2026 Imagination Writers’ Festival

The Imagination Writers’ Festival aims to promote Canadian literature in its many forms, showcase the diverse literary landscape of our country, and be a marker of the vitality of our culture. To that effect, this year, we are embracing the theme of connections! The Festival team is delighted to present a series of events and activities held in partnership with cultural and literary organizations, or inspired by (and put together with advice from) other literary festivals.

Among these activities are:

• Languages Intertwined discussion, in collaboration with the Kwahiatonhk! Festival
• Silent Writing activity, inspired by the GritLit Festival
• Pop-Up-Cartoonist activity, in collaboration with QuébecBD
• Literary Translation panel, in collaboration with the Maison de la littérature
• Pop-Up-Poet activity, inspired by and with advice from the Whistler Writers Festival (and poet Bronwyn Preece) and the Vancouver Writers’ Fest (and poet Elliott Slinn)

Inclusive Ticket Rates. As part of its mission to showcase Canadian literature to a wide and diverse audience, the Imagination Writers’ Festival team is turning this year to an open and inclusive ticketing system. With three rate options for each event, we are putting the choice in your hands. It is our hope that this ticketing system will make Imagination more accessible, whether you want to support literature, pay the true cost of the event, or attend an event at a reduced price.

Committed Rate: $18. To support the Festival and Canadian literature.
Regular Rate: $16. The standard ticket price reflecting the true cost of the event.
Reduced Rate: $14. For a more accessible literary activity.
Pay What You Can: $10+. On-site only on the day of, depending on availability (limited quantity).

(Please note: these specific amounts do not apply to the Launch event, the youth events, Books & Wine, or Books & Tea.)

This ticketing system is inspired by that of Festival Québec en toutes lettres and Théâtre Le Périscope, among others.

Festival Pass. You would like to register for many of our Imagination events? The Festival Pass is for you! In a single purchase, save your spot for up to 15 Festival events.

Should you wish, after your purchase, to add or remove events from your registration list, please contact us at info@morrin.org.
The following events are NOT included in the Festival Pass: Launch, youth events, Books & Wine, Books & Tea.
The Festival Pass is not retroactive. The cost of any individual tickets purchased before this Festival Pass will not be deduced from its cost.

We know that the Imagination book sale is always one of the most anticipated facets of the festival. Since its beginning, La Maison Anglaise has been a vital partner of the Imagination Festival. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that it is still the place to buy your books this year!

30% of the sales of the Imagination books will be given to the Morrin Centre and invested back into the Festival.

The books will be available at the Morrin Centre during the Festival, in our Salon space. You can also buy them, digitally or in person, at La Maison Anglaise.

Our Imagination Book Sale area is getting a brand new look this year… stay tuned!

The Morrin Centre team is keen to ensure that the Imagination Writers’ Festival matches our sustainable development goals.

Printed Material. To limit the amount of printed material recycled after the Festival, we will no longer be printing a Festival program. A short PDF document will be available for download and home-printing should you wish to carry a physical copy of the schedule during the festival. A simplified schedule will also be provided in bookmark format and printed in small quantities according to on-site demand only.

Festival Banner. As of 2025, the Imagination banner, hung as a backdrop behind the stage in College Hall, has been divided in three sections. While the central section, narrower, changes every year, the framing sections remain the same. Once the festival ends, the banner will be transformed. In previous years, the banner was turned into tote bags, bookmarks, and card holders.

Water Bottles & Glasses. There is a water fountain in the Morrin Centre lobby, made specifically to refill water bottles. We encourage you to bring your own water bottle, but reusable plastic glasses will be at the guests’ disposal if you forget your bottle at home.

Public Transport. We encourage Festival goers to use public transport or carpool to get to the Festival! A question about transport will be included in the registration form for all events and in the post-Festival survey, to help us better understand the Festival’s environmental impacts.

Elevator. Both Festival rooms (College Hall and the Library) are accessible to all through our Elevator.

Parking. There is no on-site parking. However, metered street parking is available nearby and several public garages are located within a five-minute walk (City Hall garage, Place D’Youville garage, Hôtel-Dieu garage). The Morrin Centre is also accessible by bus (notably from the Place d’Youville station), and three àVélo stations are available within a seven-minute walk.

Language. The Imagination Writers’ Festival is an English-language event. However, the panel taking place at the Maison de la littérature will be presented bilingually. In addition, the question periods of many events may take place in both French and English, with the host or moderator assisting with translation as needed.

The Imagination Festival is made possible not only thanks to our many partners, but also thanks to the many individuals who dedicate time to the project. We would like to highlight the contributions of the following people for the 2026 Festival:

Festival Team. 

Jeanne Lebossé-Gautron, Director of programming and communications
Noora Heiskanen, Cultural programming coordinator
Barry McCullough, Executive Director
Hee-Won Son, Heritage and education coordinator

With the support of: Manon Fortin, General manager

Imagination Volunteer Committee.

Terri Connolly
Guy Dubois
Rachelle Solomon
Elspeth Tulloch

We would also like to thank the many volunteers who join us during the Festival to support the Festival team in many ways. Imagination would not be such a wonderful affair without your support and participation.