Literary events in Ontario
Toronto International Festival of Authors
Discover new and old books at book fairs and connect with authors and publishers in the literary community. Whether you want to join a writing workshop to practise your craft or hear well-known writers speak about their books and writing process, participating in these literary events can offer knowledge and inspiration for all bibliophiles.
Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Toronto International Festival of Authors
One of Canada’s biggest literary events, the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) has attracted thousands of local and international visitors for more than 40 years.
This 11-day festival welcomes thousands of authors from over 100 countries, including Nobel Laureates and numerous other award winners. Join fellow avid readers in book launches, artists’ talks, readings, performances, special award celebrations and more.
TIFA also features mini-festivals such as the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival, Toronto Lit Up and the official TIFA Book Club.
Date: Stay tuned for the 2024 dates and times
Location: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair
Don’t miss the Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair if you love reading or collecting vintage books and maps. A wide selection of Canadian, American and British booksellers will be on hand, with incredible and rare books, prints, maps, ephemera and other paper works on display.
This book fair is free to attend with general admission to the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Date: Stay tuned for the 2024 dates and times
Location: Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto
The Word On The Street Toronto
Running since 1990, The Word On The Street (WOTS) Toronto is Canada’s largest free book and magazine festival, attracting over 200,000 visitors every year.
This unique Toronto literary festival has hosted hundreds of author readings, with a focus on promoting books by Canadian and Indigenous authors and publishers. In addition to the free annual street festival, WOTS hosts year-round literary programming to celebrate storytelling, ideas and imagination.
Participate in a variety of activities designed for book lovers, such as panel discussions, writing and publishing workshops, book fairs and children’s interactive activities. Independent authors, small presses and writing associations are featured in exhibits, where you can browse and chat about their works. Virtual workshops and podcasts are also available for those who can’t make it in person.
Date: Stay tuned for the 2024 dates and times
Location: Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto
The Festival of Literary Diversity
As Canada’s first festival for diverse authors and storytellers, The Festival of Literary Diversity engages readers and inspires writers by focusing the attention on underrepresented and marginalized voices.
This annual event is held in Brampton’s historic downtown, where writers talk about the challenges they face in crafting stories that ask hard questions, push literary boundaries and foster acceptance and equality. The festival schedule includes a wide range of virtual and in-person events for people of all ages, such as a reading challenge, kids’ festival, author visit series and monthly online webinars.
All of the spaces used at this festival are wheelchair accessible, with ramp or ground-level entrances. You’ll also find gender-neutral restrooms, accessibility parking spaces and e-buttons on doors.
Details: Events April 28 to May 1 will be online and the events May 2-5 will be in person. Check back soon for admission details.
Date: Sunday, April 28 to Sunday, May 5, 2024
Location: The Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton
Hamilton, Halton and Brant
gritLIT Festival
Established in 2004 by local Hamilton writer Krista Foss as a small, intimate event, gritLIT soon grew into a dynamic, large-scale literary festival.
Enjoy a variety of fun writing discussions hosted by talented authors, with wine, music, games and plenty of laughter. Attend in-person readings, panels or interviews or join special writing workshops over Zoom. In addition to readings at the Staircase Theatre, this event includes readings at schools across Southwestern Ontario.
Details: Tickets must be purchased online in advance.
Date: Wednesday, April 17 to Sunday, 21, 2024
Location: The Staircase, 27 Dundurn Street North, Hamilton
Burlington Literary Festival
Immerse yourself in books and creativity with talented authors during the Burlington Literary Festival.
This book festival features exciting events like an intimate writer’s workshops, panel discussions and storytelling gatherings, held in-person and online. These events are hosted by an array of local and bestselling authors. In the past, well-known writers like Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Lynda Monk and Rod Carley have made guest appearances.
All events are free to attend, but you have to register in advance on the website.
Date: Friday, November 1 to Saturday 30, 2024
Location: Burlington Public Library, Central Branch, 2331 New Street, Burlington
Burlington Lyrics & Poetry Festival
April is poetry month and it’s the perfect time to experience the Burlington Lyrics & Poetry Festival. This celebration of poems and songs features music and spoken word performances, as well as creative workshops and activities
Details: Events are free, but you need to register to secure a spot since they fill up fast. Registrations open March 20, 2024. Check online for the this year’s lineup.
Date: Monday, April 1 to Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Location: Burlington Public Library, Central Branch, 2331 New Street, Burlington
Telling Tales Festival
Share the love of reading with your kids when you bring them to meet Canadian authors, illustrators and storytellers at the Telling Tales Festival.
This popular children’s book festival invites homegrown Canadian writers to connect with their younger fans and new audiences with presentations and workshops. It’s run by schools, libraries and volunteers who are passionate about raising the next generation of avid readers.
During its history, this two-day event has featured over 290 literary authors and delivered more than 660 presentations to a live audience of over 65,000 kid and adult spectators. Famous Canadian authors like David A. Robertson, Esi Edugyen and Kenneth Oppel have made appearances.
Details: Register to attend the Telling Tales Festival through the website. Attendance is free.
Date: Stay tuned for the 2024 dates and times
Location: Royal Botanical Gardens, Hendrie Park, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington
Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
Eden Mills Writers’ Festival
Hear and read works in a variety of genres at the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival.
