Special Events Year-Round
2026 Festival: Oct 18–25
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2026 Festival Events

Welcome to the 39th annual Vancouver Writers Fest! This page lists all our 2026 Festival Week events from October 18–25, along with a few fall/winter Special Events taking place outside of Festival Week.

Click on the title of the event to learn more. Browse the full lineup, or filter events by date or genre. Use the page number buttons at the bottom of the page to view more events. You can search by author name or event title in the search bar (enter one word only).

To learn more about this year’s Festival, themes, and author lineup, visit our 2026 Festival homepage, or learn more about:

Box Office | Accessibility | Venue Map and Addresses | Information for Teachers

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Sept 16 @ 7:30 PM
$45

Colson Whitehead in Conversation

Sept 16 @ 7:30 PM
$45
Join us before Festival Week at this September Special Event! Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead joins us with Cool Machine—the magnificent final volume of his lauded Harlem Trilogy (Harlem Shuffle, Crook Manifesto).

Participants:

William Johnson
Colson Whitehead
Sept 21 @ 7:30 PM
Playhouse Theatre
$45

Emily St. John Mandel in Conversation

Sept 21 @ 7:30 PM
$45
Join us before Festival Week at this September Special Event! Emily St. John Mandel, the award-winning, bestselling author of Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquility, returns with Exit Party.

Participants:

Michelle Cyca
Emily St. John Mandel
Sept 26 @ 7:30 PM
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
$70

R. F. Kuang in Conversation

Sept 26 @ 7:30 PM
$70
Join us before Festival Week at this September Special Event! R. F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis and Yellowface, joins us with her moving coming-of-age novel, Taipei Story.

Participants:

R. F. Kuang
Jen Sookfong Lee
Oct 18 @ 7:30 PM
Orpheum Theatre
$50+

00. Barbara Kingsolver in Conversation

Oct 18 @ 7:30 PM
$50+
Barbara Kingsolver opens the 39th annual Vancouver Writers Fest with her new instant classic, Partita, in conversation with award-winning journalist and author Marsha Lederman. This captivating event will be uplifted by piano pieces performed by Allen Ding, an award-winning pianist and student at the Vancouver Academy of Music.

Participants:

Allen Ding
Barbara Kingsolver
Marsha Lederman
Oct 19 @ 7:30 PM
Playhouse Theatre
$45

01. Grand Openings: Read, Resist, Repair, Rejoice

Oct 19 @ 7:30 PM
$45
Our 2026 Festival embraces themes that are a rallying call to all concerned citizens: READ, RESIST, REPAIR, REJOICE. On this monumental evening, literary greats will take the stage, in wide-ranging sequential talks, to reflect on the essential themes at the heart of this year’s Festival.

Participants:

Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Ayad Akhtar
Cory Doctorow
Tayari Jones
Ruth Ozeki
Ece Temelkuran
John Vaillant
Jesse Wente
Jody Wilson-Raybould
Oct 20 @ 10:15 AM
Performance Works
$12

02. Word! 1

Oct 20 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Our Spoken Word event series, curated and hosted by award-winning poet and spoken word artist Jillian Christmas, is a highlight of our youth programming every year—and so popular and quick to sell out, that this year we’re offering three chances to catch it. Grades 8–12.

Participants:

Jillian Christmas
fanny kearse
Ayda Niknami
Brandon Wint
Oct 20 @ 10:15 AM
Waterfront Theatre
$12

03. Masterclass with Gregor Craigie: How to Fight Misinformation

Oct 20 @ 10:15 AM
$12
With fake news on the rise, fighting misinformation is more important than ever. Acclaimed author and CBC Radio host Gregor Craigie recounts surprising episodes of misinformation throughout history, and shares ten concrete ways to spot and prevent it, in this empowering masterclass based on his new book, Sticking to the Facts: 10 Ways to Fight Misinformation. Grades 4–7.

Participants:

Gregor Craigie
Oct 20 @ 10:15 AM
The NEST
$12

04. Storytime with Willie Poll

Oct 20 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Young readers will learn about the life cycle of wild salmon in this informative storytime session with Métis author Willie Poll, the author of A Salmon Story. Grades 1–3.

Participants:

Willie Poll
Oct 20 @ 10:15 AM
Revue Stage
$12

05. Coming of Age

Oct 20 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Becoming yourself isn’t easy, no matter who that self might be. And the protagonists of these YA novels face serious struggles that would pose a challenge at any age: a life-altering surgery, the effects of intergenerational trauma, a dilemma of faith. With support from friends and family, and the courage to live authentically, these characters come of age in their own ways. Grades 8–12.

Participants:

Tanya Boteju
Salma Hussain
Ahmad Saber
Kim Spencer
Oct 20 @ 1:00 PM
Improv Centre
$12

06. Middle Grade Heroes

Oct 20 @ 1:00 PM
$12
Three beloved, award-winning middle-grade authors share stories of characters who tackle very different challenges, all with bravery and heart. Grades 4–7.

Participants:

Erin Bow
Stacey Matson
Shannon Ozirny
Robin Stevenson
Oct 20 @ 1:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

07. Jesse Wente: Tough Lies

Oct 20 @ 1:00 PM
$28
With his national bestseller Unreconciled, Anishinaabe author and broadcaster Jesse Wente cracked wide open the lies that Canada tells itself about reconciliation, offering a new path forward for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Participants:

Kathryn Gretsinger
Jesse Wente
Oct 20 @ 1:00 PM
The NEST
$12

08. Graphic Novel Masterclass with Ian Boothby and Pia Guerra

Oct 20 @ 1:00 PM
$12
A suspenseful page-turner filled with all the looming dread of an isolated mountain, Frostbite is a chilling graphic novel for teens from creative duo—and married couple—Ian Boothby and Pia Guerra. Grades 8–12.

