Festival of Dangerous Ideas Opening Night: Salman Rushdie
Friday 21 August 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
One of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world, Salman Rushdie has never backed down from defending free expression. Twelve years after his first appearance at Festival of Dangerous Ideas, where he spoke about the freedom to write, he returns to Australia for the first time in 2026, to explore the price of ideas.
From The Satanic Verses controversy to ongoing threats, Salman Rushdie explores the violent reactions that ideas can provoke and reflects on the profound personal cost of standing up for free expression. At a time when almost any idea can be dangerous, he examines how culture, religion, and identity collide to disrupt societies and ignite fierce debates over censorship and freedom.
Author of 22 books, with a new release due this November, Rushdie now enters a powerful new chapter in his life and writing.
Join us in the heart of Sydney on 21 August for the Opening Night of FODI 2026 at the iconic Sydney Town Hall. The Festival continues across the weekend, 22–23 August 2026, at Carriageworks, Eveleigh.
Limited early release tickets for this session only are available to buy now, don’t miss out!
This session is 2026 John Caldon Provocation at FODI.
FODI is presented by The Ethics Centre, supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and by Principal Partner Joblink Plus. FODI Opening Night event is supported by City of Sydney.
Salman Rushdie is presented in Australia with The Wheeler Centre.