April
Join us for an evening with the author of Seva for this sizzling event featuring Ruprai’s second collection, Pressure Cooker Love Bomb. This humorous book of poetry reads like a woman of colour's manifesto — infused with intense sexuality, racial tensions, and questions of gender conformity. READ MORE
Word Play takes you behind the scenes in the making of a new Canadian play. Join us for a stage reading of excerpts from four new scripts in development by members of Alberta Theatre Projects’ Playwrights Unit. Plus enjoy a post-show conversation moderated by local playwright and ATP Playwrights Unit Director Meg Braem. READ MORE
Don’t miss the tastiest live event of 2019, as Calgary welcomes the legendary Ruth Reichl in celebration of her new memoir, Save Me the Plums. This conversation-style event will give you the rare opportunity to connect with an unparalleled powerhouse (editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, New York Times restaurant critic, chef and bestselling author), as Reichl shares an insider’s take on the obsessions, intrigues and delights of being at the centre of the explosion of contemporary food culture. Your ticket includes a signed copy of Save Me the Plums READ MORE
May
In great demand as an inspirational speaker, Kristen Worley is an Olympic-calibre cyclist who challenged the highest levels of international sport on science, gender and human rights … and won. In her new memoir Woman Enough, Worley tells the powerful and inspiring story of her journey to self-realization, one that will upend your assumptions about sexual identity and show how one person can create significant change in the world while staying true to oneself. This event will feature an on-stage interview, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. READ MORE
Discover Easy-to-Make Recipes from Novelist Kim Thuy
May 10 @ 7 PM $15 - $20
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor
1221 2nd Street SW
Stuffed Squash Soup and Vermicelli Bowls and Fried Lemongrass Fish, OH MY! This conversation-style event is for anyone who has ever said the words, “I wish I could cook like that.” Legendary author and former restaurateur, Kim Thúy presents her new cookbook, Secrets From My Vietnamese Kitchen, complete with 50 easy-to make recipes. This event includes an on-stage interview, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. READ MORE
A riveting exploration of what it means to belong. Don't miss the Calgary premiere of this unique staged reading by our hometown Olympic hero, inspirational leader and world-renowned social justice activist. READ MORE
A riveting exploration of what it means to belong. Don't miss the Calgary premiere of this unique staged reading by our hometown Olympic hero, inspirational leader and world-renowned social justice activist. READ MORE
Join us for an evening with the internationally bestselling author of Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rassan, Guy Gavriel Kay as he presents his masterful new novel, A Brightness Long Ago. Set in the vivid world of early Renaissance Italy, the novel offers an extraordinary cast of characters whose lives come together through destiny, love, and ambition. CBC host Jennifer Keene will be doing the on-stage interview, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. READ MORE
Don't miss this afternoon with the Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning author of Fifteen Dogs. André Alexis' latest novel, Days by Moonlight, is a darkly comical exploration of the perpetual question: how do we know the things we know are real and what is real anyway? READ MORE
The self-proclaimed “Queen of Fibre” is coming and she’s going to help you get an A+ on your next Colonoscopy, phew! On May 28th media personality, bestselling author, and professional home economist Mairlyn Smith is presenting her new fibre infused cookbook, Peace, Love & Fibre. This event includes an on-stage interview with local celebrity Julie Van Rosendaal, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. READ MORE
Come prepared to delve into French Exit, written by the New York Times bestselling author of The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt. The book has been called, "An immaculate performance on ice, executed with sharp shining blades, lutzing and pirouetting above unknowable black depths" by Scotiabank Giller Prize Jury Citation READ MORE
Subscribe for Email Updates
Wordfest will present more than 150 amazing experiences in 2019, with new authors and thinkers being booked all the time. Sign up for our newsletter — it’s the only way you won’t miss out on exciting announcements, special offers and some pretty swell surprises.
Photos of Past Events
Wordfest featured over 150 events in last year and is dreaming big for 2018. Visit our Flickr page for photos of past events.
View Festival Photos
Recaps of Past Events
Using a platform called Storify, we’ve collected all of the social media buzz, live-tweets, snapshots and live illustrations captured during Wordfest.
Recaps of Past Events
Youth & School Programming
Over 10,000 young readers this year will experience the magic of interacting with live authors in schools and in theatres.
Learn MoreBecome a Wordy Do-Gooder
A huge thank you to all of our supporters! Wordfest relies on government funding, sponsorships from corporations and foundations, volunteer support and charitable donations from individuals like you to ensure that we are able to continue our 23-year history of sparking live experiences for readers and writers. We invite you to consider donating to Wordfest this season as we plan for another year of igniting ideas and building community – one inspiring story at a time.
Supporters & Public Funders
Community Partners
