2025 Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival

We were thrilled to return for our fifth year of the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival in the heart of Katoomba, Blue Mountains, from 31 Oct to 2 November 2025.

Over three vibrant days, readers and writers were immersed in an intimate festival of ideas and creativity. The Festival’s theme this year– a path to wonder – invited audiences to engage with books and reading with an open mind and a sense of possibility. Australia’s sharpest minds and most expansive thinkers offered challenging, playful and exhilarating opportunities for connection.

The Festival’s popular events at Scenic World also returned – giving audiences the chance to share a ride on the Skyway or Cableway with some of their favourite writers. And, for the first time in 2025, the Festival offered an exclusive Opening Gala event at The Carrington, with four Festival headliners giving keynotes on the theme of the Festival.

The main program presented an astounding array of talent in six venues across Katoomba, including The Carrington Hotel, the Katoomba Community Centre, Katoomba Library and the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. New to this year’s Festival was also a satellite program held in the beautiful Megalong Valley, as well as a program for high school students.

Once we’ve taken a breath, we’ll take a proper moment to reflect on the weekend that was and share some of our highlights with photos.

Until then, a big Varuna thank you to all the writers, readers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who made this Festival what it was this year!

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If you would like to continue supporting what we do, help is most needed now in the construction of our new building which will allow us to open the doors to more writers, readers and the community. Please make a donation here.