October 14, 2026 to October 18, 2026
Various venues across downtown Edmonton
Canada’s original nonfiction festival celebrates 20 years in downtown Edmonton
LitFest returns to downtown Edmonton from October 14 to 18 to celebrate its 20th anniversary as Canada’s first and only nonfiction festival. Centered on the theme “Nonfiction shows us who we are,” the five-day event transforms the city centre into a creative hub featuring author readings, panel discussions and hands-on workshops with bestselling authors, award-winning journalists and emerging local storytellers.
The 2026 festival lineup explores how personal, municipal and national identities are shaped through true stories. Featured authors include Vivek Shraya, Kai Cheng Thom, Richard Kelly Kemick, Rachel Phan, Trina Moyles, Yasuko Thanh, Will Ferguson, Alice Major and Aaron Hughes.
Festival highlights
- Double book launch: Vivek Shraya and Kai Cheng Thom launch their work, The World We Long For.
- Constitutional history: Author Aaron Hughes presents his new book on the history of the Canadian constitution alongside host Paula Simons.
- Nonfiction on stage: A dedicated panel exploring the role of nonfiction storytelling in theatre and playwriting.
- Local press showcases: Special presentations highlighting local indie publishers, including Laberinto Press, The Polyglot and Agatha Press.