Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Toronto International Festival of Authors
One of Canada’s biggest literary events, the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) has attracted thousands of local and international visitors for more than 40 years.
This 11-day festival welcomes thousands of authors from over 100 countries, including Nobel Laureates and numerous other award winners. Join fellow avid readers in book launches, artists’ talks, readings, performances, special award celebrations and more.
TIFA also features mini-festivals such as the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival, Toronto Lit Up and the official TIFA Book Club.
Date: September 19-29, 2024
Location: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair
Now in a new location at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, the Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair is the place to go if you love reading, collecting vintage books and maps. A wide selection of Canadian, American and British booksellers will be on hand, with incredible and rare books, prints, maps, ephemera and other paper works on display.
This book fair is free to attend with general admission to the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Details: Entry tickets can be purchased at the door.
Date: September 20-22, 2024
Location: Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Sakura Way, Toronto
The Word On The Street Toronto
Running since 1990, The Word On The Street (WOTS) Toronto is Canada’s largest free book and magazine festival, attracting over 200,000 visitors every year.
This unique Toronto literary festival has hosted hundreds of author readings, with a focus on promoting books by Canadian and Indigenous authors and publishers. In addition to the free annual street festival, WOTS hosts year-round literary programming to celebrate storytelling, ideas and imagination.
Participate in a variety of activities designed for book lovers, such as panel discussions, writing and publishing workshops, book fairs and children’s interactive activities. Independent authors, small presses and writing associations are featured in exhibits, where you can browse and chat about their works. Virtual workshops and podcasts are also available for those who can’t make it in person.
Date: September 28-29, 2024
Location: Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto
The Festival of Literary Diversity
As Canada’s first festival for diverse authors and storytellers, The Festival of Literary Diversity engages readers and inspires writers by focusing the attention on underrepresented and marginalized voices.
This annual event is held in Brampton’s historic downtown, where writers talk about the challenges they face in crafting stories that ask hard questions, push literary boundaries and foster acceptance and equality. The festival schedule includes a wide range of virtual and in-person events for people of all ages, such as a reading challenge, kids’ festival, author visit series and monthly online webinars.
All of the spaces used at this festival are wheelchair accessible, with ramp or ground-level entrances. You’ll also find gender-neutral restrooms, accessibility parking spaces and e-buttons on doors.
Details: Tickets available online or at the event
Date: April 28-May 5, 2024
Location: The Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton
