Booktoberfest is the annual literary festival of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS). It celebrates Nova Scotian authors & publishers—and the books they’ve published over the past year—by creating a place for authors & readers to meet; for book sales & signings; and for free readings & creative writing workshops.
For questions about this program, contact program lead Andy Verboom at communications@writers.ns.ca.
Booktoberfest 2026 will be held at Halifax Central Library on Saturday, October 3, 2026 (11am – 3pm).
Each year, Booktoberfest includes a book market, usually featuring ~60 indie and traditionally published Nova Scotian authors and ~10 Nova Scotian publishers, as well as free creative writing workshops and author readings.
Vendor applications for Booktoberfest 2026 opened on June 2, 2026.
Starting in early September, this page will be updated as details become available.
Booktoberfest is the annual literary festival of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS). It celebrates Nova Scotian authors & publishers—and the books they’ve published over the past year—by creating a place for authors & readers to meet; for book sales & signings; and for free readings & creative writing workshops.
Booktoberfest 2026
Halifax Central Library
Saturday, October 3
11am - 3pm
Book Market
Featuring over 70 Nova Scotian authors & publishers
Readings
Free author readings and Q&As with Carol Bruneau, Emma FitzGerald, Michelle Hébert, Mere Joyce, and Veronica Post
Workshops
Free creative writing workshops led by Denise Flint, Cheryl Lawson, Lana Shupe, and Tegan Zimmerman
Recommendations
Extend the celebration with other NS literary events held around Booktoberfest weekend
Programme
Coming in September, our digital programme to help plan your book market route and other activities
Notifications
Subscribe for Booktoberfest updates
Book Market
Paul O'Regan Hall
AUTHORS
Sherri Aikenhead
G. M. Baker
Mark Baker
Katherine Barrett
N.L. Blandford
Sonja Boon
Gina N. Brown
Carol Bruneau
Owen C. Caldwell
Debra Camelin
S. E. Conway
Will Cooper
Patrick d’Entremont
Amy-Lynn Denham
Jane Doucet
ATL Doyle
Bronwyn Fairchild
Arwen Falvey
Jan Fancy Hull
Emma FitzGerald
Denise Flint
Deanna Foster
Cathryn Fox
Lindsey Harrington
Sarah L. Hawthorn
Michelle Hébert
Stephanie Hemmings
Corinne Hoebers
Steven Holloway
Mere Joyce
Stuart King
Cheryl Lawson
Corinne Lewandowski
Betty McEachern
Joanne Merriam
Mireille Messier
Rejeanne Morin
Jan Morrison
donalee Moulton
Gregory Munroe
Carolyn Jean Nicholson
Nicole Northwood
Veronica Post
Cat Rector
Rebecca Rose
T. Rushton
Cristina Santos
Sherry Scully
Bernadette Shea
Lana Shupe
Anne Smith-Nochasak
Heidi Tattrie Rushton
Jonny Thompson
Shelley Thompson
Andy Tolson
Brenda Tyedmers
Tegan Zimmerman
PUBLISHERS
SPECIAL GUESTS
Readings
BMO Community Room
No registration is required to attend a reading. Drop in with your attention and your questions.
Workshops
Room 301
Free pre-registration (up to 20 participants per workshop) is currently open only to WFNS 2026 General Members. Click a workshop below to pre-register.
Free drop-in registration (at least 10 participants per workshop) is open to all on a first-come-first-served basis. Stop by Room 301 on October 3 to reserve your seat.
Booktoberfest recommends...
Friday, Oct 2,
to Sunday, Oct 4
Colaisde na Gàidhlig /
The Gaelic College
(St. Ann’s)
Joanne Merriam in conversation with Julian Mortimer Smith
Friday, Oct 2
(7pm – 7pm)
Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery
Tim Covell reads from Ocean’s Lure and Cover Charm
Friday, Oct 2
(8pm – 9pm)
virtual
The Architecture of Luck: Fate, Duty, and Private Harry Hillyer
Saturday, Oct 3
(10:30am – 11:30am)
Lunenburg Library
Michelle Hébert launches A Good Girl’s Guide to Lying
Sunday, Oct 4
(12pm – 2pm)
Open Book Coffee
(Halifax)
Reading Between the Lines: The Material Culture of Hidden History
Sunday, Oct 4
(2pm – 3pm)
Lunenburg Library
Leona MacDougall launches Your Light Knows
Sunday, Oct 4
(2pm – 4pm)
Alderney Library
(Dartmouth)
If your event is open to the public, free to attend, and held between Oct 1 and 5, click here to register for promotional support. Registration is open until September 3.
Partner
The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia is grateful to Halifax Public Libraries for their annual partnership in realizing Booktoberfest.