Participants:

Ian Boothby
Pia Guerra
Oct 20 @ 1:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

09. Mark Medley on Pursuing Impossible Goals

Oct 20 @ 1:00 PM
$28
In Live to See the Day, journalist Mark Medley sets out to find people who have devoted their lives to dreams they know have little chance of coming true.

Participants:

Marsha Lederman
Mark Medley
Oct 20 @ 6:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

10. Patrick deWitt in Conversation

Oct 20 @ 6:00 PM
$28
The bestselling author of The Librarianist and The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt, joins us with one of his most raucous novels yet. Dodge City follows a young man on an amphetamine-fueled road trip across the United States, as he flees Los Angeles and the Vietnam War draft for the safe haven of Canada.

Participants:

Patrick deWitt
David Moscrop
Oct 20 @ 6:00 PM
The NEST
$28

11. Up Next: Debuts to Watch

Oct 20 @ 6:00 PM
$28
We take great joy in spotlighting debut authors at the Festival; they get to introduce their remarkable work to an enthusiastic and well-read audience, and you get the opportunity to meet them in a more intimate venue, before their inevitable rise to fame. These three authors are already garnering rave reviews.

Participants:

Théodora Armstrong
Marian Botsford Fraser
Jess Gibson
Jane Park
Oct 20 @ 6:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

12. Ayad Akhtar: The Radiance

Oct 20 @ 6:00 PM
$28
Ayad Akhtar’s previous book, Homeland Elegies, was one of Barack Obama’s favourite books of the year and was included in best-of lists from The New York Times, Washington Post, and Publishers Weekly. This daring new novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer continues his gripping fictional journey through a nation on the edge.

Participants:

Ayad Akhtar
Minelle Mahtani
Oct 20 @ 7:30 PM
York Theatre
$35

13. An Evening with Colin James

Oct 20 @ 7:30 PM
$35
In Playing the Changes, Colin James shares a heartfelt coming-of-age story, from his childhood in Saskatchewan, where he taught himself how to play along with blues records, to being asked as a teenager to open for legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Tickets for this event are sold through The Cultch; click here to purchase.

Participants:

Colin James
Alex Spring AKA Jared Bland
Oct 20 @ 8:30 PM
Performance Works
$28

14. Tayari Jones: Kin

Oct 20 @ 8:30 PM
$28
Tayari Jones’s unforgettable stories are celebrated by critics and readers alike. She’ll speak about Kin—a stunning portrait of two friends navigating the complexities of life in the American South, and an Oprah’s Book Club pick—alongside the rest of her acclaimed body of work.

Participants:

Kimberly Bain
Tayari Jones
Oct 20 @ 8:30 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

15. Iain Reid and Ellie Foumbi: Horror in Hollywood

Oct 20 @ 8:30 PM
$28
A New Kind of Clean represents a new level of collaboration between bestselling author Iain Reid and award-winning filmmaker Ellie Foumbi. Originally envisioned as a film, the work became a novel as the two creators passed it back and forth, jointly crafting a masterwork of philosophical horror that follows a desperate aspiring actress who must weigh what she’s willing to sacrifice to reach her dreams.

Participants:

Tom Charity
Ellie Foumbi
Iain Reid
Oct 20 @ 8:30 PM
The NEST
$28

16. Arizona O’Neill: Opioids and Organs

Oct 20 @ 8:30 PM
$28
Arizona O’Neill’s heartwrenching graphic novel memoir, Opioids and Organs, captures her struggles to come to terms with her father’s death and her role in making his life’s last decision—as well as inconvenient truths about the organ industry’s codependence on the opioid crisis and its exploitation of society’s outcasts.

Participants:

Garth Mullins
Arizona O’Neill
Oct 20 @ 8:30 PM
Revue Stage
$28

17. Canary in A Coal Mine

Oct 20 @ 8:30 PM
$28
There are 3 billion fewer birds in North America than a half century ago. Worldwide, almost 50% of bird species are in decline. The ones who remain are still trying to warn us of impending danger—we would be wise to listen before it’s too late, as these three authors detail in their new books that explore the beauty of these creatures; the impacts of climate change on different bird species; and what they can teach us about our own future on Earth.

Participants:

Louise K. Blight
Laura Lynch
Jackie Morris
Briony Penn
Oct 21 @ 10:15 AM
Performance Works
$12

18. Word! 2

Oct 21 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Our Spoken Word event series, curated and hosted by award-winning poet and spoken word artist Jillian Christmas, is a highlight of our youth programming every year—and so popular and quick to sell out that this year we’re offering three chances to catch it. This Word! event will feature three exceptional performers. Grades 8–12.

Participants:

Jillian Christmas
fanny kearse
Ayda Niknami
Brandon Wint
Oct 21 @ 10:15 AM
Waterfront Theatre
$12

19. Earth is Ours

Oct 21 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Earth is ours—to enjoy, to explore, to share, to respect, and to protect for future generations. Middle-grade readers will discover their own power to help save the planet, as three authors of fascinating new books take the stage one by one. Grades 4–7.

