From Sunday, April 27 to Sunday, May 4, 2025 – The Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) presents its annual literary festival celebrating Canadian and international authors. The festival includes virtual and in-person panels, discussions, workshops and interactive events that allow guests from across Canada and around the world to participate. Events April 27–30 are virtual, while events May 1–4 are offered in person. Over 50 authors from Canada and around the world are scheduled for an eclectic mix of 40+ events that have made FOLD a unique literary event – connecting writers with readers and publishers.
A special FOLD preview event with award-winning author Ian Williams in conversation with FOLD Founder and Executive Director Jael Richardson will take place on Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 PM ET, in partnership with the Brampton Public Library. This is a free event.
Celebrating a decade of change
In 2025, the FOLD celebrates its 10th anniversary with a line-up of incredible programming and special projects under the theme A Decade of Change. They’ll explore the evolution of the FOLD and changes in the publishing industry. What’s changed over the last 10 years – and what hasn’t? What role has the FOLD played in the lives of Canadian and international authors?
There’ll be virtual events, featuring panels and talks like the CANADA READS ALL-STARS panel; in-person events of panels, readings, and meet and greets like the AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT; a brunch at the Alderlea; and a closing night screening of the film adaptation of David Chariandy’s Brother.
“The Festival of Literary Diversity was established to create a space for underrepresented Canadian authors and storytellers to talk about their craft and about the issues that matter to them most. It was also designed to be a place for readers of all ages to discover great books. This year’s theme, A Decade of Change, allows us to reflect on the evolution and impact of the festival. In addition to a lineup of phenomenal authors and amazing events, for the tenth anniversary, in particular, we’re thinking about ways to not only showcase great stories but to create moments of connection and creativity where readers and writers can talk, listen, and have fun as a community.”
– Jael Richardson,
Founder and Executive Director, The FOLD
But wait – there’s more!
The FOLD’s Virtual Exhibitor Hall will once again feature nearly two dozen vendors from community and publishing-based organizations. And the Writer’s Hub will be held on Sunday, April 27. This annual drop-in event provides attendees with critical access to publishing professionals in order to gather important information about publishing and to discover new opportunities for submissions, internships, prizes and grants. The majority of Writers’ Hub attendees are emerging writers with questions about the submission and publishing process.
The festival also hosts Pitch Perfect, which gives aspiring authors the opportunity to meet with an agent or editor and receive feedback on their manuscript, synopsis and query letter. (The deadline for submission was February 1.)
In addition to hosting digital events and discussions within a state-of-the-art virtual space, the FOLD is the only Canadian literary festival accessible through a mobile app, allowing guests to participate in the festival anytime, anywhere. The FOLD also runs virtual and in-person school group events, including panel discussions and hands-on writing workshops. Educators can register for in-person school events by contacting The Rose box office.
For more info on this year’s festival, visit the FOLD’s FAQ page.
About the Festival of Literary Diversity
Launched in May 2016, the FOLD is presented by the FOLD Foundation, a registered Canadian charity founded in 2014 by author Jael Richardson that celebrates underrepresented and marginalized authors and storytellers from Canada and around the world. They do this through two annual festivals – the Festival of Literary Diversity each May, and the FOLD Kids Book Fest in November – as well as through a number of literary programming initiatives held throughout the year.
(Photo credits: The FOLD.)
Event details
Hosted by: The FOLD Foundation
Type of event: literary festival
Featured authors & speakers: See the 2025 featured authors & speakers.
Preview event:
Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 PM ET: A special FOLD free preview event with award-winning author Ian Williams in conversation with FOLD Founder and Executive Director Jael Richardson (in partnership with the Brampton Public Library)
Virtual events:
There are nearly 30 virtual events (click on the tab) and meetups, including:
- A CANADA READS ALL-STARS panel on April 27 with Kamal Al-Solaylee, David Chariandy and katherena vermette.
- COMMUNITY IN CONFLICT on April 27 with Andrea Currie, Sheung-King and Kagiso Lesego Molope, moderated by Carrianne Leung.
- SUCCESS IN SELF-PUBLISHING on April 28 with Alicia Ellis, Katia Rose and Tao Wong, moderated by Hudson Lin.
