The Vancouver International Writers Festival is one of North America's premiere literary events, held annually over 6 days in late October. It was inaugurated in 1988 as the brainchild of founding Artistic Director Alma Lee.

Now under the artistic direction of Hal Wake, the Writers Festival attracts the world's best writers to Vancouver. Internationally renowned and undiscovered authors mingle with 14,000 readers of all ages in intimate, interactive and informal settings on Granville Island, an urban oasis in the heart of Vancouver. In its 22 year history the Festival has presented luminaries such as Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Maeve Binchy, Peter Carey, Roddy Doyle, Timothy Findley, Tomson Highway, John Irving, P.D. James, Thomas Keneally, Rohinton Mistry, Frank McCourt, Alice Munro, Michael Ondaatje, Anita Rau Badami, JK Rowling, Salman Rushdie and Carol Shields. The Writers Festival also produces special events throughout the year featuring the best of Canadian and international writers. You may browse the festival archives to sample from some of our past offerings.