OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words
OzAsia Festival’s writing and ideas program returns for another year of conversations between poets, novelists, journalists, playwrights, performers, and creatives from around the world.
Two writers. Two editors. One messy, magical process. From tough edits to joyful breakthroughs, it’s a conversation about trust, tension and the art of collaboration.
This venue is wheelchair accessible.
For more information regarding venue accessibility, please visit https://www.adelaidecc.com.au/attending/accessibility-facilities
A vibrant celebration of Asian and Asian Australian literature, writing, and ideas. Discover, engage, inspire. 7-9 November '25.
Discover OzAsia Festival's Weekend of WordsTarntanya (Adelaide), Australia
Lyn Dickens is an award-winning writer, editor, and academic. Her debut novel Salt Upon the Water was the winner of the 2024 Arts South Australia Wakefield Press Unpublished Manuscript Award and will be published in October 2025.
Appearing in: Track Changes
Eora Nations (Sydney), Australia
Sara Haddad is a Lebanese Australian author and editor who has worked in independent and corporate publishing in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the United Kingdom for over 35 years. She is the author of The Sunbird. A middle-grade reader version will be published in February 2026.
Appearing in: Opening Night Gala and Track Changes
Eora Nations (Sydney), Australia
Kalhari Jayaweera is a senior editor and editorial content manager at Penguin Random House. She has had the pleasure of working with authors across fiction and non-fiction, including crime, romance, memoir, self-help and general non-fiction. Kalhari has written for Kill Your Darlings and ABC Lifestyle.
Appearing in: Track Changes
Naarm (Melbourne), Australia
Sashi’s award-winning comedy is a commentary on the daily absurdities of language and life – from doors to crows to self-serve checkouts. She also draws on her former life as a refugee lawyer, which started in Perth and took her to Manila, Ankara, Dar es Salaam, Cairo and Bangkok over a decade.
Appearing in: Opening Night Gala and Track Changes
Ngunnawal Country, Canberra, Australia
Aarti Betigeri is a multi-platform journalist and the editor of Growing Up Indian In Australia. She is a former foreign correspondent and TV news journalist and presenter, and a long-term correspondent for Monocle.
Appearing in: I Get My News from TikTok and Track Changes
View venue maps for directions to the Gilbert Suite
OzAsia Festival’s writing and ideas program returns for another year of conversations between poets, novelists, journalists, playwrights, performers, and creatives from around the world.
Plan your literary weekend at OzAsia Festival's Weekend of Words with our interactive planner and venue maps.
In the lead up to OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words, we asked Adelaide Festival Centre staff what their favourite genres were to read.
Ever wondered how writers organize their bookshelves or choose their next reads? We asked some of the speakers at OzAsia Festival's Weekend of Words to share their secrets.