Participants:

Neil Griffin
Mark Leiren-Young
Willie Poll
Oct 21 @ 10:15 AM
The NEST
$12

20. Storytime with Friends

Oct 21 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Little ones will delight in readings of these imaginative picture book stories, while learning fun and gentle lessons about how to be a good friend. Grades 1–3.

Participants:

Jami Gigot
Hayley Lowe
Sara O’Leary
Oct 21 @ 10:15 AM
Revue Stage
$12

21. Us Against the World

Oct 21 @ 10:15 AM
$12
These gorgeously written new YA novels feature duos who are bonded by external pressures and fates. Forced to work together to survive a hostile world or situation, they discover each other’s true selves. Grades 8–12.

Participants:

Tessa Barbosa
June Hur
Sarah Suk
Emily Varga
Oct 21 @ 1:00 PM
Performance Works
$12

22. Of Magic and Monsters

Oct 21 @ 1:00 PM
$12
The worlds of these YA fantasy novels are chilling, thrilling, and utterly immersive. The authors of these novels share insights into how they build such engaging worlds that keep readers hooked until the very last page. Grades 8–12.

Participants:

Rachael King
France Perras
Coltrane Seesequasis
Elle Tesch
Oct 21 @ 1:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$12

23. Standing Up for Ourselves

Oct 21 @ 1:00 PM
$12
Middle school isn’t easy. Kids are learning how to grapple with serious issues—from insecurity and prejudice to making choices about who and what to believe. The characters in these page-turning middle-grade stories demonstrate strength of all kinds. Grades 4–7.

Participants:

Jay Odjick
Shannon Ozirny
Robin Stevenson
Kai Cheng Thom
Oct 21 @ 1:00 PM
The NEST
$28

24. Jackie Morris: The Art of The Book of Birds

Oct 21 @ 1:00 PM
$28
Jackie Morris’s gorgeous, nature-inspired artwork has captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers of all ages and is held by multiple public art collections. She is also a great lover of birds, and this love is palpable on every page of The Book of Birds, an extraordinary new collaboration by Morris and author Robert Macfarlane.

Participants:

Jackie Morris
Oct 21 @ 1:00 PM
Revue Stage
$12

25. We Are Connected

Oct 21 @ 1:00 PM
$12
What makes you feel connected? Whether it is with your family, the land, your heritage, or the guidance of your ancestors, you belong in connection with the world. Young readers will feel a deep sense of belonging when they hear from cherished authors at this cozy storytime. Grades 1–3.

Participants:

E.G. Alaraj
Ḵung Jaadee
Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
Oct 21 @ 5:30 PM
Performance Works
$28

26. Andrew Sean Greer: Villa Coco

Oct 21 @ 5:30 PM
$28
An aspir­ing archivist takes up residence in the Italian countryside, becoming the assistant to the defiantly youthful, 92-year-old Baronessa, owner of a wondrous villa filled with art and antiques. Their utterly charming adventures unfold under the Tuscan sun in Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer’s Villa Coco, coloured with an endless stream of visitors, some love conundrums, and all the delights of la dolce vita.

Participants:

Andrew Sean Greer
Alix Ohlin
Oct 21 @ 5:30 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

27. Ruth Ozeki in Conversation

Oct 21 @ 5:30 PM
$28
Multi-award-winning author Ruth Ozeki returns with a spellbinding story collection that will delight longtime fans—along with those who have yet to discover her philosophically witty, deeply compassionate work, including novels such as The Book of Form and Emptiness and A Tale for the Time Being.

Participants:

Margaret Gallagher
Ruth Ozeki
Oct 21 @ 5:30 PM
The NEST
$28

28. Chantel Acevedo: Spotlight on Cuba

Oct 21 @ 5:30 PM
$28
Chantel Acevedo has “written the impossible: an Odyssey for the Cuban 20th century” (Junot Diaz). Over a thirty-year arc, Cages follows a man named Felix—a zookeeper in Cuba during the missile crisis, an exile in swinging sixties London, and finally, a dying man in 1980s AIDS-era Miami.

Participants:

Chantel Acevedo
Maria Reva
Oct 21 @ 5:30 PM
Revue Stage
$28

29. Housing Inc. with Leilani Farha

Oct 21 @ 5:30 PM
$28
This year’s Massey Lectures will be delivered by Leilani Farha, Global Director of an international human rights organization and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing. In Housing Inc., and in this incisive conversation, Farha reckons with a crisis four decades in the making and argues that the fight for home requires a different ideology in which every person counts.

Participants:

Leilani Farha
Jackie Wong
Oct 21 @ 8:00 PM
Performance Works
$28

30. More than Human: Wildlife in an Age of Extinction

Oct 21 @ 8:00 PM
$28
Human civilization has been a death knell for too many other lives on our shared planet. These three luminous works of nonfiction grapple with the ever-evolving relationships between humans and animals and offer perspectives on climate change beyond human exceptionalism.

Participants:

Neil Griffin
Laura Lynch
Dan Werb
Andrew Westoll
Oct 21 @ 8:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

31. Valeria Luiselli in Conversation

Oct 21 @ 8:00 PM
$28
Your favourite author likely reads Valeria Luiselli. In her latest anticipated novel, Beginning Middle End, a mother and daughter take a road trip across Sicily following the collapse of a marriage and the dissolution of their traditional family structure.

