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
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. 28-Nov. 5, 2023
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: April 22-30, 2023
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: Oct, 11-15, 2023
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LitFest Alberta
Where: Edmonton
What it's about: A festival celebrating nonfiction featuring author panels, readings, live performances and writing workshops.
When: Oct. 12-22, 2023
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: March 31 to April 2, 2023
St. Albert Readers Festival (STARFest)
Where: St. Albert
What it's about: An annual celebration of writing, writers and reading .
When: Sept. 24 to Nov. 1, 2023
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. 23, 2023
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. 16-18, 202
British Columbia
Art & Words Festival
Where: Gibsons Public Market, Gibsons
What it's about: Local artists, photographers, and authors of the Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society are paired together to prompt each other's creativity, resulting in stunning art and inspired accompanying literary works. There are interviews with the teams onstage, literary readings, an art exhibit, book and art sales, plus art and writers' workshops. The highlight of the Festival is the SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors contest awards ceremony with readings from prize-winning authors.
When: August 8-11, 2024
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 20-23, 2023
Elephant Mountain Literary Festival
Where: Nelson
What it's about: A festival that features readings and discussion panels with Canadian authors.
When: Sept. 11-17, 2023
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 2024
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 4-27, 2023
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: April 27-29, 2023
Sidney Literary Festival
Where: Sidney
What it's about: A festival bringing together readers and writers through a variety of programming.
When: April 3-5, 2025
Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts
Where: Sechelt
What it's about: A festival that connects readers with Canadian writers.
When: Aug. 17-20, 2023
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. 16-22, 2023
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 20-29, 2023
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: Oct. 11-15, 2023
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. 12-16, 2023
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 17-19, 2024
Word Vancouver
Where: Vancouver (Virtual)
What it's about: A celebration of writing and reading featuring both international and Canadian authors.
When: Sept. 8-23, 2023
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: March 8-9, 2024
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, 2023
New Brunswick
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 19-28, 2024 (25th Edition)
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: October 2023
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: June 2-4, 2023
Newfoundland & Labrador
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 7-9, 2023
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. 11-13, 2023
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. 15-20, 2023
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: May 31 to June 5, 2023
Nova Scotia
AfterWords Literary Festival
Where: Halifax
What it's about: Writers and readers meet at a multi-day festival that includes readings, on stage conversations, panel discussions, workshops, programming for kids and teens, and celebratory events.
When: Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, 2023
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. 13-15, 2024
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: July 15, July 29 and Aug. 5, 2023
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 6-8, 2023
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 4-6, 2024
Ontario
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 2-4, 2023
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. 12-15, 2023
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: Sept. 8-10, 2023
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: April 28 to May 5, 2024
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 19-23, 2023
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. 27 to Oct. 1, 2023
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 19-20, 2024
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: Fall Oct. 25-29, 2023 / Spring May 2-5, 2024
Prince Edward County Reads 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: April 20-22, 2023
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: Sept. 16-17, 2023
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: May 27-28, 2023
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: Sept. 21 to Oct. 1, 2023
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: March 18-26, 2023
Wild Writers Literary Festival
Where: Waterloo
What it's about: A festival where writers and readers come face-to-face.
When: Oct. 27-29, 2023
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. 2-4, 2023
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: April 14, 2023
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 25-28, 2024
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 11-16, 2023
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. 12-14, 2023
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: TBA 2023
Read Quebec Book Fair
Where: Montreal
What it's about: Annual festival that celebrates Quebec's English-language publishers and writers.
When: Nov. 3-4, 2023
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: May 24-28, 2023
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 18-21, 2024
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: Sept. 17, 2023
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: May 1-6, 2023