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.
What are you looking for in your next book? 👀📚
Something to expand your mind? A book you can devour in one sitting? A story that will absolutely wreck you?
Tell us what you’re in the mood for, and we’ll point you toward your next great read. 💫
Need more inspiration for what we’re currently obsessing over? Head to the link in our bio to see the authors we have coming to The Imaginairium, October 13- 18th in Calgary!
09/21/2026
These unmissable solo shows are only at the Imaginairium, October 13-18th in Calgary Alberta!
🚗 Get ready to road trip with Patrick deWitt, hosted by Kurt Andersen Kurt Andersen on Saturday, October 17th!
We couldn’t think of a better way to close the Festival than an evening with Bonnie Garmus Bonnie Garmus! 🍾 Hosted by Susin Nielsen Susin Nielsen, this closing bash is Garmus’s only Western Canadian stop!
Start your Wednesday morning with intention, and join Distinguished Indigenous legal scholar John Borrows hosted by Shelagh Rogers Shelagh Rogers at Memorial Park Library. 🧡
Feeling fierce? 🐈 Join Rosemary Sullivan Rosemary Sullivan Author and fellow cat-lady host Anne Collins on Wednesday as they contemplate the quiet intelligence of our fluffy four-legged companions and the human-feline bond.
Spend your Thursday morning together with Jackie Morris Jackie Morris, hosted by Rosemary Griebel Rosemary Griebel, and Calgary bird-lovers, getting lost in flight, migration, and song. 🐦⬛
For tickets and more, go to Wordfest.com 🎟️
09/18/2026
📣 New Show Announcement 📣
Wordfest presents Jordan Tannahill Jordan Tannahill
🗓️Thursday, October 29 at 7 PM
📍Memorial Park Library
🎟️ $25 - The lively conversation, hosted by Joshua Whitehead Joshua Whitehead, includes an audience Q&A and book signing.
No one is more excited than Joshua Whitehead that Jordan Tannahill has added Calgary to his North American tour. Okay, maybe everyone who was lucky enough to see them on the Wordfest stage in 2018—and we’ve been dreaming ever since about pairing them again in a show. A playwright, novelist, screenwriter, director, and performance artist, Tannahill is at the height of his creative prowess in his much-anticipated new novel, The Living Realm.
👉Get tickets at Wordfest.com
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
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 🧡
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
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? 👇
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
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 🎟️
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
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