A guide to Canadian literary festivals

If you want to celebrate writers, these are the events you should know about.

The festivals listed here are only a sampling of what the Canadian literary community has to offer. Do you know of a literary festival that should be on our list? Email us at cbcbooks@cbc.ca.

Alberta | British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick | Newfoundland & Labrador | Northwest Territories | Nova Scotia | Ontario | Quebec | Saskatchewan | Yukon 

Alberta

When Words Collide
Where: Calgary
​What it's about: A festival that brings readers and writers together for informational, educational and social activities covering a wide variety of genres.
When: Aug. 13-15, 2021

The Word On The Street
Where: Lethbridge
​What it's about: A celebration of reading and writing with author events, presentations, workshops and a marketplace featuring Canadian books and magazines.
When: Sept. 17-18, 2021 (additional activities Sept. 13-24)

St. Albert Readers Festival (STARFest)
Where: St. Albert
What it's about: An annual celebration of writing, writers and reading .
When: Oct. 12-31, 2021

Imaginarium Festival by Wordfest
Where: Calgary
​What it's about: Connecting Calgarians — and now the rest of the world — with life-changing ideas through events and shows featuring the world's best authors.
When: Live events year-round

​LitFest Alberta
Where: Edmonton 
​What it's about: A festival celebrating nonfiction featuring author panels, readings, live performances and writing workshops.
When: Oct. 14-24, 2021

People's Poetry Festival
Where: Calgary
What it's about: An interactive festival that provides a creative introduction to poetry for the curious and seeks to make poetry accessible to all.
When: Oct. 1-3, 2021

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival
Where: Banff
What it's about: North America's largest mountain festival, with firsthand tales of record-breaking ascents, remote journeys and expeditions from the people who lived it: authors, photographers, filmmakers, and adventurers from around the globe.
When: Oct. 30-Nov. 7, 2021

Edmonton Poetry Festival
Where: Edmonton
​What it's about: A celebration of poetry and spoken word, featuring a wide range of artists and poetic styles.
When: Oct. 14-24, 2021

British Columbia

Elephant Mountain Literary Festival
Where: Nelson
​What it's about: A festival that features readings and discussion panels with Canadian authors.
When: July 2-11, 2021

Infusion YA Book Festival
Where: Vancouver
​What it's about: A festival that celebrates YA novels and aims to bring young readers together for a weekend of fun and adventure
When: Nov. 26-27, 2021

Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival
Where: Denman Island
​What it's about: A festival that brings readers and writers together with readings, panel discussions and workshops.
When:  July 16-18, 2021

Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts
Where: Sechelt
​What it's about: A festival that connects readers with Canadian writers.
When: July 4 - Aug. 15, 2021

Wild Words North
Where: Fort St. John (Virtual)
What it's about: A writing celebration with many events over four days including readers, music, presentations, workshops and more. 
When: September 24-26, 2021

LiterAsian
Where: Vancouver
​What it's about: A festival that celebrates the works of Asian Canadian writers and artists with readings, panel discussions and workshops.
When: May 1-30, 2021

​Word Vancouver
Where: Vancouver (Virtual)
​What it's about: A celebration of writing and reading featuring both international and Canadian authors.
When: Sept. 10-26, 2021

​Victoria Festival of Authors
Where: Victoria
​What it's about: A festival bringing together readers and writers through readings, discussion panels and workshops to develop their own craft.
When: Sept. 29 - Oct. 3, 2021

VCON
Where: Vancouver
What it's about: In addition to games, costumes and other popular culture topics there are writer workshops, a multi-author book launch event and many panels aimed at science fiction and fantasy writers, editors and publishers.
When: Oct. 15-17, 2021

Whistler Writers Festival
Where: Whistler
​What it's about: The program includes short seminars, a workshop series for new and emerging writers on various topics of craft, panel discussions, reading events for the general public and a literary cabaret combining music and readings.
When: Oct. 14-17, 2021

Vancouver Writers Fest
Where: Vancouver
​What it's about: A celebration of authors, poets, spoken word performers and graphic novelists through readings, forums and discussions.
When: Oct. 18-24, 2021

Words on the Water
Where: Campbell River
​What it's about: A festival celebrating reading and writing with panel discussions, readings and a literary cabaret.
When: Cancelled until further notice.

Growing Room Festival
Where: Vancouver
What it's about: A feminist literary festival that celebrates diverse Canadian writers and artists.
When: Hopes to return in 2022.

The Creative Ink Festival
Where: Vancouver (Burnaby)
What it's about: Designed to be inclusive for all levels of writing, the festival is a chance to hone your craft while gaining new motivation through panels, presentations and workshops.
When: No updates since 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19.

