Early Bird Tickets for The “26th Singapore Writers Festival” is now available for purchase

Prepare for a literary journey like no other as the 26th edition of the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) returns, presenting a tantalizing blend of world-renowned wordsmiths and captivating narratives. Organized by Arts House Limited (AHL) and commissioned by the National Arts Council (NAC), SWF promises to be a ten-day odyssey of surprises, revelations, and unexpected endings from November 17 to 26 November 2023.

Before the festival kicks off, eager festivalgoers can dive into the world of literature at the Literary Pioneer Exhibition. Titled ‘Tell Bowie He’s Only A Rock Star. I, However, Am A Poet,’ this exhibit shines a spotlight on the late Goh Poh Seng, a poet, dramatist, novelist, and visionary ahead of his time. You can catch this exhibition at Punggol Regional Library until 31 October 2023. It will then journey to Funan during the Festival period from 1 November to 10 December, ending at Heartbeat@Bedok on 27 December 2023.

World’s Literary Giants Unveiled

The excitement for SWF 2023 builds as it introduces an array of international writers and speakers to the Festival lineup. These include British-Pakistani screenwriter Bisha K. Ali, who headlined the hit Disney+ series Ms. Marvel and co-wrote a memorable episode of Netflix’s Black Mirror.

Taiwanese writer, artist, and environmental activist Wu Ming-yi, a six-time winner of the China Times Open Book Award, will grace the event with his multidisciplinary genius. Award-winning food writer M. Margarida Pereira-Müller will tantalize literary appetites with discussions on Portuguese gastronomy and food heritage. South Korean film director, screenwriter, and novelist Won Pyung Sohn will bring his unique perspective to the festival, having won South Korea’s Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction in 2016.

Unconventional Endings and Surprises

For those seeking a twist in the tale, the Festival Closing Reading: “An Unlikely Beginning” promises an intriguing line-up of poets disrupting conventional endings and crafting new beginnings. Award-winning Nigerian-British writer Yomi Sode and the versatile Caleb Femi, a filmmaker, photographer, and former Young People’s Laureate of London, will engage in an extraordinary exploration of beginnings and endings.

Caleb Femi will also offer insights in A Multidisciplinary Masterclass Talk, where he delves into the art of combining text, performance, and visual art into narratives that add a touch of humanity to brands, culture, and people.

Surprising Offerings and Youth Fringe

This year’s Southeast Asian Focus (SEA Focus) serves a diverse platter of writers and speakers, including VTubers, chefs, cartoonists, and comic artists. Programs like “Going Live: Language and Fantasy in the Southeast Asian Vtuber Universe,” “Small Plates, Big Flavour: Our Side of Sauce-East Asia,” and “Stories from Storyboards: Lives of SEA Cartoonists & Comic Artists” aim to subvert expectations in narratives and challenge audiences.

Unlikely intersections come to life in “A Tale of Two Beats: Hip Hop and Spoken Word,” where spoken word poets and hip-hop artists explore the connections between poetry and hip hop. This program, part of the Festival’s Youth Fringe, features talented individuals like Filipino-Australian writer Andrew Cox, local rappers Masia One and Fariz Jabba, and spoken word artist ArunDitha, all set to unveil unique collaborations.

Next Festival Director Revealed

In the spirit of unveiling, AHL announces that Singaporean poet and educator, Yong Shu Hoong, will take the helm as the next Festival Director from January 2024. Shu Hoong’s passion for mentoring young writers and his commitment to the growth of emerging talents make him the perfect fit for the role. His poetry collections, such as “Frottage” and “The Viewing Party,” have won the Singapore Literature Prize, and his latest collection, “Anatomy of a Wave,” showcases his unique observations on seemingly ordinary occurrences.

As a literary reading series founder, Shu Hoong has championed both Singaporean and international authors. During this year’s Festival, he’s participating as a featured author, presenting an interactive session about music and memory.

A Legacy of Milestones

Under the leadership of Pooja Nansi and the dedicated Festival team, SWF has achieved numerous milestones since 2019. Pooja’s tenure witnessed the introduction of the Youth Fringe festival track, which has since grown to become a signature component of SWF. Even during challenging pandemic circumstances, SWF successfully pivoted to virtual and hybrid formats, hosting acclaimed international speakers and celebrating literary legacies.

Mark Your Calendar

Don’t miss the unconventional twists and turns of this year’s SWF from November 17 to November 26, 2023. Early birds can enjoy 20% savings on Festival Passes until 25 October 2023. Festival Passes are available for purchase here.