WordFest

WordFest 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.

Wordfest Presents Colson Whitehead Colson Whitehead work 🗓️ September 15, 2026📍Bella Concert Hall, Calgary 📗”Cool Machin...
09/16/2026

Wordfest Presents Colson Whitehead Colson Whitehead work

🗓️ September 15, 2026
📍Bella Concert Hall, Calgary
📗”Cool Machine” Penguin Random House Canada Shelf Life Books

🎤 Zain Velji
📸 Dave Kotsibie

09/16/2026

Tonight, Colson Whitehead Colson Whitehead work lit up the Wordfest stage. 🔥📚

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead returned to Calgary with “Cool Machine”, the highly anticipated conclusion to his “whole dang Harlem saga.” Penguin Random House Canada

In conversation with Zain Velji Zain Velji, Colson took us inside the world of “Cool Machine”, from the characters and stories that have shaped the Harlem saga to the craft behind bringing it all to a close. And, naturally, there were plenty of laughs along the way.

We couldn’t let a night like this go by without a little Wordfest flair. ✨ Pre-show, readers got a custom matchbook inspired by “Cool Machine” to take home, because great books deserve a keepsake (and because we love a good literary matchbook) ❤️‍🔥

Many thanks to Shelf Life Books for stacking Colson’s entire backlist, and to the Wordfesters who came and showed Colson a (very) warm welcome 🧡

This Imaginairium (Oct.13-18) we’re bringing you deep connections 🫶🏻💙Join us on Tuesday for A Celebration of Richard Wag...
09/15/2026

This Imaginairium (Oct.13-18) we’re bringing you deep connections 🫶🏻💙

Join us on Tuesday for A Celebration of Richard Wagamese Starring Shelagh Rogers & David A. Robertson, hosted by Shelley Youngblut and celebrate night one with Opening Night Showcase Starring Cassie Campbell-Pascall & Clara Hughes, hosted by Leah Sarich. 🥂🎉

Take a walk on the wild side with Wild Life, starring Neil Griffin & Dan Werb, hosted by David Gray, on Thursday. 🐅

Enjoy the back to school buzz with Art School Confidential Starring Harriet Alida Lye & Larissa Pham, hosted by Anne Logan on Sunday. 🎨🤡

Saturday’s Entre Les Lignes avec Michel Jean & Catherine Leroux hosted by Susan Ouriou is sold-out. So, make sure you get your hands on tickets to shows you want to see!

🎟️For more info and tickets visit Wordfest.com

09/14/2026

What are you most excited about at this year’s Imaginairium? 👀📚

We took the mini mic around our Festival Preview to find out what Wordfest fans are already counting down to, from can’t-miss authors and shows to the books they’re most excited to get their hands on. 💫

We also caught up with the festival bookseller extraordinaire Owl's Nest Books and Wordfest Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut Shelley Youngblut for a little extra festival intel. 😉

The countdown is officially on. Imaginairium runs October 13–18 in Calgary, with 6 days of big ideas, brilliant books, unexpected conversations and plenty of reasons to get excited.

So... what are you most looking forward to? 👇

Wordfest Presents Téa Mutonji téa mutonji + Imaginairium Preview🗓️ Thursday, September 10, 📍Memorial Park Library, Calg...
09/13/2026

Wordfest Presents Téa Mutonji téa mutonji + Imaginairium Preview

🗓️ Thursday, September 10,
📍Memorial Park Library, Calgary
📕 “My Person” Owl's Nest Books Doubleday Canada Penguin Random House Canada

🎤 Show host Paula Turcotte Paula Turcotte, Festival Preview Shelley Youngblut Shelley Youngblut
📸 Dave Kotsibie

This Imaginairium, we’re bringing the most superb of Super Stars to Calgary, Oct 13-18th! 💫See Eden Robinson at our happ...
09/11/2026

This Imaginairium, we’re bringing the most superb of Super Stars to Calgary, Oct 13-18th! 💫

See Eden Robinson at our happiest hour show and be charmed by the fabulous Andrew Sean Greer Andrew Greer on Wednesday 🥂

Spend your Thursday evening with the New York Times best seller Tayari Jones Tayari Jones 💛🧡💚

Start your Friday morning strong with Ruth Ozeko Ruth Ozeki, and end the night with a lively conversation with Emily St. John Mandel Emily St. J. Mandel (this one is waitlisted for single tickets but get a festival pass to skip the line till Oct.2!)

For tickets to these shows and more, go to Wordfest.com 🎟️

This Imaginairium, we’re bringing the most superb of Super Stars to Calgary, Oct 13-18th! 💫See Eden Robinson at our happ...
09/11/2026

This Imaginairium, we’re bringing the most superb of Super Stars to Calgary, Oct 13-18th! 💫

See Eden Robinson at our happiest hour show and be charmed by the fabulous Andrew Sean Greer Andrew Greer on Wednesday 🥂

Spend your Thursday evening with the New York Times best seller Tayari Jones Tayari Jones 💛🧡💚

Start your Friday morning strong with Ruth Ozeko Ruth Ozeki, and end the night a lively conversation with Emily St. John Mandel Emily St. J. Mandel (this one is waitlisted for single tickets but get a festival pass to skip the line till Oct.2!) 🙌

For tickets to these shows and more, go to Wordfest.com

09/10/2026

The ✨ IMAGINAIRIUM FESTIVAL✨ by Wordfest is Canada’s liveliest literary festival - and it’s right here in Calgary! Join us October 13-18, 2026.

👉50+ Authors
👉40+ Shows
👉6 Days(!)

Come discover the books you’ll never want to put down and experience the best conversations in the country. See you there! 📖 💡 ❤️

🎉The Kris Demeanor & Deborah Willis Variety Show is back for a third year and ready to PARTY! We’ve once again tapped ou...
09/09/2026

🎉The Kris Demeanor & Deborah Willis Variety Show is back for a third year and ready to PARTY!

We’ve once again tapped our favourite Calgary power couple to host Kris Demeanor Deborah Willis. The singer-songwriter-poet and much-lauded writer never fail to delight.

This year, they’ll showcase Arizona O’Neill Arizona O'Neill (Opioids & Organs), Rollie Pemberton Cadence Weapon (Ways of Listening), Larissa Pham larissa pham (Discipline) & Kawai Strong Washburn Kawai Strong Washburn (The Names of the New World).

🎟️Get tickets to this literary extravaganza and more at Wordfest.com

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Calgary, AB
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