Kingston WritersFest returns: Director reflects on festival’s comeback and the Canadian literary landscape

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Kingston WritersFest 2026 is officially underway, running until Sunday, Oct. 4. 

Last year was a major comeback for the festival, after announcing its closure in early 2025 due to financial struggles. The festival successfully returned for its fall 2025 run after the community rallied behind a fundraising campaign in the eleventh hour.

2026 WritersFest attendees will have plenty of opportunities to listen and hone their own writing skills over the next few days, featuring onstage conversations between authors, workshops, and more.

CFRC sits down with 2026 Festival Director Bruce Geddes, who shares more on what this year’s festival will bring, his experience stepping into the role this year, the festival’s current status after near closure, and insights into the Canadian literary landscape at large.

Listen to the full story here.