The Sydney Writers’ Festival is preparing for what it expects to be its biggest box office in 29 years, even as some public criticism continues over parts of its program. Multiple outlets report that the festival’s line-up has drawn pushback, including around author Randa Abdel-Fattah. According to the reporting, NSW Premier Chris Minns is not supportive of Abdel-Fattah appearing in the festival, reflecting a political dispute over her involvement. At the same time, the festival and its supporters cite strong audience interest. Coverage says festival audiences’ response differs from the criticism, with expectations for high ticket sales contributing to the forecast of record attendance. The outlets collectively frame the situation as a tension between political opposition and perceived demand among attendees. While details of the criticism and the nature of the disagreement are referenced in the brief summaries, the core points shared across sources are the forecasted box office success, the presence of controversy affecting perceptions of the line-up, and Minns’s stance on Abdel-Fattah.