What Can You Expect at Calgary's Wordfest?
Every October, Wordfest produces The Imaginairium, Canada’s Liveliest Literary Festival. Check out the stellar 50+ writers who will be appearing in Calgary Oct. 13-18, 2026. We’re announcing the Imaginairium schedule on Aug. 18. Get a Festival Pass now at the Early Bird rate of $195 and enjoy advance booking for 40 shows. If you think we couldn’t top last year’s stellar experience, you’re in for such treats!
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, and The Bella 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.
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!
AI SCAM ALERT: Invitations to appear at Wordfest are sent by publishers to their authors. If you receive any communication from an email account (particularly a gmail account) purporting to be from a Wordfest representative, it is likely an AI-generated scam. We only work through publishers to avoid this unconscionable exploitation and our official emails are from emails ending in wordfest.com. We never charge authors or artists to be part of our programming.
What to Expect at a Wordfest Show
Click to reveal the answer to our most commonly asked questions.
How early should I arrive at a Wordfest show?
We recommend arriving when doors open (noted on your ticket) as Wordfest tickets are general admission. Arriving early gives you a chance to find a great seat, grab a libation from the venue’s lobby bar, and browse the bookseller and merch tables.
Are books available for sale at Wordfest shows?
Yes, come early and browse the pop-up bookstore in the venue lobby before and after every Wordfest show. Here you’ll find the featured titles from each event as well as a selection of backlist and other recommended reads from the show’s themes. During the Imaginairium, discover the full collection of festival books, all in one place, at the pop-up bookstores in Memorial Park Library and DJD Dance Centre!
At standalone shows throughout the year, we partner with independent booksellers such as Owl’s Nest Books, Shelf Life Books, Slow Burn Books, and Nocturne Books.
Does Wordfest have merch?
Yes! At most shows, the onsite bookseller will have a selection of Wordfest swag and merch available for purchase, including custom tote bags, stickers, and new Human-Focused Mission buttons! All Wordfest merch proceeds go to Wordfest Youth (fuelling teen literacy in Calgary). We never use AI and always pay the artists.
Will the author sign books after a Wordfest show?
Most Wordfest shows include a signing after the show where you’ll have the opportunity to chat with the author, get a selfie, and have your books personalized.
However, we recommend checking the details of the show description to confirm, as some experiences (at the request of the author) may offer presigned books, limited personalizations, no selfies, or a post-show photo opportunity only (no signing).
Can I preorder my book before a Wordfest show?
Every show has a pre-order link. Patrons can purchase books through the bookseller in advance.
Want your book signed before the show? Arrive early, purchase your book(s) and let the onsite bookseller know. If the author has time in the green room, we will get them to sign in advance.
Which Wordfest venues have bar service?
Bar service is available at Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor (for events after noon) and at DJD Dance Centre and Central Library (evening events). Drinks can be enjoyed in lobby spaces and at your seat during the show. We feature alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
Can I access recordings of past Wordfest shows?
We turn the audio recordings of our most memorable in-person shows into new episodes of Imagine On Air, available here. Check back regularly for more thought-provoking episodes, custom-crafted for you by Wordfest.
We’ve also assembled a hand-picked selection of our most memorable online shows and other feature films, available here.
Where can I find photos or recaps of the Wordfest show I just attended?
Indeed, “The FOMO is Reel.” Look for post-show recaps from Wordfest’s social media team and a selection of the best photos from our official photographer David Kotsibie on our Instagram Reels page here.
For select shows (e.g. where a professional photo with the author is included in the experience), we provide ticket holders with a link to download and share their photos.
Visiting from Out of Town?
Whether you’re visiting the city for a Wordfest show, or looking to build a special staycation experience, we have options!
What hotel do you recommend for shows near Memorial Park Library?
We recommend the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites (239 12th Avenue SW, Calgary), which is located directly across from Wordfest’s home at Memorial Park Library.
Here is their booking link to reserve a room at the preferred Wordfest rate.
Guests can also book by phone at 1‑888‑236‑2427 and reference the “Wordfest Fall Imaginairium Festival Room Block”. Some restrictions apply. Please inquire when calling.
