Toronto
#1 Media & Literary Event
A maximum capacity crowd of 450 of Canada’s literary elite is set to return to the Ritz-Carlton this year for the televised awarding of the richest prize in Canadian fiction. The 2017 winner was Toronto author Michael Redhill for his novel Bellevue Square. Next: November 19, 2018
Montreal
#2 Media & Literary Event
In 2018, attendance at this festival with a social conscience grew to 120,000, including partnership events, with participation by 260 authors from 19 countries. The 2018 International Literary Grand Prix went to philosopher Charles Taylor, while Lee Maracle received the First People’s Literary Prize. Sponsors included Heritage Canada and TD. Next: May 2-5, 2019
Vancouver
#3 Media & Literary Event
Tourism Vancouver is a new sponsor, and credit union Vancity returns this year, when the festival expects attendance to stay level at 17,000, with about 100 authors—including Buffy Sainte-Marie and Patrick deWitt—participating. New this year: Canadian Métis writer Cherie Dimaline is the festival’s first guest curator. Next: October 15-21, 2018
Toronto
#4 Media & Literary Event
The outdoor celebration of reading expands to two days this year, with authors and leading Canadian personalities discussing current events and exploring Canadian identity. Attendance shrank to 200,000 in 2017 due to extremely hot weather but is expected to rebound in 2018. Toronto Public Library is a key sponsor. Next: September 22-23, 2018
Toronto
#5 Media & Literary Event
The 11-day festival will feature more daytime events and more free events than in the past, and it is expecting to draw upwards of 15,000 attendees. The Toronto Star is the major media partner and University of Toronto Bookstore is the official book seller. Next: October 18-28, 2018
Banff, Alberta
#6 Media & Literary Event
For the Festival’s 39th year, more than 1,500 delegates from over 20 countries took part in conferences, networking events, and sales pitches. NBCUniversal was named the company of distinction this year, and Alberta Film and Corus Entertainment were among the sponsors. New this year: the Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices Initiative, a program designed to support and jump-start careers of underrepresented talent. Next: June 9-12, 2019
Woody Point, Newfoundland
#7 Media & Literary Event
Hosted again by CBC radio personality Shelagh Rogers and presented by Scotiabank, this intimate literary festival sold out early and featured writers such as Ian Brown, Sharon Bala, and Elizabeth Hay. Impromptu after-hours musical jam sessions are always a highlight. Next: August 2019
Ottawa
#8 Media & Literary Event
Tanya Talaga won the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing this year for her book about indigenous youth, Seven Fallen Feathers. Chateau Laurier hosted the sold-out, 500-person dinner gala again in 2018, and Microsoft, CIBC, and CN were platinum sponsors. Next: Spring 2019
