NorthWords NWT has published the schedule for its 2026 festival, running across Yellowknife and Ndılǫ, alongside this year’s six-author guest roster.
This year’s author lineup includes:
- Kelley Armstrong – Haunting of Paynes Hollow, Rockton series, Cainsville series
- Aviaq Johnston – Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories Volume 2, What’s My Superpower
- Lisa Richter – Sublunary, Nautilus and Bone, Closer to Where We Began
- David A Robertson – 52 Ways to Reconcile, All the Little Monsters, Little Shoes, The World’s End
- Richard Van Camp – Beast, Little You, Moccasin Square Gardens
- Teresa Wong – All Our Ordinary Stories, Dear Scarlet
The festival runs from May 28-31. The Explorer Hotel is the central venue, with other events being held at The Underground, Yellowknife Visitor Centre and Yellowknife Books.
The Ndılǫ school gym will host a free community storytelling night from 7pm on May 28.
“We’re moving it to Ndılǫ. We’re trying something new to give it a more cultural, local vibe,” said NorthWords chair Amber Henry.
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Northern United Place hosts a pancake and pyjama party on the morning of May 30, with entry set at $5.
Tłı̨chǫ author Van Camp will be there to promote new children’s board book We Can’t Wait to Hold You.
Henry said among the other guest authors, Armstrong would bring a “little bit of spice” alongside elements of horror, mystery and crime, while poet Richter was an important addition to a festival whose “patrons love poetry.”
Meanwhile, Blush – the signature erotic spoken-word event – receives a makeover this year as it welcomes Winnipeg-based DD Brassiere, the organizer of a similar production, Smut Slam.
“We’re still having the traditional spicy stories for that open mic night, but DD is adding an audience participatory contest to it,” Henry said.
See the full lineup of panels, workshops and other sessions on the festival’s website. The schedule contains a mixture of free and paid events.
