Did AI write this event copy? Can you tell, and does it matter? And as machines grow ever more capable, what – if anything – remains uniquely human? Drawing on expansive imaginations and deep research, our panel considers how AI is reshaping our identities, work, ethics and creativity.

Join authors Christos Tsiolkas and Vivian Blaxell, with the Sydney Review of Books editor James Jiang and literary critic Beejay Silcox for this feisty and furious dissection of art we hate – and why we need it for a robust artistic landscape to thrive.

Two incredible novelists will be led in conversation by poet Anne-Marie Te Whiu to explore the power of different expressions of yearning in their latest books.

These candid and witty writers will be hosted by comedian Jennifer Wong, in a conversation about family, fatherhood, climate anxiety, and how to cope in a changing world.

With vast wisdom and precise wit, two legends of First Nations storytelling meet in conversation, discussing the breadth of their craft, the fierceness of their politics and the depth of their understanding.

Listen to five brilliant poets at the top of their game read work from their latest collections, traversing love, migration, food, fatherhood, desire, identity, mental health, masculinity and revolution.

Three outstanding authors Dominic Hoey, Vijay Khurana and Sofie Laguna chats with Marieke Hardy, as they reflect on our timeless fascination with youth, the epic nature of teenage narratives, and the art of writing fiction about young adults for grown-up readers.

Whether you’re a seasoned poetry lover or someone who has always found this form a little intimidating, this event with Willo Drummond, James Jiang and David Stavanger will offer new ways to listen, interpret and connect with the written word.

Join Festival Creative Director and Queerstories Producer Maeve Marsden, along with some of her favourite LGBTQI+ writers from the program, as they share their own work, unexpected tales of pride, prejudice, resilience and resistance.

A timely discussion with three of the country’s leading academics Melissa Phillips, Carl Rhodes and Sam Roggeveen on the tumultuous state of democracy, expertly facilitated by Beejay Silcox.

Two giants of Australian crime fiction, Garry Disher and Candice Fox, reveal the secrets to sustaining a series - from researching cases and generating fresh ideas, to crafting communities that feel authentic and storylines that defy expectations.

Six big thinkers fight for the future in a great debate for our times inspired by the legacy of Blue Mountains environmentalist Mick Dark. Drawing on backgrounds in science, technology, journalism, mathematics and literature, two teams go head-to-head on whether we really are heading for doom.