Founding director Rosemarie Milsom outlined the program via video from her home while isolating as a household contact of a COVID-19 case.

"I had hoped to be there to celebrate with you after a challenging couple of years, but we've become very good at adapting our plans," Milsom said.

The festival will hold its first festival since 2019 from April 1 to 3 in Newcastle's Civic precinct.

Many Australia's most respected and loved writers are on the program - 120 in all - including Trent Dalton, Tom Keneally, Hannah Kent, Julia Baird and Nardi Simpson.

British-American writer Simon Winchester will be appearing live from the US via video link.

Hunter writers in the program include Lee Christine and Wendy James.

"Our opening night gala centres on love in all its forms and six writers, including Trent Dalton and Hannah Kent, will speak about its impact," she said.

"On the final evening, Sarah Wilson will discuss her most recent book, This One Wild and Precious Life: A hopeful path forward in a fractured world.

"I realise there is a lot to despair about, whether it's the ongoing impact of the pandemic, record-breaking floods, and the war in Ukraine. I don't want to sugar-coat the hardship or avoid tough conversations, but I also want to celebrate the comfort provided by books and powerful writing."

Others on the program include journalists Van Badham, Justine Cullen, Kate McClymont, and Amy Remeikis, Aboriginal writers and activists Chelsea Watego and Thomas Mayor, academic and former Griffith Review editor Julianne Schultz, leading feminists Clementine Ford and Wendy McCarthy, best-selling authors Kelli Hutchins, Michael Robotham, and Jane Caro, as well as Amani Haydar, Brendan Cowell, Jessie Stephens and Laura Elizabeth Woollett.

There are 70 free and ticketed events, including a fund- raising literary trivia night, a historical walking tour of Stockton, a winery event with popular writer Todd Alexander, as well as panel discussions, readings, one-on-one interviews, and book launches.

Session topics include gender politics in Parliament, identity, history, the environment, family, and the impact of the pandemic.

The festival has also collaborated with the annual Margaret Henry Memorial Lecture, which will be presented as part of the program by disability advocate Graeme Innes.

Eight events will be live streamed.

As part of the event's COVID-safe measures, audiences will be encouraged to wear masks and all guest writers, festival staff and volunteers will complete daily rapid antigen tests before arriving at venues.

The program and bookings will be available from 9am on Wednesday, March 9.