THIS WEEKEND: Canadian Black Literary Festival 2026
This Saturday, Ajax becomes the heart of Black literary culture. The Canadian Black Literary Festival 2026 brings together spoken word, storytelling, and community across two beloved venues — the McLean Community Centre and the St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture — under this year's theme: Voices of Freedom.
Whether you're coming for one event or making a full day of it, here's what's on Saturday, August 29:
10:30 AM — Opening Ceremonies & Showcase | McLean C.C., Community Room #3 | $15
Kevin Carrington emcees a powerful start to the day, featuring the Spoken Soul Collective, Randell Adjei, Paulina O'Kieffe-Anthony, and Dwayne Morgan.
12:30–4:45 PM — Literary Workshops | McLean C.C., Community Room #3 | $25 each
Hone your craft with three back-to-back sessions:
- 12:30 PM — Ramon Carty
- 2:00 PM — Kesha Christie
- 3:30 PM — Lalaa Comrie
7:00–10:00 PM — Main Event Showcase & Closing Ceremonies | St. Francis Centre
Antonio Michael Downing hosts an unforgettable closing night with Afua Cooper, Testament, and d'bi.young anitafrika.
Festival Passes are limited, don't wait to lock in your spot.
