Discover Canada’s Best Authors

Welcome to our 25th Annual Word on the Street Festival – The World in Words

Since our launch in 1994, there has been an explosion of literary festivals in Nova Scotia and throughout Atlantic Canada. The festivals are big and small and each year tens of thousands of individuals attend them eager to connect and engage with their favourite writers, and spoken-word artists. It is also an opportunity to talk about the mechanics of books with illustrators, editors, publicists, and publishers, and discover why books and reading continue to fulfill such an important role in our lives. Literary Festivals continue to be an excellent vehicle to explore the wider publishing ecosystem.

Throughout the past 25 years, hundreds of individuals, organizations and community partners have contributed to the success and sustainability of our festival. Apart from book readings and book launches, lectures, discussions, workshops and debates, WoTS Halifax provides an opportunity for community literacy organizations to gather and share their story and programs with festival attendees.

The opportunity to create a space to host established and emerging writers, literary professionals and educators is a responsibility we do not take lightly. As the largest free literary festival in Nova Scotia, attendance now exceeds 9,600 people.

Our program offers something to interest everyone, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoirs, history, romance, illustrators, activists, spoken word artists, young adult and children’s authors and so much more.

Our venue, the Halifax Central Library provides an inspiring set of stages for panel discussions, readings and workshops. For educators (parents, teachers, librarians, and Adult Learning Program instructors) our Magnificent Marketplace offers a wide variety of resources and books for readers of all ages in English and French. It brings together aspiring authors, independent authors, publishers, editors, literary, literacy professionals, and organizations.

Our silver-anniversary will features eight stages, 80 presenters, 40 hours of programming and over 30 exhibitors, thank you for joining us to celebrate the richness of Canada’s literary culture.

The Board of Directors, Word on the Street Halifax