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One Roof. Many Voices. Parramatta Town Hall
Sydney Writers' Festival
11:30am - 7:30pm
Saturday 23 May 2026
Settle in for engaging talks, practical workshops, and surprising conversations as you build your own festival itinerary – all under one roof in the heart of Western Sydney. Make a day of it at Parramatta Town Hall.
Sydney Writers’ Festival in Parramatta, presented by the City of Parramatta.
What Makes a Writer
Writers in different stages of their careers come together to reflect on their work and writing paths.
Featuring iconic Australian writer and poet Maxine Beneba Clarke (beautiful changelings), the outgoing Parramatta Laureate in Literature Yumna Kassab (The Theory of Everything) and the new Laureate, award-winning essayist and fiction writer Eda Gunaydin (Root and Branch). This will be an illuminating and insightful conversation about the opportunities available and barriers facing writers throughout a lifelong career.
Join Maxine, Yumna and Eda in conversation with host James Jiang.
Sat 23 May - 11:30am - 12:30pm | $10
Omar Musa Fierceland
How do you mourn your father when you know his secrets?
Sat 23 May - 1:30pm - 2:30pm | $10
How to Grow a Poem Workshop with Bankstown Poetry Slam
Get hands-on experience and writing insights from a slam poetry heavyweight.
Sat 24 May - 2pm - 5pm | $10
Nikita Gill: Hekate
A propulsive, electrifying and enraging retelling in verse of the life of Greek goddess Hekate, child of war turned all-powerful goddess of witchcraft and necromancy.
Sat 23 May - 3:30pm - 4:30pm | $10
Bankstown Poetry Slam
Experience the cultural force of Bankstown Poetry Slam as former champions of their National Youth Poetry Slam take to the stage, in a special night of storytelling and transformation in Parramatta.
Sat 23 May - 6pm - 7:30pm | $10
Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival with support from PHIVE.
PHIVE sits on the lands and waters of the Burramattagal of the Dharug nation and we acknowledge Burramatta as significant place of ceremony, story and tradition. We pay our respects to Dharug Ancestors and Elders, past, present and future and extend our respect to all First Nations people joining this program and visiting PHIVE.