Participants:

Valeria Luiselli
Eleanor Wachtel
Oct 21 @ 8:00 PM
The NEST
$28

32. UBC Night Class 

Oct 21 @ 8:00 PM
$28
Night Class is an interactive workshop offering writing tips and prompts across various genres, from instructors at UBC’s renowned School of Creative Writing. Learn key writing skills in five minutes or less from Sarah Leavitt, A.E. Osworth, Zac Hug, Frances Koncan, and Nalo Hopkinson, as each instructor guides participants through a different concept and writing exercise.

Participants:

Taylor Brown-Evans
Nalo Hopkinson
Zac Hug
Frances Koncan
Sarah Leavitt
A.E. Osworth
Oct 21 @ 8:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

33. The World We Long For with Vivek Shraya and Kai Cheng Thom

Oct 21 @ 8:00 PM
$28
Join two of Canada’s most beloved trans authors as they celebrate the release of two works of fiction exploring dystopian and utopian worlds that are frightening, fantastical, and not so far away from the world we live in today: Vivek Shraya’s The Hystericals and Kai Cheng Thom’s The Shapeshifter’s Guide To Gym Class.

Participants:

Vivek Shraya
Kai Cheng Thom
Oct 22 @ 10:15 AM
Performance Works
$12

34. Of Love and Lies

Oct 22 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Why does love so often seem to be fraught with secrets, fakery, and lies? The protagonists of these coming-of-age novels navigate complicated relationships and false narratives, striving towards the truth in whom and how they love. Grades 8–12.

Participants:

Tanya Boteju
Aaron Cully Drake
Ahmad Saber
Rachel Sargeant
Oct 22 @ 10:15 AM
Waterfront Theatre
$12

35. Adventure Awaits!

Oct 22 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Pack your bags, take a deep breath, and prepare to face down a kelpie, a cyclops, and a very stubborn Highlander cow! Incredible adventures await in these page-turning books for middle-grade readers. Grades 4–7.

Participants:

Erin Bow
Emilie Christie Burack
Rachael King
Oct 22 @ 10:15 AM
The NEST
$12

36. Turi King: The Secrets of our DNA

Oct 22 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Professor Turi King is one of the world’s most eminent authorities on DNA and genetic research. In The Secrets of Our DNA, she opens a dazzling window into the world of modern genetics; takes us on a journey to understand the real science behind some of the world’s most famous crimes; and explains how genetics informs every aspect of our lives.

Participants:

Margaret Gallagher
Turi King
Oct 22 @ 10:15 AM
Revue Stage
$12

37. Masterclass with Faith Erin Hicks

Oct 22 @ 10:15 AM
$12
Writer and artist Faith Erin Hicks has worked on famous franchises from The Last of Us to Avatar: The Last Airbender. In this middle-grade masterclass, she’ll share the inspiration behind Inbetweens, her new graphic novel about twin sisters who face various challenges when they go to animation camp; offer some tips and practices for creating compelling illustrated narratives; and even bring out her pens for an exciting on-stage drawing demo. Grades 4–7.

Participants:

Faith Erin Hicks
Oct 22 @ 1:00 PM
Performance Works
$12

38. Word! 3

Oct 22 @ 1:00 PM
$12
Our Spoken Word event series, curated and hosted by award-winning poet and spoken word artist Jillian Christmas, is a highlight of our youth programming every year—and so popular and quick to sell out that this year we’re offering three chances to catch it. This Word! event will feature three exceptional performers. Grades 8–12.

Participants:

Jillian Christmas
fanny kearse
Ayda Niknami
Brandon Wint
Oct 22 @ 1:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$12

39. Meet My Family

Oct 22 @ 1:00 PM
$12
Meet different families and cultures whose traditions create a loving home for kids through these colourful picture books for young readers. This cozy storytime with sequential presentations will inspire little ones to reflect on their own family traditions and approach others’ with curiosity. Grades 1–3.

Participants:

Kim Spencer
Jack Wong
Alan Woo
Oct 22 @ 1:00 PM
The NEST
$12

40. Masterclass with Monique Gray Smith

Oct 22 @ 1:00 PM
$12
This masterclass for young readers with acclaimed children’s author Monique Gray Smith will celebrate the activities that bring families and communities together and encourage readers to treat others with compassion. Grades 3–6.

Participants:

Monique Gray Smith
Oct 22 @ 1:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

41. So the Story Goes

Oct 22 @ 1:00 PM
$28
Short stories are one of our favourite forms of storytelling at the Festival, and the authors of these three exceptional collections have gifted us with a bounty of astonishing worlds, multifaceted characters, and profound insights to fill our hearts and our shelves.

Participants:

Corinna Chong
Dina Del Bucchia
Amal El-Mohtar
Chanel Sutherland
Oct 22 @ 5:30 PM
Performance Works
$28

42. David Szalay: Flesh

Oct 22 @ 5:30 PM
$28
Winner of the 2025 Booker Prize, David Szalay’s Flesh is both a hypnotic page-turner and a revelatory exploration of desire, wealth, masculinity, and free will.

Participants:

Alix Ohlin
David Szalay
Oct 22 @ 5:30 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

43. Kim Echlin: Storytelling for a World in Turmoil

Oct 22 @ 5:30 PM
$28
In Tell Others: Storytelling for a World in Turmoil, award-winning author Kim Echlin blends her lived experience in different parts of the world with her wide-ranging reading, to explore in fresh ways how literature offers solace, thwarts censorship, and incites meaningful acts of resistance against the darknesses of our world.

