BRAMPTON, ON | March 25, 2026 – The schedule for the 2026 Festival of Literary Diversity was announced today, with over 30 Canadian authors taking part from April 26 to May 3, including Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Sharon Bala, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Chantal Braganza, Farzana Doctor, Antonio Michael Downing, Joss Richard, David A. Robertson, Liann Zhang, and many more. The only literary festival of its kind in Canada, the festival connects a diverse range of incredible Canadian storytellers with readers and writers through initiatives and events that illuminate the transformative power of stories, building a stronger and more inclusive literary culture. The festival runs April 26 to 29, virtually, and April 30 to May 3 in person in Brampton, ON. Tickets for this year’s festival are on sale now. Visit thefoldcanada.org for more information.
Said festival founder and Executive Director Jael Richardson: “This year’s festival is focused on community and connection. Readers love author interaction, and this year we offer many opportunities to connect with our incredible, award-winning authors through book signings, meet and greets, and virtual after parties, as well as through unique events like at our annual High Tea, our networking Writers’ Hub, and our newest event, Dish It!”
Festival Highlights – Virtual
There are over 25 virtual events and meetups scheduled this year, including:
AFTER CANADA READS, a panel discussion with Joss Richard, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Tyler Hellard and Loghan Paylor moderated by Jael Richardson. This promises to be a lively, thoughtful discussion about craft, competition, and the stories that captured the nation’s attention on this year’s CBC Canada Reads. Watch on YouTube or join the FOLD’s platform where virtual passholders can join an intimate virtual meet-and-greet and connect directly with the authors (April 26).
THE WRITERS’ HUB allows festival guests to connect directly with publishers, editors, and writing organizations at this annual, signature event. Drop into a range of virtual conversations to make connections and gain practical insight into navigating the publishing industry from professionals working across the field (April 26).
THE ART VS THE ARTIST: CRAFT, CHARACTER, & CONSEQUENCE is the closing virtual event that explores how we navigate the work of a problematic creator or work of art, and if art can be separated from the artist — and asks: should it be? In this virtual panel discussion, Sharon Bala, Elamin Abdelmahmoud, and Farzana Doctor join moderator Jael Richardson for a nuanced conversation about ethics, consumption, and responsibility in contemporary culture (April 29).
Festival Highlights – In Person
Fourteen in-person events this year include topical panel discussions, exclusive author meet and greets, and signature experiences that invite audience participation. Highlights include:
THE GREAT READCEPTION: A LITERARY CABARET at The Rose on May 1 is a signature festival event where readings are set to the live music of Brampton’s Carmen Spada and band. This year’s event features author readings from Sharon Bala, Antonio Michael Downing, Yiming Ma, Joss Richard, Ardra Shephard, and Liann Zhang.
DISH IT! WITH THE AUTHORS on May 2, is a new festival experience where readers and festival authors sit shoulder to shoulder, sharing tables, conversation, food, and trivia in a welcoming, team-based format. Designed to spark conversation and community, this special event offers a unique opportunity to experience the festival and connect with authors in a more intimate and interactive way. This event will take place at Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives (9 Wellington Street West Brampton).
the Sunday Brunch crowd, Romance at the Rose: A Literary High Tea returns to The Rose on May 3. Don your favourite fit, gather your friends, and join festival friends for a delightful high tea with romance writers Jackie Khalilieh, Elle Douglas, and Joss Richard, in conversation with Lavanya Lakshmi. This charming specialty event blends lively conversation, themed trivia with fabulous prizes, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments.
This year’s closing event on May 3 is THE LIBRARIANS: FILM SCREENING AND CONVERSATION at The Rose Theatre. The Librarians is a powerful documentary examining the alarming rise of book banning legislation and its impact on communities, educators, and readers. As the closing event of Brampton Book Week, this timely gathering brings the community together for an urgent conversation about access to books and the defense of intellectual freedom. The screening will be followed by a discussion featuring librarians, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and collective response.
The Festival of Literary Diversity for Students
The festival also runs virtual and in-person school group events including panel discussions, author meet and greets, and hands-on writing workshops. Educators can register for in-person school events by calling The Rose Brampton box office.
And MORE!
- All in-person events will include book signings, with books sold on site by Another Story Bookshop. The full festival schedule is available online at thefoldcanada.org.
- The festival’s Virtual Exhibitor Hall will once again feature nearly two dozen vendors from community and publishing-based organizations. Many will also host live roundtable meetups in the virtual Writers’ Hub.
- In addition to hosting digital events and discussions within a state-of-the-art virtual space, this is the only Canadian literary festival accessible through a mobile app, allowing guests to participate in the festival anytime, anywhere.
- Over the years, FOLD has evolved to include a wide range of literary initiatives which complement the festival experience including the FOLD Reading Challenge, Into the FOLD: A Books and Lit Fest Podcast, and FOLD Apparel. New this year, FOLD readers can track their participation on the reading community platform Beanstack. Participants can log reading minutes, track their books, and complete additional challenges on the app, like the FOLD’s new Canadian Genre Challenge, and a challenge based solely on time spent reading called Read Your Way.
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Tickets and Passes are available at festivalofliterarydiversity.org/en/registration-form.
Prices: Virtual Pass: $30; The Great Readception: $25; Paint & Poetry Night: $20; Publishing 101 Workshop: $15; Reading Party: $10; The Politics of the Plot: $15; The State of Truth: $15; Dish It! with the Authors: $45; Spoken Word Showcase: $15; A Literary High Tea: $50; Film Screening & Panel: $10.
Bundle & Save for the In-Person Events
- Buy 3 or more events – save 10%
- Buy 5 or more events – save 20%
- Buy 7 or more events – save 30%
- Spend $60 on in-person events and get a virtual pass for free
The 11th annual Festival of Literary Diversity is generously supported by: Canada Council for the Arts, Canada Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, The Galen and Hilary Weston Foundation, The Angel Gabriel Foundation, City of Brampton, Experience Brampton, Ontario Creates, Penguin Random House Canada, TD Canada, Rakuten Kobo, Simon & Schuster Canada, Downtown Brampton BIA, ECW Press, Harlequin Books, HarperCollins Canada, Dundurn Press, FriesenPress, Literary Press Group, and Stelliform Press.
About The FOLD Foundation | thefoldcanada.org
Founded in 2016 by Jael Richardson with the launch of the Festival of Literary Diversity, FOLD is one of Canada’s leading literary organizations, championing underrepresented authors and storytellers through inclusive, high-impact programming that is redefining Canada’s literary ecology. Based in Brampton, Ontario, FOLD reaches both local and national audiences through a combination of innovative in-person and virtual programs. FOLD’s flagship Festival of Literary Diversity spotlights underrepresented authors through an annual series of events that celebrate inclusion, ignite conversation, and bring literature to life in Brampton and across Canada. FOLD has evolved to include a wide range of literary initiatives beyond the Festival of Literary Diversity, including FOLD Kids Book Fest, FOLD Academy, the FOLD Reading Challenge, Into the FOLD: A Books and Lit Fest Podcast, and FOLD Apparel. Together, these programs celebrate critical voices, expand access to diverse stories, and advance the future of Canada’s literary landscape.
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For further media information, please contact:
Katie Saunoris | KSPR | katiesaunoris@gmail.com
The FOLD Admin