Vancouver Writers Fest 2025 – 38th Annual Celebration of Books & Ideas

📅 Dates: Monday, October 20 – Sunday, October 26, 2025
📍 Location: Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

Event Overview

The Vancouver Writers Fest 2025 marks the 38th edition of one of Canada’s premier literary events. For one week, Granville Island transforms into a vibrant hub of books, ideas, and dialogue, hosting 87 events that bring together award-winning authors, emerging voices, and passionate readers.

This year’s Festival is curated in part by Canisia Lubrin, a multi-award-winning poet and novelist, who has created the special program Cycling and Renewal for the Earth. Her curated events explore how literature broadens dialogue and fortifies cultural and institutional resilience.

From thought-provoking conversations to laugh-out-loud performances, the Vancouver Writers Fest invites audiences to reflect, connect, and discover new books and ideas that shape the way we see the world.

What to Expect

📚 World-Class Authors – Hear from some of the finest local and international authors. Past guests include Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, David Sedaris, Naomi Klein, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
🎤 Diverse Event Formats – Readings, panel discussions, performances, and interviews.
🌍 Special Program by Canisia Lubrin – Cycling and Renewal for the Earth, featuring four events curated around dialogue, resilience, and literature’s power to inspire change.
🎟 Special & Incite Events – Don’t miss highlights leading up to the festival, including R. F. Kuang (Sept 13), Arundhati Roy in conversation with Naomi Klein (Sept 17), and Bob Joseph (Sept 18).
👩‍🏫 Youth & Schools – Educational programming for students from K–12 with dedicated school events.
📖 Book Signings & Sales – Purchase festival titles from Book Warehouse, the official festival bookseller, and meet authors after events.

Tickets & Pricing

🎟 Tickets On Sale:

• VWF Members – September 9, 2025, at 10 AM
• Schools – September 11, 2025, at 8 AM
• General Public – September 16, 2025, at 10 AM
• Ticket prices include GST and processing fees.
• Pay-What-You-Can options available for most digital events.
• Discounts for students, seniors, and social service organizations.

👉 Purchase Tickets: Vancouver Writers Fest Box Office

Event Details

• Dates: October 20–26, 2025

• Location: Granville Island venues, Vancouver, BC

• Event Length: Most events run ~90 minutes

• Admission: Ticketed (with free Incite events year-round)

• Accessibility:

  • Fully wheelchair accessible venues

  • Courtesy seating available

  • ASL interpretation (on request, two weeks prior)

  • Live captioning for digital events

  • Gender-neutral facilities

Why Attend?

The Vancouver Writers Fest is more than a literary gathering—it’s a celebration of ideas, dialogue, and storytelling that bridges cultures and communities. For over three decades, it has featured world-renowned voices while spotlighting emerging Canadian talent. Whether you’re a dedicated reader, a student, or simply curious, this festival offers an opportunity to connect, reflect, and be inspired.

🔗 Discover more literary festivals and cultural events in Vancouver at Vancouver Page – Discover Local Events.