Participants:

Kim Echlin
Aislinn Hunter
Oct 22 @ 5:30 PM
The NEST
$28

44. Kawai Strong Washburn in Conversation

Oct 22 @ 5:30 PM
$28
Kawai Strong Washburn returns with a new epic tale in The Names of the New World, following an irresistible pair of lovers as they try to survive the destruction caused by a massive storm.

Participants:

Maria Reva
Kawai Strong Washburn
Oct 22 @ 5:30 PM
Revue Stage
$28

45. Crime Time Conversations

Oct 22 @ 5:30 PM
$28
Discover some of the most anticipated mystery, suspense, and crime novels of the season, as three authors take the stage to introduce their books in conversation with Marian Botsford Fraser.

Participants:

Marian Botsford Fraser
Liz Nugent
Alex Spring AKA Jared Bland
William Wodhams
Oct 22 @ 7:30 PM
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
$28

46. Cory Doctorow on Life After AI

Oct 22 @ 7:30 PM
$28
In The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI, Cory Doctorow—the bestselling author of Enshittification and The Internet Con—deftly pops the AI bubble, recounting how we found ourselves in this dire situation and how we can advance to a place where the tools work for us, instead of the other way around.

Participants:

David Beers
Cory Doctorow
Oct 22 @ 8:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

47. Marlon James in Conversation

Oct 22 @ 8:00 PM
$28
In The Disappearers, Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James (now nominated for the Prize once again in 2026) offers a harrowing, unflinching, deeply human portrait of queer life in 1980s and 1990s Jamaica.

Participants:

Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Marlon James
Oct 22 @ 8:30 PM
Performance Works
$28

49. The Poetry Bash

Oct 22 @ 8:30 PM
$28
For poetry connoisseurs and newcomers to the genre alike, The Poetry Bash is a gateway to discovering new-to-you poets or hearing your favourites on-stage.

Participants:

Jordan Abel
Gwen Aube
Elee Kraljii Gardiner
Jess Housty
Eve Joseph
Meghan Kemp-Gee
Canisia Lubrin
Billeh Nickerson
Rob Taylor
Oct 22 @ 8:30 PM
Revue Stage
$28

50. A Haunting of Novels 

Oct 22 @ 8:30 PM
$28
The pages of these engrossing new novels are haunted by the ghosts we’ve long known, along with the ones born out of our current techno-capitalist age. The jump scares here come from isolation, guilt, technology, corporate bureaucracy, and the corpse of one reanimated executive director.

Participants:

Kim Fu
Doretta Lau
Robert Wiersema
Daniel Zomparelli
Oct 23 @ 10:00 AM
Performance Works
$0

51. Ece Temelkuran in Conversation with Commissioner Kasari Govender

Oct 23 @ 10:00 AM
$0
BC’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, hosts acclaimed Turkish author and journalist Ece Temelkuran for a vital in-person conversation and episode of the Beyond the Headlines series.

Participants:

Kasari Govender
Ece Temelkuran
Oct 23 @ 10:00 AM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

52. Good Reads

Oct 23 @ 10:00 AM
$28
Our Artistic Director has the honour of reading piles upon piles of brilliant new releases every year. These three picks are some of the most entertaining, riveting reads she couldn’t put down until the very last page.

Participants:

Catherine Chidgey
Amal El-Mohtar
Ferdia Lennon
Tara McGuire
Oct 23 @ 10:00 AM
The NEST
$28

53. Do It Wrong: Poetry Masterclass with Derek Beaulieu

Oct 23 @ 10:00 AM
$28
In this radically liberating masterclass, Derek Beaulieu will hand poets, students, and educators a permission slip to take a path others reject, do the counter-intuitive thing, and embrace the weird.

Participants:

Derek Beaulieu
Oct 23 @ 10:00 AM
Revue Stage
$28

54. Storytelling from the Edge of Reality

Oct 23 @ 10:00 AM
$28
Taking place in the liminal spaces between reality, fantasy, and dreams, these mesmerizing novels will root themselves in your psyche, and linger for a long time to come. Take a trip to the thresholds of reality.

Participants:

Michelle Cyca
Portia Elan
Angélique Lalonde
Michelle Porter
Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
Improv Centre
$28

55. Rollie Pemberton: Ways of Listening

Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
$28
The internet has made music simultaneously omnipresent and disposable. In Ways of Listening: Building a Deeper Relationship with Music in the Streaming Era, acclaimed author Rollie Pemberton—AKA Cadence Weapon, Polaris Prize-winning rapper and producer—outlines a path forward for the contemporary music lover.

Participants:

Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Rollie Pemberton
Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
Performance Works
$28

56. Repair and Revive

Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
$28
In response to the cascading calamities of the climate emergency, three authors of vital works of environmental nonfiction come together to envision a path towards repairing our relationship with the earth—and reviving our awe of the natural world.

Participants:

Arno Kopecky
Jason Dove Mark
Robert Moor
John Vaillant
Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

57. Verses of Transformation

Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
$28
Multi-award-winning poet Canisia Lubrin introduced this event at last year’s Festival to great accolade. We’re thrilled to bring it back for a second year; Lubrin will bring her bag of thought-provoking questions, and each poet will read from their work and reflect on a secret question drawn from the bag on-stage and posed, one poet to the next, in a carousel-style reading and fireside-style chat.

Participants:

Jordan Abel
Gwen Aube
Camilla Gibb
Jess Housty
Canisia Lubrin
Shani Mootoo
Lisa Robertson
Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
The NEST
$28

58. Monique Gray Smith: Sharing the Light

Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
$28
Award-winning author Monique Gray Smith’s books resonate with readers of all generations and backgrounds. In Sharing the Light, she weaves together short stories, poignant reflections, and thoughtful questions that invite readers to pause and reconnect with their inner light.

