Wordfest has revealed the full lineup for its 2026 Imaginairium, bringing more than 50 authors to Calgary for 41 shows from Oct. 13 to 18.
From the author behind Lessons in Chemistry and the writer of Station Eleven to two Canadian Olympic icons and an Oprah Book Club author, here are some of the names and shows worth knowing about.
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Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry
If you read Lessons in Chemistry or watched the Apple TV series it inspired, this is one of the biggest names on the lineup.
Garmus is making her only Western Canadian appearance at Wordfest, closing the festival at Bella Concert Hall with a conversation about her new novel, Peck & Peck.
When: Sunday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bella Concert Hall
Tickets: $69.95
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Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven
Emily St. John Mandel is best known for Station Eleven, along with novels including The Glass Hotel and Sea of Tranquility.
She comes to Memorial Park Library Friday night with her newest novel, Exit Party.
When: Friday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Park Library
Tickets: $25
Cassie Campbell-Pascall + Clara Hughes, Canadian Olympic icons
You don’t have to be a book lover to recognize these two.
Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Clara Hughes are launching Wordfest’s 31st Imaginairium together on opening night at Central Library. They’ll talk about their books, Just a Girl and Learning to Breathe, along with grit, resilience, what it took to reach the top of their sports and what comes after the podium.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Central Library
Tickets: $25
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Tayari Jones, Oprah Book Club author
Tayari Jones is best known for An American Marriage, and she arrives at Wordfest with her new novel, Kin.
The book is a New York Times bestseller, an Oprah’s Book Club selection and one of Barack Obama’s Summer 2026 reading picks.
When: Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Park Library
Tickets: $25
Iain Reid, author of I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Fans of psychological thrillers may recognize Iain Reid from I’m Thinking of Ending Things, which was later adapted for Netflix.
At Wordfest, he’ll appear with filmmaker Ellie Foumbi to talk about their new collaboration, A New Kind of Clean.
When: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m.
Where: Memorial Park Library
Tickets: $25
Pulitzer winner Andrew Sean Greer
Andrew Sean Greer won the Pulitzer Prize for Less, his comic novel about a struggling writer who sets off around the world.
He’s coming to Wordfest with his latest novel, Villa Coco, for a Wednesday-night event at Memorial Park Library.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Park Library
Tickets: $25
And a few shows that just sound fun
Some of the most interesting events on the schedule aren’t traditional author talks.
Literary Death Match turns readings into a live competition judged on literary merit, performance and “intangibles.”
A Bloody Good Cabaret brings together four writers for Wordfest’s first horror cabaret, just in time for Halloween.
And The Morning Yap gathers Karma Brown, Patricia Finn, Jenny Jackson and Liz Nugent for a Saturday-morning conversation Wordfest describes as a chance to “spill the tea.”
Wordfest’s 2026 Imaginairium runs Oct. 13 to 18 at Memorial Park Library, Central Library, DJD Dance Centre and Bella Concert Hall.
Festival passes are on sale now, with single tickets going on sale Aug. 25 at 10 a.m.