What Can You Expect at Calgary's Wordfest?
Every October, Wordfest produces The Imaginairium, Canada’s Liveliest Literary Festival. But wait, we do so much MORE.
We showcase the world’s most intriguing authors (in every genre!) from January through December in our theatre in Memorial Park Library, as well as at Central Library, Decidedly Jazz Dance Centre, The Bella Concert Hall, and The Jack Singer Concert Hall.
Our Wordfest Youth program connects thousands of Calgary students in Grades 5-12 with writers in exclusive experiences designed to fuel teen literacy.
We collaborate creatively with local independent booksellers and community partners to bring you illuminating, invigorating, affordable, life-affirming experiences.
If you missed out on (or would like to re-experience) a sampling of the 2025 shows that were part of our year-round 30th Anniversary Celebration, you can listen via this link to audio episodes. Thanks to our generous supporters, we are able to present Wordfest’s Imagine on Air as a free series.
Check out our upcoming shows below and discover more about the writers and their books, which can be picked up onsite at our pop-up bookstores. Our shows sell out quickly, so act fast!
Year-Round Shows at Wordfest
May
We’re horrified—in the best way! Wordfest presents an evening with Canadian fright-lit meisters Nick Cutter (The Dorians) and Marcus Kliewer (The Caretaker). The deliciously chilling conversation, hosted by Wordfest’s Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut, includes an audience Q & A and book signing. Nocturne Books, Calgary’s newest indie bookseller, will be on site, stocked with Cutter and Kliewer’s backlists. (You can pre-order your copy of The Dorians, The Caretaker, and a boneyard of backlist titles here.)
June
SOLD OUT! Click here to join the waitlist. (Thank you, Wordfesters, for your remarkable support. If you missed out on tickets, get yourself, your friends, family, and colleagues to sign up for our e-blast to ensure you don’t miss out next time!)
Non-fiction fans, this one’s for you. We’ve wanted to entice Patrick Radden Keefe (Say Nothing, Empire of Pain) to Calgary for years. And our time has come: The New Yorker‘s master of investigative narrative has added a Calgary stop on the world tour for his highly-anticipated new book, London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth.
The conversation, hosted by Shelley Youngblut, includes an audience Q & A and book signing, fuelled by Shelf Life Books. You can preorder copies of London Falling, as well as Radden Keefe’s award-winning back list, here.
Wordfest and Calgary Public Library are thrilled to announce the 3rd Annual Reading in the Wild, Calgary’s only outdoor read-a-thon.
This event is FREE. Please RSVP here so that we can send you updates.
This all-ages community event invites everyone—from toddlers to seniors, and even well-behaved book-loving pups—to gather with fellow readers and enjoy the simple, shared joy of reading outside. Attendees can bring their own books or select something new from a specially curated collection provided by Calgary Public Library, which will also be on site to provide free library cards to anyone who needs one. The 2025 event far surpassed expectations, doubling attendance and attracting hundreds of readers of all ages.
Thank You to Our Public Funders
Founding Partner
Community Supporters