Participants:

Carleigh Baker
Monique Gray Smith
Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

59. Sally Hayden: This Is Also a Love Story

Oct 23 @ 1:00 PM
$28
Celebrated foreign correspondent Sally Hayden has spent her career on the frontlines—with headlines in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other outlets across the world—uncovering some of the darkest crises of our time. Yet in her latest work of nonfiction, This Is Also a Love Story, she’s chosen to highlight the incredible goodness she’s encountered, shown by people across the globe.

Participants:

Kathryn Gretsinger
Sally Hayden
Oct 23 @ 5:00 PM
Performance Works
$28

60. Icons of the Ice: Jennifer Botterill and Cassie Campbell-Pascall

Oct 23 @ 5:00 PM
$28
It’s Hockey Night at the Vancouver Writers Fest, where our stage will be graced by two legends who paved the way for women’s hockey in Canada.

Participants:

Jennifer Botterill
Cassie Campbell-Pascall
Karin Larsen
Oct 23 @ 5:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

61. True Life Fiction

Oct 23 @ 5:00 PM
$28
Is it fact, fiction, or a malleable third category, somewhere in between? Three authors join us with standout works of autofiction, offering a kernel of truth, a dash of myth, and a profusion of luminous writing.

Participants:

Shaena Lambert
Shani Mootoo
Eric Beck Rubin
Damien Wilkins
Oct 23 @ 5:00 PM
The NEST
$28

62. Liz Nugent in Conversation 

Oct 23 @ 5:00 PM
$28
Liz Nugent joins us in-person from Dublin with her latest brilliantly plotted masterpiece, The Truth About Ruby Cooper. This new, gripping suspense novel alternates between the perspectives of two sisters as they grapple with the incident that changed both of their lives forever.

Participants:

Liz Nugent
Robert Wiersema
Oct 23 @ 5:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

63. Eden Robinson in Conversation

Oct 23 @ 5:00 PM
$28
Internationally acclaimed Haisla and Heiltsuk author Eden Robinson has cemented her place as one of Canada’s literary giants. The Sorceress of Sky Serpents is the latest anticipated adventure from the Writers’ Trust Engel/Findley Award-winning writer, set on a dangerous planet where monsters haunt the survivors of an apocalyptic sorcerers’ war.

Participants:

Eden Robinson
Monique Gray Smith
Oct 23 @ 8:00 PM
Performance Works
$45

64. Dancing On My Own: Lyrics Night

Oct 23 @ 8:00 PM
$45
In this year’s edition of our beloved Lyrics Night—featuring dramatic readings of song lyrics that will have you laughing, crying, and everything in between—writers will serenade you with the one song they’d bring to a deserted island. Add a free ticket to event 68. Let's Groove: Dance Party when you purchase tickets to 64. Lyrics Night!

Participants:

Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Jordan Abel
Sharon Bala
Gary Barwin
Dina Del Bucchia
Aaron Cully Drake
Amal El-Mohtar
Portia Elan
Kevin Hardcastle
Zak Jones
Doretta Lau
Kliph Nesteroff
Carol Off
DJ Ice-B
Rollie Pemberton
Chanel Sutherland
Oct 23 @ 7:00 PM
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
$28

65. An Evening with the Scots: Douglas Stuart and Damian Barr

Oct 23 @ 7:00 PM
$28
Enjoy an evening in the fine company of two of Scotland’s most renowned contemporary writers: Douglas Stuart and Damian Barr.

Participants:

Damian Barr
Bill Richardson
Douglas Stuart
Oct 23 @ 8:00 PM
The NEST
$28

66. Anakana Schofield: Library of Brothel

Oct 23 @ 8:00 PM
$28
Embark on a literary journey like nothing before in Anakana Schofield’s Library of Brothel.

Participants:

Mark Medley
Anakana Schofield
Oct 23 @ 8:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

67. The Politics of Fiction

Oct 23 @ 8:00 PM
$28
Fiction wields a uniquely compelling power to critique or disseminate political ideas, and in doing so, bend the course of history. Whether they examine a lost history of labour buried underneath Paris, a rent-controlled apartment in modern-day Manhattan, or a proletarian revolution at the end of the twenty-first century, these fascinating novels are bolstered by their political missives.

Participants:

Geoffrey D. Morrison
David Moscrop
Lisa Robertson
Jordy Rosenberg
Oct 23 @ 10:00 PM
Performance Works
$10

68. Let’s Groove: Dance Party

Oct 23 @ 10:00 PM
$10
We Just Can’t Get Enough of our annual dance party where writers and readers alike get On the Floor to Pump Up the Jam. The dance party is ticketed and open to all; receive a free ticket to the dance party if you purchase tickets to 64. Lyrics Night at the same time!

Participants:

Oct 24 @ 10:30 AM
Performance Works
$28

69. Roundtable on Canadian Sovereignty

Oct 24 @ 10:30 AM
$28
Canadian politics is at a crossroads, faced with both foreign interference and aggression, and crumbling institutions from within. Respected authors and political commentators take the stage to address the threats undermining Canadian democracy and sovereignty and discuss solutions for our survival.

Participants:

Andrew Coyne
Carol Off
Oct 24 @ 10:30 AM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

70. Echoes of WWII: Resisting Fascism, Then and Now 

Oct 24 @ 10:30 AM
$28
The warnings of WWII ring out piercingly today, as a new wave of fascism threatens countries around the globe. Acclaimed authors Mark Braude and Jane Rogoyska share the breathtaking real stories of ordinary citizens who resisted fascism and helped each other survive.