Having run every September since 1989, this annual writers’ festival takes over the charming village of Eden Mills. On the festival Sunday, the streets are closed to traffic so visitors can sit on blankets or lawn chairs to hear readings from established and emerging Canadian writers. From the riverbank and grassy gardens to accessible outdoor venues, spend an idyllic afternoon listening to great readings from more than 60 writers.
Enjoy snacks and light meals from food trucks and vendors on the licensed patio and stroll through the marketplace on the town’s main street, which showcases a bookseller and author’s signing tent.
Details: . Stay tuned for more details about 2024 ticket sales.
Date: Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 8, 2024
Location: Multiple venues across Eden Mills
Wild Writers Literary Festival
Writers from across Canada are brought together at this three-day literary festival.
Meet award-winning authors and listen to discussions about their latest works and the writing process.
Listen to short readings and participate in writing workshops. Don’t forget to visit the book table, supplied by Words Worth Books, who will be selling all the books written by the festival’s featured authors.
Date: Stay tuned for the 2024 dates and times
Location: Balsillie School of International Affairs, 67 Erb Street West, Waterloo
Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story
Inspired by Alice Munro, one of Canada’s most renowned storytellers, the Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story supports emerging local writers and Canadian authors.
This annual two-day festival features author talks, performances, masterclasses and panels at locations around Huron County, where Alice Munro spent most of her life.
Many of the short stories presented are centred on the surrounding rural landscape that influenced Alice Munro’s writings. Bring the little ones to the Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story for Kids. Youth and adult writers can enter their works of fiction in the short story contest for a chance to win a cash prize.
During its history, this festival has showcased multiple bestselling Canadian authors such as Margaret Atwood, David Bergen, Michael Ondaatje and Mona Awad.
Details: Tickets for this festival can be purchased online.
Date: June 5-9, 2024
Location: Multiple venues across Huron County
Ottawa
Ottawa International Writers Festival
Ignite your imagination at the Ottawa International Writers Festival.
Politics, poetry, science, music and history are just some of the diverse genres of works that will be featured and read aloud during this biannual festival. From writing workshops to hosting presentations by Nobel Laureates, exciting events promote creativity and encourage a love of reading and self-expression for people of all ages.
Events take place twice a year in the spring and fall. There is also year-round programming.
Details: Buy tickets online or at the door if the event is not already sold out. General admission tickets start at $25 and senior (65+) or student tickets at $20.
Date: Check online for dates
Location: 201 Pères-Blancs Avenue, Vanier
Southeastern Ontario
Kingston WritersFest
Each September Kingston WritersFest invites readers and writers to celebrate the power of the written word.
The festival highlights literary works that challenge the reader and the literary art form with revolutionary ideas, presentations and structures, this five-day festival honours great fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels and other hybrid and experimental works. Writers can sign up for the immersive writing boot camp taught by critically acclaimed authors and book lovers can check out the literary events held by the festival.
Details: Get tickets for individual events online through the events page of the website or in-person at the Novel Idea bookstore.
Date: Wednesday, September 25 to Sunday, September 29, 2024
Location: 209 Wellington Street #202A, Kingston
Kawarthas and Northumberland
Lakefield Literary Festival
For over 25 years, the Lakefield Literary Festival has brought writers and readers together to bond over a love for all things literature.
The festival’s mission is to showcase Canadian authors and nurture the joy of reading in both children and adults. Bring your kids to free children’s books readings in the downtown Cenotaph Park, while adult author reading events take place at the United Church on Regent Street. Both are followed by a reception and author signings.
Celebrated authors like Margaret Atwood, Michael Enright, Charlotte Gray, Wayne Johnston and Canadian Indigenous authors have entertained audiences in the past. Local student writers are also welcome to enter the festival’s annual writing contest and have the chance to see their work published in the Contest for Young Writers e-book.
Details: Check back for more details
Date: July 19-20, 2024
Location: The Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School, 4391 County Road 29, Lakefield
Northern Ontario
Wordstock Sudbury Festival
Northern Ontario’s premier writing festival, Wordstock Sudbury Festival, invites readers and writers alike to share their love for the written word.
This annual literary festival focuses on amplifying a wide range of Canadian voices, particularly Northern Ontario authors, who write about issues like accessibility, reconciliation and diversity.
If you’re a budding writer, join the sessions to hone your writing craft or participate in conversations about change. Youth writers can enter the Youthwords Writing Contest for the chance to win a cash prize. Previous festivals have also hosted children’s authors readings and masterclasses for kids interested in writing or spoken word poetry.
Details: Stay tuned for information about this year’s admission pricing.
Date: Friday, November 1 to Sunday, November 3, 2024
Location: 109 Elm Street, Greater Sudbury
Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury
Enjoy discovering new books and engaging in lively discussions with French writers at Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury, a French-language book fair and festival.
With the goal of promoting Francophone culture, language and education, this organization features workshops, conferences and fun activities for French-speaking visitors of all ages. Its literary program includes a flagship annual event, a book fair and a “reading marathon” challenge for families.
Details: Tickets for the annual literary event can be purchased on the website.
Date: Thursday, May 9 to Sunday, May 12, 2024
Location: 27 Larch Street, Sudbury
Last updated: March 24, 2024