Edmonton Poetry Festival

08/24/2026

Every month in our newsletter we compile a comprehensive list of poetry events, announcements of local poetry collections, interviews with poets, and more!

Are you a local poet with a newly published collection to share? Want to share your techniques with other writers and poets? You could have the chance to be featured in 'The Magpie,' our monthly newsletter. Email [email protected] for more information! 🤩

08/10/2026

Would you like to be an official member of the Edmonton Poetry Festival? 🧐

Any donation over $20 will receive a 1-year EPF membership, and all artists/volunteers from our festival receive a complimentary membership! 🫶 Donations are accepted online through our website (link in our bio!)

Join our robust community of poets and artists and support the accessibility of our festival for all. Unsure if your membership is active or expired? Email us at [email protected] 📫

07/10/2026

Are you running a poetry, spoken word, or similar event? Is there a new open mic we should know about? Send it our way! For the August edition of The Magpie we are rounding up Edmonton and surrounding area events to feature in our newsletter. If you have an event to share please email [email protected] or message us with any questions!

Email your event by July 17 to be included in the newsletter!

06/18/2026

06/10/2026

It's only been a little over a month, but we're already reminiscing about Edmonton Poetry Festival days💭💙 While we wait for next year's festival, enjoy these photos from April's performances, open mics, and sneaky staff photos!😉

But don't worry! We won't disappear completely. We will continue to provide updates on poetry open mics and readings, book launches, opportunities, and more through 'The Magpie' (our monthly newsletter) and on social media. Make sure to sign up for the newsletter at the link in our bio if you haven't already!

05/27/2026

Why does poet Jun-long Lee like writing in cemeteries? And what does he turn to when he isn't feeling creative or inspired?🤔

Read Jun's responses in the Five Answers interview in the June issue of the Magpie, coming soon. Subscribe before May 31 to get it delivered straight to your inbox!📫

Jun-long Lee is a poet, visual artist, and filmmaker. He is the author of the poetry collection Abode, published by Athabasca Press in 2025.

05/19/2026

After the amazing festival we had last month, we want to take a moment to thank everyone involved with the Edmonton Poetry Festival.

To all our artists, performers, volunteers, board members, performance venues, food and beverage workers, loved ones, friends, and of course, YOU, the wonderful attendees. 🥳 Without you we would not have a festival.

We are so grateful to be able to champion poetry, spoken word, and community in Edmonton, and hope to continue to do so.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you💙

04/28/2026

Today is the LAST day of The Edmonton Poetry Festival 😢 we're going out with a bang with two wonderful celebrations of poetry and books. Make sure to check them out!

What: Voices from The Wards Poetry Reading
Where: McMullen Gallery (U of A Hospital), 8440-112 St NW
When: Tuesday April 28, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Come out and listen to the heartbeat of the quiet, powerful stories unfolding within the University Hospital’s walls. Eight selected poetry contest winners will share their poems of challenge, resilience and hope, hosted by Tyler Sherard (Associate Director of Arts in Health) and Janis Dow Durnin (Literary Artist on the Ward).

Situated in the University of Alberta Hospital, McMullen Gallery aims to inspire, educate, and engage its audience – including patients, medical staff, hospital visitors and members of the general public. McMullen Gallery exhibits artwork in all media that is soothing, uplifting, humorous, and/or thought-provoking including but not limited to health-related subject matter. This event is part of the University Hospital Foundation’s Arts in Health programming.

Free | No RSVP Required
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What: Literary Editions: U of A Press
When: Tuesday April 28, 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Where: Henderson Hall (1-17 Rutherford Library South, U of A Campus)

University of Alberta Press is pleased to announce its annual event Literary Editions. This poetry event will feature readings from University of Alberta Press’ newest collections: "Sublunary" by Lisa Richter, "Nighthawks" by Lisa Martin, and "Evacuations" by Kevin Irie. This event will be hosted by Uche Umezurike, author of "there’s more".

This hybrid event is co-hosted by the Edmonton Poetry Festival. There will be a listening party in Henderson Hall (1-17 Rutherford Library South, University of Alberta campus) and there will also be audience members joining via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent out the day before the event and again one hour before the start. For those joining in Edmonton, there will be refreshments as well as an opportunity to visit. After the online readings, the Zoom session will end. Everyone is welcome.