Participants:

Mark Braude
Jane Rogoyska
Robert Wiersema
Oct 24 @ 10:30 AM
The NEST
$28

71. Poets in Conversation

Oct 24 @ 10:30 AM
$28
Join an exhilarating conversation about craft, language, and meaning as three renowned Canadian poets sit down for a wide-ranging conversation about the art of verse.

Participants:

Derek Beaulieu
Aislinn Hunter
Eve Joseph
Canisia Lubrin
Oct 24 @ 10:30 AM
Revue Stage
$28

72. David Treuer in Conversation 

Oct 24 @ 10:30 AM
$28
In this moving conversation, David Treuer will reckon with the history of violence in North America and our complicity in normalizing it, while offering a hopeful view of Turtle Island’s future.

Participants:

Stephanie Sinclair
David Treuer
Oct 24 @ 1:30 PM
Arts Umbrella
$28

73. Vancouver: A Field Guide

Oct 24 @ 1:30 PM
$28
Local legends disclose little-known facts, share varying perspectives, and profile the people who keep Vancouver’s heart beating at this panel event centred on the city we call home.

Participants:

Steve Burgess
Christopher Cheung
Justin McElroy
Sam Wiebe
Oct 24 @ 1:30 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

74. Molly Crabapple on the Story of the Jewish Bund

Oct 24 @ 1:30 PM
$28
Established in 1897, the Jewish Labor Bund was once the most influential Jewish political force in eastern Europe. Molly Crabapple will bring a revolutionary movement to life and address its message of solidarity and liberation in our current place in history.

Participants:

Molly Crabapple
Peter Klein
Oct 24 @ 1:30 PM
The NEST
$28

75. Blending Genres

Oct 24 @ 1:30 PM
$28
Each of these authors combine the unexpected—either writing in many genres across works or blending multiple genres in one book. The result, in every case, is a work as fascinating for its form as its story.

Participants:

Elee Kraljii Gardiner
Camilla Gibb
Eric Beck Rubin
Anakana Schofield
Oct 24 @ 1:30 PM
Revue Stage
$28

76. The Dating Game: Romance Novel Edition

Oct 24 @ 1:30 PM
$28
Looking for a hot new romance novel to sweep you off your feet? We’ve got four irresistible suitors for you! Inspired by dating game shows of yore, this panel puts romance authors in the hot seat to help you find your next match.

Participants:

Bal Khabra
Katrina Kwan
Danielle McKechnie
Joss Richard
Rachel Sargeant
Oct 24 @ 5:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

77. Jason Stanley: Erasing History

Oct 24 @ 5:00 PM
$28
In Erasing History, Jason Stanley exposes the true danger of authoritarianism’s attacks on institutions of education, historically places of critical inquiry and preservation of common memory.

Participants:

David Moscrop
Jason Stanley
Oct 24 @ 5:00 PM
The NEST
$28

78. Sarah Ellis in Conversation 

Oct 24 @ 5:00 PM
$28
In My Year in Fairyland, Sarah Ellis, a celebrated children's book author, shares an unforgettable memoir about the year of waiting for the appointed date—a year filled with astonishing moments of playfulness and joy, followed by searing grief and abiding love.

Participants:

Sarah Ellis
Bill Richardson
Oct 24 @ 5:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

79. Beauty and Terror: Kevin Hardcastle and Zak Jones in Conversation

Oct 24 @ 5:00 PM
$28
These acclaimed, must-read new novels immerse readers in searing family dramas set in rural North American communities. With unforgettable storylines and breathtaking prose, they illuminate heartwrenching generational inheritances of pain and violence—as well as the love and resilience of those living on the edge.

Participants:

Kevin Hardcastle
Zak Jones
Oct 24 @ 7:30 PM
Performance Works
$55

80. Lit Cab

Oct 24 @ 7:30 PM
$55
A perennial favourite that sells out every year, the Literary Cabaret is a guaranteed hit: combine six acclaimed and award-winning authors with one band and a table of friends for a night of art and delight!

Participants:

Catherine Chidgey
Kim Fu
Melissa Harrison
Ferdia Lennon
Jordy Rosenberg
Douglas Stuart
Oct 24 @ 8:00 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

81. Edwidge Danticat in Conversation

Oct 24 @ 8:00 PM
$28
Dèy is Edwidge Danticat's first novel in more than a decade, and one of her most deeply affecting works yet. Moving from Haiti to Brooklyn to Miami, Dèy follows a narrator who flits between worlds like a firefly, telling a deeply affecting story of the Haitian diaspora, grief, and inseverable family ties.

Participants:

Edwidge Danticat
Eleanor Wachtel
Oct 24 @ 8:00 PM
The NEST
$28

82. The Responsibility of War 

Oct 24 @ 8:00 PM
$28
These authors have been touched by war, and their works refuse to look away from the horrors and violence that are devastating territories around the globe. In the midst of deep suffering, there is also unassailable humanity, resistance, and hope; the authors come together for a powerful discussion about the terrible costs of war, and our collective responsibility to humanity.

Participants:

Jamaluddin Aram
Sally Hayden
Nazanine Hozar
Minelle Mahtani
Oct 24 @ 8:00 PM
Revue Stage
$28

83. Kliph Nesteroff: Sorry, We’re Funny

Oct 24 @ 8:00 PM
$28
Kliph Nesteroff, the “premier popular historian of comedy” (The New York Times), shares the impressive history of Canadian comedy in Sorry, We’re Funny and at this entertaining event.

