Writers’ Week has a jam-packed program featuring sessions designed for young book readers.
Australia’s largest free literary festival returns in 2025, offering both writers and readers a unique opportunity to spend six days sharing ideas and literary explorations in the heart of Adelaide.
The 40th Adelaide Writers’ Week features over 230 writers across more than 151 sessions, including 11 ticketed events at Adelaide Town Hall and the Drill Hall at the Torrens Parade Ground. This year’s theme is Words Matter . Director Louise Adler AM said:
“What a privilege it is to be involved in curating the best literary festival in the country for legions of devoted and passionate readers. This year writers will join us from around the world for six days and nights of conversations about the way we live, love and work in these tumultuous times. On the agenda – the state of the nation, the world and ourselves. Novelists, poets, script writers, essayists, academics, intellectuals and journalists will share with us their latest books, the issues that keep them up at night and where they find moments of solace.”
Confirmed authors include Sir Simon Schama, Waleed Aly, Susan Carland, Dava Sobel, Howard Jacobson, Gina Chick, Tim Winton, Anita Heiss, Kara Swisher, Rachel Kushner, Niall Williams, Stan Grant, Geraldine Brooks, Peter Beinart, Helen Garner, Orlando Figes, Bettany Hughes , Charlotte Mendelson, Wesley Lowery, Rachel Perkins, Robert Dessaix, David Remnick and Geoffrey Robertson.
The Book of Nerd’s Quiz of Quizzes hosted by Julia Zemiro is already sold-out, however there are several other ticketed events, including the new initiative Podfest, which features an additional eight ticketed events, where audiences view a live recording of some of Australia’s most popular podcasts including True Crime, Book Cheat and Ladies, We Need to Talk.
Marcus Zusak will celebrate 20 years since the publication of The Book Thief; Tim Winton will discuss writing, climate change and the fate of the planet, as covered in his 13th novel, Juice; and brilliant drama writers Anthony Horowitz and Andrew Knight will discuss mysteries, murder and mayhem.
The AWW Great Debate, team captains Annabel Crabb and David Marr will tackle the question of whether “true friends stab you in the front” with thanks to Oscar Wilde. The teams include The Hon Christopher Pyne, champion debaters Nick Ryan and Louise Milligan, and the Guardian’s political sketch writer, John Crace.
David Remnick , the highly respected Editor of the New Yorker will join the ABC 7.30’s Sarah Ferguson to discuss Trump Redux and the United States’ place in the world .
Two keynote events at the Town Hall will focus on why words matter: Islamophobia: What’s The Problem? with Waleed Aly and Susan Carland and the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, an oration On Antisemitism (Sir Simon Schama).
The Director’s Choice series returns for those who prefer streaming sessions from the comfort of home. Available for only $15 per event, each session can be viewed live or one week thereafter. Covering a wide range of topics: crimes against humanity with Tobias Buck, Geoffrey Robertson and Dorcy Rugamba; Wesley Lowery and Amy McQuire on the issues of race and racism; and Orlando Figes, Bettany Hughes, Matthew Longo and Dava Sobel will ask if we’ve learnt anything from history. Markus Zusak (Dog Days) will discuss the remarkable nature of dogs, while Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks (Memorial Days) talks about grief with Bob Carr.
Sir Simon Schama (Foreign Bodies) and Norman Swan will explore the health of nations, pandemics and vaccines. Josh Bornstein (Working for the Brand) considers how corporations are destroying free speech and Crikey owner Eric Beecher and fellow journalist and author John Lyons, examine the media moguls who have undermined journalism, democracy and truth.
Kara Swisher, hopefully can help us make sense of Elon Musk, takes us into Silicon Valley and looks at the legacy of its ‘tech bros’ . Award-winning journalist Joe Aston (The Chairman’s Lounge) gives us the inside story on what really happened at Qantas.
With a global perspective John Lyons and Bob Carr examine the current landscape and prospects for peace in the Middle East; award-winning author Orlando Figes discusses Europe with Robert Desaix and the challenge of Russia; Pulitzer Prize winning author Wesley Lowery talks with Rachel Perkins about the cost of progress in the United States and we will find out if politics is a laughing matter with John Crace and Annabel Crabb.
The award winning author Anita Heiss (Dirrayawadha) shares stories of the Wiradyuri nation; look at what really matters in life with Robert Dessaix (Chameleon) as he discusses art, sex and death; award winning historian Bettany Hughes looks at the seven wonders of the ancient world and Daisy Goodwin (Diva) talks with Pip Williams about Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis and their scandalous love affair. Best selling writers Niall Williams (Time of the Child) Helen Garner (The Season), Rachel Kushner (Creation Lake) Michelle de Kretser (Theory and Practice), Charlotte Mendelson (Wife) discuss their latest books.
Hosted by Adelaide’s own Tory Shepherd (The Guardian) and Jonathan Green (Radio National) the popular Breakfast with Papers returns to the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden on the West Stage from 8am each morning of Adelaide Writers’ Week. It’s a great way to start the day with a panel of guests looking at what’s making news and analysing the morning’s headlines. Full schedule of guests will be available online.
Community Live Streaming (thanks to the support of the Office for Ageing Well and Seniors Card) will be live streaming select Writer’s Week sessions at participating libraries, community centres, retirement villages and schools across the state from Monday 3 March – Thursday 6 March 2025.
KIDS & TEENS
For the first time, Adelaide Writers’ Week will also offer Schools Day on Friday 28 February, with sessions exclusively for primary and secondary school students, ahead of the official opening day on Saturday 1 March.
Kids and tweens can enjoy Young Readers’ Day on Sunday 2 March between 9:30am and 4pm, featuring imaginative storytelling and interactive play from Story Trove and Nature Play SA and authors including Amie Kaufman, Dr Matt Agnew, Claire Mabey, Lili Wilkinson, Peter Carnavas and Jane Godwin.
Adelaide Writers’ Week has been made possible by the generous support of The University of Adelaide, The Advertiser/Sunday Mail, The Office of Ageing Well and Seniors Card and philanthropic support of The Literati and MUD Literary Club.
VIEW ADELAIDE WRITERS’ WEEK PROGRAM
READ OUR 2017 REVIEW OF WRITER’S WEEK WITH KIDS
Keep up to date via the Adelaide Festival Facebook page or via their Instagram.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide Festival website.
What: Adelaide Writer’s Week
When: 1-6 March 2025
Where: Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden | King William Street, Adelaide
Who: Everyone (2 – 12 years Young Readers’ Day & Over 12 YA Evening)
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: Adelaide Festival, Andrew Beveridge
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