MWF releases full 2025 program
Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) has launched the full program for its 2025 festival, the first under new festival director Veronica Sullivan, to be held in venues across the Melbourne CBD and surrounds 8–11 May.
The four-day festival program includes conversations, talks, workshops, panels and events under this year’s theme of Magical Thinking: ‘this year’s line-up brings together an almost cosmic combination of literary stars to explore the power of storytelling as a transformative force – a way to not only understand the world but to change it, one story at a time’, said the festival in a statement. This year’s First Nations curators Nardi Simpson and Daniel Browning also ‘bring their insight and curiosity to a number of thoughtfully curated, self-determined events’.
Previously announced international guests Asako Yuzuki, Colum McCann, Kaliane Bradley, and Yael van der Wouden are joined by Samantha Harvey, Colm Tóbín, Marian Keyes, Rumaan Alam, AC Grayling, Mariana Enríquez and Torrey Peters. The ‘magical’ theme is supported by international speculative fiction authors Megan Spooner (joining her Melbourne-based writing partner Amie Kaufmann), Lev Grossman and Neil Shusterman. Other international guests include Bora Chung, Norman Erikson Pasaribu, and Afra Atiq.
The program welcomes local authors Hannah Kent, Kate Grenville, Anita Heiss, Josephine Rowe, Emily Maguire, Jessica Townsend, Jimmy Barnes, and Carrie Tiffany.
Events include Sita Sargeant, author of She Shapes History, inviting guests to take to the streets in ‘badass women of Melbourne’ walking tours. Live podcast recordings and storytelling events will include Jasmine Wallis and Maggie Zhou hosting Culture Club with guest Chloe Elisabeth Wilson; Jemma Sbeg teaming up with Lucinda ‘Froomes’ Price for a live taping of ‘The Psychology of Your 20s’; Maeve Marsden bringing Queerstories to Melbourne; and Emilie Zoey Baker asking speakers to reflect on ‘The Words I Wish I’d Said’, in Better off Said: Eulogies for the Living and the Dead.
Daniel Browning brings together leading Indigenous thinkers to reflect on the impact of the Voice referendum and the path forward for reconciliation. Journalist Ben Abbatangelo, author and activist Thomas Mayo, and human rights lawyer Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts explore the lessons learned, the state of Australian democracy and the ongoing fight for justice.
Simpson will host an evening of First Nations women showcasing their artistic practices in writing, poetry, music, performance and art for Blak Magic Women: Heiss, Amy McQuire, Alice Skye and Turnbull-Roberts will each share their work, discussing their creative processes, inspirations, and challenges.
Sullivan said: ‘I’m thrilled to share our 2025 program. Across four packed days this May, some of Australia and the world’s most brilliant and incisive writers and thinkers will gather in our City of Literature to celebrate the alchemy of storytelling, and the power of imagination to open doors we never thought possible. At this year’s Festival, audiences will encounter Booker Prize winners, memoirists, genre-defying storytellers, acute political analysts, vibrant podcasters, transcendent musicians, shimmering poets, and emerging voices whose work will shape Australian literature in years to come.’
Sessions for young people will run 5–8 May, with programs for both primary and secondary school students. Sessions for primary school readers include guests Nat Amoore, Jess Saunders, Reece Carter and Nabeel Khan. For secondary school readers, the program hosts Gary Lonesborough, Neal Shusterman, Robyn Dennison and poet Solli Raphael.
Full program details are available at the festival website.
Category: Festivals Local news