Participants:

Charlie Demers
Kliph Nesteroff
Oct 25 @ 10:00 AM
Performance Works
$28

84. Clara Hughes: Learning to Breathe

Oct 25 @ 10:00 AM
$28
Elite Canadian athlete Clara Hughes is the only person in history to have won multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The six-time medalist powered through pain to achieve extraordinary success—with profound consequences for her body and mind.

Participants:

Joanna Cheek
Clara Hughes
Oct 25 @ 10:30 AM
Waterfront Theatre
$10

85. Emerge

Oct 25 @ 10:30 AM
$10
Join SFU Creative Writing to hear readings from emerge 26: the annual anthology from the students of The Writer’s Studio program at Simon Fraser University.

Participants:

Oct 25 @ 10:30 AM
The NEST
$28

86. Keum Suk Gendry-Kim: My Friend Kim Jong Un

Oct 25 @ 10:30 AM
$28
In My Friend Kim Jong Un, Harvey Award-winning Korean graphic novelist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim explores the life of the supreme leader and the long shadow North Korea casts over Korean society.

Participants:

Keum Suk Gendry-Kim
Janet Hong
Oct 25 @ 10:30 AM
Revue Stage
$28

87. The Conversations

Oct 25 @ 10:30 AM
$28
This popular returning event is like witnessing a live recording of your favourite literary podcast—no headphones required. Moderator Marsha Lederman conducts back-to-back interviews with the authors of some of the most talked-about novels of the season.

Participants:

Sharon Bala
Gary Barwin
Marsha Lederman
PP Wong
Oct 25 @ 10:30 AM
Dockside Restaurant
$55

88. Food for Thought

Oct 25 @ 10:30 AM
$55
This signature event returns with the luminous ideas and fascinating readings you’ve come to expect—in a comfortable new venue with an elevated dining experience. We’re thrilled to bring Food for Thought to the Dockside Restaurant at the Granville Island Hotel. Enjoy a delicious continental breakfast with coffee and tea as seven authors of intriguing nonfiction explore topics at the forefront of our minds.

Participants:

Brian Goldman
Kathryn Gretsinger
Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
Kirsten Johnson
Turi King
Justin McElroy
Jody Wilson-Raybould
Oct 25 @ 1:30 PM
Waterfront Theatre
$28

89. All Eyes on the North 

Oct 25 @ 1:30 PM
$28
Canada is under siege from the simultaneous threats of climate change ravaging the land, and foreign interference undermining the foundations of our democracy. These intertwining perils are not a coincidence, but the result of capitalist government policies that prioritize resource extraction over protection of land and people. From different vantage points, three authors investigate and fight for the survival of the north.

Participants:

L.E. Fox
Katłı̨̀ą
Patrick Lennox
David Moscrop
Oct 25 @ 1:30 PM
The NEST
$28

90. Women’s Voices from Europe

Oct 25 @ 1:30 PM
$28
Here is a rare opportunity to hear from three influential, contemporary European writers, all on one Vancouver stage. Carolina Pihelgas, Petra Hůlová, and Camille de Peretti will discuss their stunning novels, other work in translation emerging from Europe, and female empowerment today.

Participants:

Camille de Peretti
Petra Hůlová
Anna Ling Kaye
Carolina Pihelgas
Oct 25 @ 1:30 PM
Revue Stage
$28

91. Best of BC Mysteries

Oct 25 @ 1:30 PM
$28
From the waters of False Creek to seemingly idyllic rural towns, these page-turners from lauded local crime writers delve into chilling or charming mysteries based right here in British Columbia.

Participants:

Roz Nay
Iona Whishaw
Sam Wiebe
Robert Wiersema
Oct 25 @ 3:30 PM
Performance Works
$55

92. The Afternoon Tea

Oct 25 @ 3:30 PM
$55
Savour an afternoon of outstanding readings and high tea delicacies at this beloved Writers Fest tradition first started by our late founding artistic director, Alma Lee. The tables will be laden with scones, sandwiches, and cookies; the tea and coffee will be flowing, alongside a signature glass of sherry. Accompanying the sumptuous spread are readings of captivating fiction from celebrated authors.

Participants:

Anita Rau Badami
Patricia Finn
Melissa Harrison
Nazanine Hozar
Bill Richardson
Eden Robinson
Damien Wilkins
Oct 25 @ 7:00 PM
York Theatre
$28

93. Closing Night: True Patriot Love with Carol Off

Oct 25 @ 7:00 PM
$28
Come together with other engaged readers and thinkers at this year’s closing night event, where we’ll consider who we are as Canadians, where we’re going, and why Canada is seen by many as a beacon of hope in an age of cynicism. Tickets for this event are sold through The Cultch; click here to purchase.

Participants:

David Moscrop
Carol Off
Nov 24 @ 7:30 PM
Playhouse Theatre
$45+

Malcolm Gladwell in Conversation

Nov 24 @ 7:30 PM
$45+
Join us after Festival Week at this November Special Event! From New York Times bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell comes his most urgent book yet: a provocative investigation of America’s epidemic of gun violence. In The American Way of Killing, Gladwell explores the American “peculiarity”—how the world’s wealthiest country came to suffer from a problem typically only seen in the world’s poorest countries.

Participants:

Malcolm Gladwell