- MONSTERS IN MY MIND: A MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATION on April 28 with David A. Robertson, K. J. Aiello and Samantha Jones, moderated by FOLD’s 2025 Writer-in-Residence, Kate Gies.
In-person events:
There are 14 in-person events (click on the tab) this year, including:
- A special 10th Anniversary Edition of THE GREAT READCEPTION: A LITERARY CABARET on May 2, where readings are set to live music, featuring Amal Elsana Alh’jooj, Ruby Barrett, Morgan Campbell, R.F. Kuang, Amanda Leduc and David A. Robertson.
- CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS on May 3, a panel discussion with Amal Elsana Alh’jooj, Morgan Campbell and Tanya Talaga, led by CBC Bookends host Mattea Roach, which will be recorded for future broadcast on the program.
- AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT meet & greets on May 3 at The Rose with R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times author in her FOLD debut, and CBC Bookends host Mattea Roach.
- EAT THE BOOKS: A DINING EXPERIENCE WITH OZOZ SOKOH AND SHADE LAPITE on May 3, a new specialty event where Nigerian-Canadian chef and author Ozoz Sokoh curates a menu based on her new cookbook. YA fantasy author Shade Lapite joins her in conversation about exploring identity, culture, and history through food.
- Plus, the FOLD’s ever-popular A LITERARY HIGH TEA AT THE ALDERLEA returns on May 4, featuring Uzma Jalaluddin, K.D. Richards and Ruby Barrett in conversation with FOLD Board of Directors Lead Lavanya Narasimhan.
Closing event:
This year’s closing event on May 4 is a screening of Brother, the film adaptation of the award-winning novel by David Chariandy, which explores the relationship of two brothers from Scarborough. Prior to the screening a virtual talkback with the author will be held. A film networking event will follow, presented in partnership with Brampton Arts Organization (BAO).
Industry events include: Sunday, April 27 from 3:30-5:00 PM ET: The Writer’s Hub
Featured exhibitors: See the list of 2025 featured exhibitors
Dates: Sunday, April 27 – Sunday, May 4. Events April 27 – 30 are virtual, while events May 1 – 4 are offered in person.
Start times & duration: Various – please refer to specific events
Cost:
- Virtual Pass: C$30.00
- Weekend at The Rose In-Person Pass: C$65.00 (includes all events at the Rose Theatre and a virtual pass, excludes in-person specialty events)
- The Great Readception: C$25.00
- Paint and Poetry Night: C$20.00
- Eat the Books: C$45.00
- A Literary High Tea at Alderlea: C$50.00
- In-Person Panel Conversations: C$15.00 each (includes post-panel meet & greets)
- In-Person Writing and Publishing Workshops: C$15.00 each
- Spoken Word Showcase: C$15.00
- Brother Film Screening: C$15.00
The FOLD offers Patron Passes for those who do not have the means to purchase a ticket, no questions asked. To request a Patron Pass, please complete their Patron Pass Request Form. All Patron Pass requests are kept strictly confidential.
Locations:
- Brampton Public Library, Cyril Clark Library Lecture Hall, 20 Loafers Lake Lane, Brampton, ON, L6Z 1X9, Canada
- The Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton, ON, L6V 0A3, Canada
- Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, 9 Wellington Street East, Brampton, ON, L6W 1Y1, Canada
- Alderlea Manor, 30 Elizabeth Street South, Brampton, ON, L6Y 1R1, Canada
Booking links:
Contact details: The FOLD, Contact form, thefoldcanada.org
Content warning: Please refer to individual event descriptions.
Accessibility: The FOLD is committed to providing a meaningful experience for all of their guests at their festivals and at their year-round programs. They only use spaces that are wheelchair-accessible and come equipped with ramp or ground-level entrances, gender-neutral washrooms, dedicated accessibility parking spaces, and e-button access on doors. More info here. See venue accessibility info here. The FOLD offers Patron Passes for those who do not have the means to purchase a ticket, no questions asked. To request a Patron Pass, please complete their Patron Pass Request Form. All Patron Pass requests are kept strictly confidential.
Refund policy: Please contact the organizer.