The Price of Ideas

Expression often comes at a cost.

One of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, Salman Rushdie has never backed down from defending free expression. After his first appearance at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, where he spoke about the freedom to write, Sir Salman returns to Australia, for the first time in twelve years, 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. He presents the 2026 John Caldon Provocation at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, presented in Australia with The Wheeler Centre. Chaired by Simon Longstaff.

About the John Caldon Provocation: presented to honour the legacy of businessman John Caldon OAM (1947–2021), an investment banker and entrepreneur who was one of Macquarie Bank's early stars from 1984–1998. The inaugural John Caldon Provocation was delivered by David Baddiel in 2024.