LitFest New West
Where: New Westminster
​What it's about: A celebration of writers featuring readings, storytelling, workshops, discussions and an amateur writing contest.
When: TBA

Sidney Literary Festival
Where: Sidney
​What it's about: A festival bringing together readers and writers through a variety of programming.
When: April 2022

North Shore Writers Festival
Where: Vancouver
​What it's about: A celebration of Canadian literature featuring a local author's book fair, a literary trivia night and readings.
When: May 15-21, 2021

Verses Festival of Words
Where: Vancouver
​What it's about: A celebration of words with cutting-edge live performances by writers and performers.
When: April 21-30, 2022

Word on the Lake Writers' Festival
Where: Salmon Arm
What it's about: All levels of writers can network with other writers plus readers. The festival provides an opportunity to learn from, and meet with, some of Canada's very successful authors.
When: May 7-9, 2021

Atlin Lit Up
Where: Atlin
What it's about: Festival offers author readings, workshops and presentations, as well as one-on-one manuscript pitch sessions.
When: summer 2021

Manitoba

THIN AIR
Where: Winnipeg
What it's about: A festival curated by the Winnipeg International Writers Festival that highlights writers from Canada and around the world featuring readings, lectures, interviews and panel discussions.
When: Sept 20-Oct 18, 2021

New Brunswick

Word Feast
Where: Fredericton
​What it's about: A bilingual festival that includes author visits to schools, panels, workshops and readings by local and national writers.
When: Oct. 13-17 2021

Fog Lit Festival
Where: Saint John
​What it's about: A festival recognizing the achievements of Canadian writers with events, workshops, panel discussions and readings for all ages.
When: Oct. 9-13, 2020

Frye Festival
Where: Moncton
​What it's about: A bilingual festival that brings together authors, poets and playwrights from around the world for debates, readings and workshops.
When: April 16-25, 2021

​WordSpring
Where: Quispamsis 
​What it's about: A festival that offers writing workshops, readings by national and local authors, book launches, open mic sessions and networking opportunities.
When: May 22 - June 6, 2021

Newfoundland & Labrador

Winterset in Summer Literary Festival
Where: Eastport
​What it's about: A festival featuring drama, music and the visual arts with national and international stars for interviews with writers.
When: Aug. 13-15, 2021

​Writers at Woody Point
Where: Woody Point
​What it's about: A festival that features musical performances by acclaimed musicians with a mix of author readings and other arts events.
When: Aug. 17-22, 2021

The Literary Tour NL
Where: Various locations/St. John's
What it's about: A roving festival that brings four to eight authors to different towns and cities within the province with a grand finale event in St. John's that hosts local authors. Each stop consists of author readings, panel discussions and bookstore.
When: TBA

Ochre Fest
Where: Ochre Pit Cove
What it's about: An annual celebration of Newfoundland and Labrador books, music, art, food and culture.
When: July 2021

Northwest Territories

NorthWords
Where: Yellowknife
​What it's about: Several events for writers, visiting authors and community members including panel discussions and writing workshops for all ages.
When: June 10-13, 2021

Nova Scotia

Port Medway Readers' Festival
Where: Port Medway
What it's about: This literary festival is an opportunity for readers to listen to and meet writers in an informal and friendly fishing village setting.
When: Hopes to return in 2022.

The Word On The Street
Where: Halifax
​What it's about: A celebration of reading and writing with author events, presentations, workshops and a marketplace featuring Canadian books and magazines.
When: TBA

The Cabot Trail Writers Festival
Where: Cape Breton
​What it's about: A celebration of readers, writers and literature with readings, workshops, panel discussions and music.
When: Oct 1-3, 2021

Lunenburg Lit Festival
Where: Lunenburg
What it's about: The festival highlights writers and local stories, is a fun, relaxed environment with discussion panels and readings. Authors, performers, podcasters come and talk about literature.
When: Sept. 23-25, 2021

Read by the Sea Literary Festival
Where: River John
What it's about: A literary festival bringing Canadian authors and poets to Nova Scotia's rural North Shore.
When: July 2-9, 2021

Ontario

gritLIT Festival
Where: Hamilton
​What it's about: Annual four-day celebration of Canadian authors featuring a series of readings and themed events. The festival also holds readings at local schools including French language presentations.
When: April 15-18, 2021

​Lakefield Literary Festival
Where: Peterborough
​What it's about: A festival that celebrates Canadian authors featuring readings and events for children and adults.
When: July 15-17, 2022

Voices of Today
Where: Toronto
​What it's about: A festival designed to bring together youth poets from all across the nation featuring workshops, open mics and showcases.
When: TBA

Women Killing It Crime Writers' Festival
Where: Picton
What it's about: The festival features diverse Canadian female crime writers, newcomers and well-established, from many parts of Canada. Events include workshops and panels with plenty of chance for interaction between readers and the guest authors.
When: Cancelled due to COVID-19.

Eden Mills Writers Festival
Where: Eden Mills
​What it's about: A festival that highlights readings from some of Canada's finest writers and exciting new talents.
When: Online events for kids and adults running throughout the year.

Telling Tales Festival
Where: Rockton
What it's about: A festival that promotes children's stories and a love of reading, while raising awareness and support for literacy projects.
When: Online events running from Oct 2021 to March 2022.

