Edmonton Poetry Festival Celebrates 20 Years with Month-long Festival and Local Focus
The Edmonton Poetry Festival is back, and this year’s edition is bigger and bolder than ever! Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the festival has expanded from a week-long event to a full month of poetic brilliance, highlighting the energy, talent, and partnerships that make Edmonton’s literary scene thrive. The Edmonton Poetry Festival has been a longstanding tenant at ArtsHub McLuhan House, and Arts Habitat is thrilled to share its work with the Arts Habber community.
This milestone year reflects on two decades of growth and artistic expression. Expanding to a month-long format allows for deeper engagement, more opportunities for emerging and established poets, and a broader reach across the city. It ensures that poetry can be experienced in diverse settings, from intimate readings to compelling performances.
A Festival Built on Community and Connection
The festival’s evolution over the past two decades has been nothing short of inspiring. Founded in 2005 by Alice Major during her tenure as Edmonton’s first poet laureate, the festival has grown from an ambitious legacy project into a staple of the city’s arts calendar. From lively open mics and spoken word performances to intimate book launches and thought-provoking discussions, the festival continues to provide a space for poets and audiences to connect in meaningful ways.
New to this year’s festival is Project: The Twenty, an anthology featuring twenty young poets inspired by the theme “my turn of phrase”, a celebration of emerging talent and the next generation of poetic voices. Other exciting events include French Twist, a showcase of francophone poets, Deaf Poetry Jam, and a dynamic collaboration with Rapid Fire Theatre that blends poetry with improvisation.
The festival will also feature a special event with Edmonton’s current Poet Laureate. And what’s a milestone celebration without a party? The festival’s 20th-anniversary birthday bash promises to be a gathering of creativity, nostalgia, and poetic magic.
A Legacy That Endures
Looking back, Alice Major recalls the festival’s earliest days with a sense of awe at how it has flourished. What began with small gatherings and chalk poetry on Churchill Square has transformed into a festival that weaves together diverse voices, creating an ever-expanding tapestry of expression. Major reflects on the festival’s core mission: creating spaces where people can see themselves reflected in poetry, where words have the power to heal, inspire, and bring people together.
As the festival marks this remarkable milestone, it invites everyone—seasoned poets, first-time performers, and poetry enthusiasts alike—to take part in the celebration. Whether you’re attending an event, sharing a poem at an open mic, or simply reveling in the beauty of the spoken word, this year’s festival is about embracing the power of poetry in all its forms.
Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of Edmonton’s poetic legacy. The full festival lineup and details can be found at https://edmontonpoetryfestival.com.