WordFest

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Connecting readers with the world’s best authors through lively conversations and more, year-round.

Celebrating its 26th year, Wordfest connects Calgarians (and now the world) with life-changing experiences, both live and now online through Imagine On Air, our broadcast channel for your imagination.

11/01/2026

Wordfest Presents Jordan Tannahill Jordan Tannahill

🗓️ October 29, 2026
📍Memorial Park Library, Calgary
📘 “The Living Realm” HarperCollins Canada Shelf Life Books

🎤 Joshua Whitehead
📸 Dave Kotsibie
💊 Wood cut Lisa Brawn

10/30/2026

Worth the wait! ✨

Jordan Tannahill’s long-awaited appearance at Memorial Park Library was everything we hoped it would be, and then some.

In a rich, generous conversation expertly guided by Joshua Whitehead, Jordan gave us an unforgettable evening of stories about his varied and cross-connecting storytelling endeavours, and even a Calgary connection to an early draft concept of his latest book.

And, finally, we got to deliver a very special piece of unfinished pandemic business: Jordan’s long-awaited prize, a one-of-a-kind Lisa Brawn creation dreamed up by Jordan and carved during lockdown. A full-circle Wordfest moment! ❤️

Thank you to Jordan, Josh and everyone who joined us for such a special evening. 📚✨

10/29/2026

Wordfest Presents Hazel Mae Hazel Mae ⚾️🏟️

🗓️ November 17, 2026 at 7 PM
📍 Central Library, Calgary
📘 $25 - This conversation, hosted by obsessive Blue Jays fan Shelley Youngblut Shelley Youngblut, includes an audience Q&A and book signing, fuelled by Owl's Nest Books

Get ready for the literary equivalent celebration of the Gatorade splash! We’re turning the spotlight on beloved Blue Jays sportscaster, Hazel Mae, to celebrate her new memoir, Before I Let You Go: My Life in Broadcasting, Baseball, and Beyond. Says Toronto legend Joe Carter, “When it comes to Major League Baseball, Canadian or U.S., Hazel Mae is a pre-eminent voice in baseball broadcasting.” From her early days in the Philippines to her arrival in Canada and her rise through the ranks of sports journalism, Mae offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at her life on and off the field (where she’s the best-sourced and best-dressed journalist on the diamond). 💃🏻

10/28/2026

Together with the Canada Council for the Arts, we are delighted to spotlight the many 2026 Finalists who’ve appeared on the Wordfest stage over the last two seasons. ⭐️

The Governor General’s Literary Awards celebrate the creativity and diversity of Canadian literature. The books have been chosen by peer assessment committees across seven categories, in both official languages.

Visit ggbooks.ca to explore the finalists in Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Non-fiction, Young People’s Literature – Text, Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books and Translation.

Winners will be announced on November 12, 2026.

10/28/2026

Wordfest presents Anita Rau Badami

🗓️ October 26, 2026
📍 Memorial Park Library, Calgary
📗 "Asha in Her Garden" Penguin Random House Canada Owl's Nest Books

🎤 Kirti Bhadresa
📸 Persuasion Photography

10/27/2026

What makes a character feel real? Where does inspiration grow? And what does a writer’s daily creative routine actually look like? 🌿📚

We explored all this and more with Anita Rau Badami Anita Badami as she returned to Calgary to share “Asha in Her Garden”, her highly anticipated novel fifteen years in the making.

From her perfectly imperfect, deeply human characters to stories from her own garden and the creative outlets that inspire her, Anita gave us a glimpse into the mind behind the stories.

A huge thank you to Kirti Bhadresa for guiding the conversation and Owl's Nest Books and Penguin Random House Canada for keeping the evening going!

10/26/2026

Wordfest Presents Louise Penny Louise Penny

🗓️ October 23, 2026
📍Central Library, Calgary
📙”Miss Wolcott’s Ghost” Raincoast Books Minotaur Books

🎤Mellissa Fung Mellissa Fung
💐🍹🥧🎞️: Peaseblossoms Flowers Wild Folk Pretty Sweet Bakeshop Calgary & Banff Photo Booth
📸 Dave Kotsibie

10/24/2026

A little magic in Calgary. ✨📚

What a lovely evening celebrating Louise, with a lively conversation hosted by Mellissa Fung, zero-proof cocktails from Calgary’s own , and lemon tarts inspired by Louise’s very own recipe. 🍹🥧

One of the evening’s most beautiful reminders? Louise’s books are about mystery, but also belonging, community and, ultimately, optimism. As she shared, optimism in this day and age is a revolutionary act. We couldn’t agree more. Thanks to for helping us give you two(!) of Louise’s books❤️

We even brought a little magic to Calgary, complete with Marvin, our stand-in for Poppy, the bookstore’s beloved Golden Retriever. 🐾

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of stories, connection and a little reminder to keep believing in the good.

Address

1221 2 Street SW
Calgary, AB
T2R0W5

Website

http://www.wordfest.com/

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