What hotel do you recommend for shows near Central Library?
We recommend Alt Hotel East Village (635 Confluence Way SE, Calgary).
Valid during the Imaginairium Festival Only (Oct. 13-18, 2026): Please use is this booking link (or reference room block 2610WORDFE if reserving by phone) to book rooms at the Wordfest rate.
For shows outside the festival: Please make your reservation by phone and reference the booking block name WORDFEST.
Guests may contact the hotel at 1-833-391-0482 for Front Desk assistance. Some restrictions apply. Please inquire when calling.
Why Writers Love Wordfest's Imaginairium Festival
Canada’s most engaging authors show up with curiosity, courage, and care, making Wordfest’s fall festival a true celebration of creativity and community. Video by Pluto Pictures.
Year-Round Shows at Wordfest
August
Thank you, Wordfesters! THIS SHOW IS NOW SOLD OUT. You can join the waitlist here.
She’s back. And we couldn’t be more delighted. Join us to celebrate Calgary’s Natalie Sue and You’ll Love It Here, the satirical follow-up to her award-winning debut novel, I Hope This Finds You Well.
Emily Austin describes Sue’s new book as “a touching comedy exploring self-realization, complicated grief, and community, told through the eyes of a memorable protagonist with an observant, sharp, and hysterical voice.” We can’t wait to laugh out loud with the 2025 winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. The lively conversation. hosted by Wordfest’s Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut, includes an audience Q&A and signing. Owl’s Nest Books will be on site with copies of both of Sue’s novels, which you can pre-order here and pick up at the show to be first in the signing line!
September
[Sold Out]
Sep 8 @ 7 PM $49.95 (Includes Book)
SOLD OUT! Click here to join the waitlist. (Thank you, Wordfesters, for your remarkable support. If you missed out on tickets, please sign up for our e-blast to ensure you’re part of the 24-hour subscriber pre-sale!)
Big Little Truths is the delicious binge read we’ve been waiting for, full of Moriarty’s trademark duplicity and intrigue. The follow-up to 2014’s Big Little Lies, it follows fabulous fremenies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—a decade into the future as they navigate the volatile teen years. Big kids. Big problems.
Your ticket includes an on-stage conversation, hosted by Jenny Steele, a pre-signed copy of hot-off-the-presses Big Little Truths, and a post-show book signing. Liane has graciously agreed to sign and personalize not just her latest bestseller but all her books, as this is her first Calgary appearance. Owl’s Nest Books will be onsite with extra copies of the new novel, as well as a selection of her previous bestsellers, which you can pre-order here for pick up at the show.
Sep 10 @ 6 PM $25
Téa Mutonji’s conversation with Joshua Whitehead was one of the standouts of our 25@25 online anniversary shows in 2020. So we’re thrilled to (finally!) be presenting her in person to celebrate My Person, her debut novel, in conversation with Paula Turcotte.
This special show will be preceded at 6PM with an exclusive preview of Wordfest’s 2026 Imaginairium (Oct. 13-18), presented by Wordfest’s Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut. This is your exclusive opportunity to optimize your festival experience: get the inside scoop on the 30+ shows and stellar international lineup, ask questions, and be the first to buy festival books and the official festival tote. It’s also your last chance to secure a Festival Pass for the early bird rate of $195. (Buy now before June 30 for an additional $30 savings!)
Owl’s Nest Books will be on site with both of Téa’s books (you might remember her debut short-story collection Shut Up You’re Pretty from the 2024 Canada Reads competition), as well as a curated selection of Imaginairium books.
Sep 15 @ 7:30 PM $31.50 (incl GST) + $7.25 MRU Fee
Wordfest is thrilled to welcome back two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead with the hotly anticipated Cool Machine, the conclusion of the “whole dang Harlem saga.” Publishers Weekly calls it a “transcendent and wildly entertaining novel” and “the greatest New York novel in years.” The show includes a lively conversation, hosted by podcaster and politico Zain Velji, followed by a book signing.
