Book lovers will have plenty to add to their calendars this October as the Victoria Festival of Authors returns for its 11th year.
Running from October 12th to 18th, the week-long festival will bring together 50 authors for 21 events across Greater Victoria and online, with everything from fiction and poetry to environmental non-fiction, romance and conversations about some of the biggest issues facing communities today.
This year’s lineup includes acclaimed novelist and Booker Prize finalist Ruth Ozeki, forest ecologist and bestselling author Suzanne Simard, novelist Anakana Schofield, CBC journalist Nahlah Ayed, Indigenous author Jess Housty and dozens more.
While the festival is centred around books, organizers say audiences shouldn’t expect a week of traditional author readings.
“People often think of literary festivals as stuffy or high-brow affairs, but our theatre-based [events] are more like live podcasts than readings,” said festival producer Laura Trunkey.
“Panel participants give short readings from their work, but the primary focus is on ideas.”
The festival begins with virtual programming on October 12th and 13th before moving into several days of in-person events at venues including Langham Court Theatre, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Open Space Arts Society, Camosun College’s Maker Space and W̱MÍYEŦEN Nature Sanctuary.
One of the first major in-person events takes place Wednesday, October 14th, when Suzanne Simard appears at Langham Court Theatre alongside artist and Ma’amtagila Hereditary Chief Rande Cook.
Simard, known internationally for her work examining the interconnectedness of forests and her bestselling book Finding the Mother Tree, will discuss her latest work and research into forest renewal, resilience and climate change.
On Thursday, October 15th, How Stories Breathe will bring Jordan Abel, Amanda Peters, Monique Gray Smith and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas together for a conversation about storytelling, craft and bringing stories to life.
The festival will also head outdoors on Saturday, October 17th, for the Listen to the Land Forest Walk at W̱MÍYEŦEN Nature Sanctuary.
Families can also take part in KidsFest 2026, a free event at the Fernwood Community Centre on Saturday, October 17th featuring children’s authors, readings, writing workshops and a local youth reading.
The final day of the festival on Sunday, October 18th features several major events.
At the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, illustrator Jackie Morris and Salt Spring Island artist Don Gunn will come together for Can Art Save the Birds?, a conversation about art, birds and nature.
Later that afternoon, CBC journalist Nahlah Ayed will sit down with this year’s Massey Lecturer, Leilani Farha, for a conversation centred around housing and homelessness.
The festival closes Sunday evening at Langham Court Theatre with Ruth Ozeki.
The novelist, filmmaker, memoirist and Zen Buddhist priest will discuss her new short-story collection, The Typing Lady, alongside Victoria novelist Shaena Lambert.
Accessibility remains a major focus of the festival. Virtual programming includes free ticket options, while many in-person events use a sliding-scale model, including $5 ticket options.
A number of the in-person events will also be livestreamed.
Now in its 11th year, the Victoria Festival of Authors has grown into one of Vancouver Island’s major literary celebrations while maintaining a strong focus on BC and Vancouver Island writers.
The full schedule, event details and tickets are available through the Victoria Festival of Authors website.
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Victoria Festival of Authors 2026
- Where: Various locations around Victoria and online
- When: October 12th to 18th
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