A provocative 10-day festival featuring talks, films, workshops, and excursions across Sydney exploring challenging ideas.
Friday 21 August 2026
to Sunday 30 August 2026
Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2042, Sydney, Australia
Free - $210
The Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2026 invites you to engage with bold and thought-provoking conversations that challenge societal norms and spark meaningful dialogue. Over ten days, this dynamic event unfolds across multiple Sydney venues, offering a rich program of talks, films, workshops, and exclusive excursions.
Experience a festival like no other, where ideas on hatred, belonging, nationhood, conspiracy, morality, faith, evil, and pluralism are explored by renowned thinkers and artists. Highlights include world-premiere commissioned artworks, taboo films with scholar introductions, and behind-the-scenes access to Sydney's most restricted cultural spaces. The main festival weekend features live events at Carriageworks, while the extended program includes film screenings and excursions at major cultural institutions citywide.
The festival runs from Friday 21 August to Sunday 30 August 2026. Opening night on 21 August features Tim Minchin's "Coward," a candid and humorous examination of his career and ideas. The main festival weekend at Carriageworks is on 22 and 23 August, with additional films, workshops, and excursions continuing until 30 August. Esteemed guests include Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa, journalist Cory Doctorow, playwright John Cameron Mitchell, Stan Grant, Hannah Diviney, Richard Flanagan, and Pussy Riot's Maria Alyokhina.
The primary venue is Carriageworks, located at 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2042. Events also take place across Sydney’s cultural institutions, including the State Library and ABC archives. Carriageworks is accessible by public transport and offers a vibrant cultural setting in the inner city.
Tickets range from free events to $210 for adult passes. The festival is presented by The Ethics Centre with support from the NSW Government and JobLink Plus. Due to the popularity of the festival, tickets are selling fast, so early booking is recommended. The program includes a mix of live and film events, some with limited capacity.
Tickets start from free for some events, with adult tickets priced at $210 for full access. Booking is essential for popular talks and excursions. Visit the official Festival of Dangerous Ideas website to explore the full program and secure your tickets.