Cool Machine hit the shelves this Tuesday and it’s the talk of the literary world (do a quick search to dive into all the rave reviews). You can pick up your copy now, along with Whitehead’s award-winning backlist, from Shelf Life Books. If you prefer to wait until show day, Shelf Life Books will also be at the Bella Concert Hall with Whitehead’s books. We’re still talking about his 2023 Calgary show, so you’ll want to secure your seats now!
We had to sneak one more fall show in—and it’s a doozy. Colin James is not only a Canadian blues legend, he’s a heck of a storyteller. Join James, in an intimate conversation with Calgary Herald art writer Eric Volmers, to celebrate the launch of his long-awaited memoir, Playing The Changes: A Musician’s Memoir. Tickets to this show will go fast (almost as lightning quick as James’ playing), so please act fast. The book comes out just days before the show, but you can pre-order your copy here from Owl’s Nest Books to pick up a the show and be first in the signing line.
[Sold Out]
Sep 27 @ 1 PM $62.95 (incl Book & GST) + $10.92 MRU Fee
SOLD OUT! Join the waitlist here for any additional tickets that become available. Note: Wordfest, which is a non-profit, does not condone reselling tickets above the original ticket price.
If you were at R.F. Kuang’s sold-out 2025 Wordfest appearance, you know why we’re so chuffed she’s coming back to Calgary with her new novel, Tapei Story. Given how many of you were disappointed that you didn’t get tickets last time, we’re delighted to be able to present her in a bigger venue, the glorious Bella Concert Hall, in an exclusive conversation hosted by Calgary graphic memoirist Teresa Wong.
Your ticket includes a pre-signed, deluxe limited-edition copy of Taipei Story. Additional signed copies, as well as Kuang’s fantastic backlist (Yellowface, Babel, Katabasis), will be available at the show and for pre-order, courtesy of Owl’s Nest Books.
October
With all the nostalgia for the ’90s, this is our moment to rally around Rick “The Temp” Campanelli, whose nickname was upgraded to “The Franchise” after his long tenure as a beloved MuchMusic VJ. His bombshell memoir, Tempted: My Story, takes us along his journey from Queen Street West to hosting ET: Canada and Breakfast Television in Toronto.
“Being a mostly open book in the public eye for over 30 years, people think they know me pretty well, but it’s time for me to shed light on a few deep dark secrets that will shock many,” Campanelli shares. “Tempted is a story of accomplishments and living life to the fullest but not without mistakes along the way. A cautionary tale of what can happen when you lose control. This is my full story, flaws and all.”
And we have the perfect pro to lead the conversation and audience Q&A: Dave Kelly, the beloved host of Calgary’s Breakfast Television. You also get to meet Rick and get your book signed after. Want to be first in line? You can pre-order Tempted here from Owl’s Nest Books, who will also be on site with copies.
LOW TICKET ALERT!
America. Russia. Iran. Secret plots. Imperialist ambition. Nuclear destruction. This story could be pulled from today’s headlines but it’s actually 1981. Only Ben Macintyre could uncover the secrets behind the Soviet double agent struggling to prevent Cold War Armageddon. Wordfest is thrilled to welcome Macintyre back to Calgary to share the fascinating tale behind Redwood: The Untold Story of the Cold War’s Most Extraordinary Spy.
The conversation, hosted by Wordfest’s Shelley Youngblut, includes an audience Q & A and book signing, fuelled by Owl’s Nest Books. You can preorder copies of Redwood, as well as Macintyre’s award-winning back list, here.
The Imaginairium, Canada’s Liveliest Literary Festival, returns Oct. 13 to 18, 2026, featuring 40+ shows and a stellar lineup of 50+ authors.
Check out the authors appearing at the 2026 Imaginairium: Superstars who personify the dazzling range of Canadian and international storytelling! And they are all the very best humans, which makes the opportunity for you to connect with each of them this fall even more magical.
We’re announcing the Imaginairium schedule on Aug. 18. Get your Festival Pass now for the best value—and access to our most popular shows, such as The Way We… Wear and Literary Death Match.
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