The Word On The Street
Where: Toronto
​What it's about: A celebration of reading and writing with author events, presentations, workshops and a marketplace featuring Canadian books and magazines.
When: Sept. 25-26, 2021

Kingston Writers Fest
Where: Kingston
​What it's about: A five-day festival with approximately 50 events, hosting some 70 authors. The festival offers author readings, interviews and discussions, writers' studio master classes, food and beverage events, and more.
When: Sept. 22-26, 2021

Stratford Writers Festival
Where: Stratford
What it's about: With panel discussions, educational workshops and literary lunches, the Stratford Writers Festival brings hundreds of readers and writers together around a common bond: their passion for stories.
When: Oct 12-27, 2021

BookFest Windsor
Where: Windsor
​What it's about: A book fair that includes panels, discussions, readings, meet-and-greets and conversations with authors.
When: Oct. 14-17, 2021

Toronto International Festival of Authors
Where: Toronto
​What it's about: A festival featuring Canadian and international authors with readings, interviews, panel discussions, special events and interactive presentations.
When: Oct. 21-31, 2021

Ottawa International Writers Festival
Where: Ottawa
​What it's about: A festival that celebrates reading and writing through workshops, school events, interviews and panel discussions.
When: TBA

Appetite for Words Festival
Where: Stratford
What it's about: Festival is a partnership between the Stratford Writers Festival and the Stratford Chefs School and features authors who have written about food in their novels.
When: TBA

​Canadian Festival of Spoken Word
Where: Peterborough
​What it's about: A festival celebrating Canadian spoken word and poetry through panels, showcases, workshops and other events.
When: TBA

Wild Writers Literary Festival
Where: Waterloo
What it's about: A festival where writers and readers come face-to-face.
When: November 2021

Indigenous Writers' Gathering
Where: Toronto
​What it's about: An annual conference with panels and discussions celebrating excellence in Indigenous storytelling and literature.
When: TBA

​​Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival
Where: Sudbury
​What it's about: A festival featuring readings and panels with authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters and songwriters.
When: Nov. 4-6, 2021

VerseFest
Where: Ottawa
​What it's about: A bilingual festival featuring poetry of all traditions, styles and forms from local, Canadian and international poets.
When: TBA

1000 Islands Writers Festival
Where: Gananoque
​What it's about: A celebration of Canadian authors featuring living room sessions, panel discussions, workshops, meal engagements and sessions for seniors living in assisted care.
When: TBA

​gritLIT
Where: Hamilton
​What it's about: A festival that brings in writers, poets and graphic novelists from across the country for readings, workshops, conversations and literary entertainment.
When: April 15-18, 2021

Prince Edward County Authors Festival
Where: Picton
​What it's about: A series of readings, panel discussions and book signings that celebrate Canadian literature while focusing on emerging writers.
When: Aril 22-24, 2021

Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD)
Where: Brampton
​What it's about: A festival where readers can engage with experienced artists who reflect diversity — and how it plays a fundamental role in our local and national identity — through readings, performances, panels, discussions and professional development workshops.
When: May 1-15, 2021

Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story
Where: Wingham
What it's about: An annual literary festival that honours Alice Munro and nurtures emerging writers through workshops and onstage presentations that celebrate the short story.
When: June 4-6, 2021

Quebec

Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival
Where: Montreal
​What it's about: A multilingual festival featuring Canadian and international authors with readings, interviews and panel discussions.
When: April 24 - May 2,2021

imagiNation Writers' Festival
Where: Quebec City
What it's about: A variety of literary events such as readings, discussions and book signings will allow you to meet your favourite writers and discover emerging artists.
When: April 6-11, 2021

Knowlton Literary Festival
Where: Knowlton
What it's about: A festival celebrating the work of English-language writers from Quebec and across Canada. The program features features workshops, events on local history, readings by and interviews with writers.
When: Oct. 14-17, 2021

Wakefield Writers Festival des écrivains La Pêche
Where: Wakefield
​What it's about: A bilingual festival that showcases local and national francophone, anglophone and Indigenous literary talent.
When: Oct. 27-31, 2021

MTL YA Fest
Where: Montreal
What it's about: Young adult book festival, their goal is to connect teens with their favourite authors through panel talks, discussions, games, etc.
When: May 23, 2021

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Festival of Words
Where: Moose Jaw
​What it's about: A festival that holds workshops for all ages. It also features readings, concerts, film, panel discussions, interviews, music, theatre and a slam poetry competition.
When: July 15-18, 2021

The Word On The Street
Where: Saskatoon
​What it's about: A celebration of reading and writing with author events, presentations, workshops and a marketplace featuring Canadian books and magazines.
When: June 2021

Yukon

Yukon Writers Festival
Where: Whitehorse
​What it's about: A literary festival produced by Yukon Public Libraries, Public School Branch and Yukon Science Institute.
When: TBA