The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) is set to return from November 13 to 22, 2026, featuring an array of international and regional literary figures. This year’s edition, themed “Hidden In Plain Sight” with a special focus on crime fiction, will showcase notable authors including Booker Prize nominees Amitav Ghosh and Tan Twan Eng, Taiwanese writer and radio host Ma Shih-fang, and Jim Rion, translator of the popular Uketsu book series.
Several Malaysian writers are also confirmed to appear at the festival, such as Vanessa Chan, Adriana Nordin Manan, Janet Tay, Shamini Flint, Lauren Ho, Daryl Kho, and Lutfi Ishak, along with Penang-born Tan Twan Eng. Early-bird tickets for the festival and its ticketed events, including keynote lectures and the intimate Salon series, are currently available, with visitors able to redeem Culture Pass credits for access.
SWF director Yong Shu Hoong, 59, highlighted efforts to accommodate the growing audience following last year’s capacity issues at the Arts House venue. In 2025, ticket sales were temporarily halted due to space constraints, leading to early queues for popular sessions. To alleviate this, the festival will expand its footprint by utilizing additional venues such as the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium at the National Gallery Singapore alongside the Victoria Theatre. Outdoor communal areas will be set up at Empress Lawn for dining and along the Singapore River as reading lounges.
Changes have been introduced to the festival’s programming. The traditional SWF Homage exhibition, which previously used bulky panels, will be replaced by interactive workshops, online translation activities, and a travelling exhibition focusing on translators. Additionally, food and beverage offerings have been adjusted, with Bricolage restaurant near the Old Parliament House supplying a menu tailored for festivalgoers, addressing concerns about the distance between Empress Lawn and Arts House.
The popular Salon series continues with events at unconventional venues, including poet Pooja Nansi at Como Orchard and novelist Jemimah Wei at Kotuwa, a Sri Lankan restaurant in New Bahru. Unlike 2025, which featured an entire food-themed series, this year’s festival includes fewer culinary events following a deliberate decision to diversify the program and attract new audiences.
Yong emphasized a commitment to mother-tongue language programming, citing a Tamil spoken-word event’s success in 2025 as inspiration. This year, the performance “Firasat: A Dikir Performance” at the Victoria Theatre will blend dikir barat and theatre, providing a culturally distinct offering despite budget and audience size challenges.
The festival will also expand its use of live and artificial intelligence translation services after favorable feedback last year, aiming to make sessions more accessible.
This marks Yong’s third and final year as festival director. He decided to step down to focus on caregiving responsibilities following the passing of his mother. Reflecting on his tenure, Yong noted that while his first year was quieter compared to the more energetic post-pandemic 2024 festival, his 2025 edition successfully balanced star power with in-depth programming that appealed across diverse demographics.
When asked about his ideal author lineup, Yong acknowledged that many dream candidates are either obscure or deceased but explained that his selection process emphasizes award-winning authors, input from his programming team, and collaborations with international cultural partners. He hopes the festival continues to attract audiences willing to explore new literary voices.
Among the scheduled highlights, Tan Twan Eng will discuss the inspirations behind his acclaimed novels, which delve into themes of history, memory, and human connection.