmatched location
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Blue Mountains, this unique festival brings together the country’s greatest minds and most exciting new talent.
Inspiring readers and writers alike, our packed three-day program celebrates the best of Australia’s literary landscape: joyful, thought-provoking and thrilling opportunities to connect with the written word, and each other.
The main program offers an astounding array of talent in four intimate venues across The Carrington and the Civic Centre, the children’s program brings raucous fun to Katoomba Library, and our workshops at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre offer aspiring writers the chance to hone their craft.
But what really sets our Festival apart are our special events, whether you’re meeting writers in the rainforest at Scenic World, chatting to your favourite author over a beer at Mountain Culture, taking in the spectacular skies with Blue Mountains Stargazing, or cosying up at The Carrington for a few Bedtime Stories. Plus, one of the hottest tickets in town is always the live broadcast of ABC Radio Sydney’s TGIF!
Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival takes place in Katoomba, and is presented by Varuna the National Writers’ House. For information about Varuna, visit our website.
“When I first moved to the Blue Mountains, what struck me most was the sky – the sheer scale of it. Just an hour or two from the city, the stars seemed brighter, the clouds bigger, the air more crisp. Living here, on beautiful Dharug and Gundungurra land, has afforded me a new approach to my creativity, space to think big and engage more thoughtfully with the world.
This is what reading and writing offer us, too. A sense of possibility, the capacity to consider different perspectives, and the opportunity to look at our surroundings with fresh eyes. My hope is that the 2024 Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival, and the incredible authors we’ve assembled, offer you the chance to expand your horizons and deepen your focus, just as I have been able to in this spectacular place. I can’t wait to see you there.”
Maeve Marsden, Creative Director
Please note this was a dog-friendly fire trail not national park!
80+ speakers
46 events
14 workshops
3 days
1 unmatched location
Our program offers something for everyone, with author talks, one-on-ones, panel discussions, performance, children's events, workshops and more. The Festival is centered around Katoomba’s grand and curious art-deco heritage venue, The Carrington Hotel, with special events at the Baroque Room, Blue Mountains Civic Centre, the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Blue Mountains Library, Mountain Culture Brewery and Scenic World.
Day and weekend passes allow you to create your own program, catching household names alongside exciting talent, and discovering events you might have missed in a larger festival program.
Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival Team
Maeve Marsden
Creative Director
Veechi Stuart
Executive Director
Wei Clerkin
Artist Liaison
Chris Cannell
Communications and Ticketing
Amy Sambrooke
Program Advisor
Jaala Hallett
Venues Management
Anita Hoving
Volunteer Coordinator
Making our festival accessible
Varuna the National Writers’ House is committed to making our programs and events as accessible as possible. Our venues page lists all venue-related accessibility information, and our accessibility page provides more in-depth information. Please contact hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au if you have specific questions we haven’t covered.
