canadian black literary festival

origins of the Festival

The foundation for the Canadian Black Literary Festival (CBLF) was built through BlackLit Durham, a bimonthly literary reading series held in Ajax’s historic Pickering Village.

Presented by AfriCANthology Canada in partnership with What’s Your Story Author Services, St. Francis Centre, and Ajax Public Library, BlackLit Durham has showcased, highlighted, amplified, and celebrated Black Canadian literary voices of all genres in their full splendour and diversity since June 2022.

Four years later, it is the only recurring literary series of its kind in the eastern GTA, drawing hundreds of audience members from the Region and neighbouring communities each year.

Building upon the success of BlackLit Durham, the inaugural Canadian Black Literary Festival launches on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

#cdnblacklitfest #CBLF2026

CBLF

CBLF is a uniquely conceived celebration of African-Canadian literature of all genres that takes place in Ajax on the last weekend in August before Labour Day weekend every year.

This timing closely aligns with commemorations for Emancipation Day on August 1 and the International Day for People of African Descent on August 31 each year. August is also Emancipation Month in Ontario.

#CBLF2026

The Canadian Black Literary Festival 2026 is a one-day exposition of Black literary artistry, creativity, and performance hosted in partnership at two of Ajax’s most important public facilities: the McLean Community Centre and the St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture. The theme of the festival is Voices of Freedom.

Future festivals will be multi-day events, beginning with the two-day #CBLF2027 on August 27-28, 2027.

CBLF is historic: it’s the first-ever Black-led, Black-serving, literature-only, multi-genre, annual festival of exclusively Afrodescendent literary voices in Canadian history.

Festival news & updates

Become a Book Fair Vendor!

Vendor registration is now open for the 2026 BlackLit Emancipation Book Fair! There are a LIMITED NUMBER of booths available for writers, booksellers, publishers, and other businesses and groups in the literary arts field who would like to be part of this historic event.

To find out more, download the flyer, scan this QR code or click here to access the registration form. Please note that registrations must first be vetted and approved before a payment is required to secure your spot in the first annual BlackLit Emancipation Book Fair.

Questions? Ask #CBLF2026 Book Fair Director & Vendor Liaison, Maxine Wray. Contact info is on the flyer.

#CBLF2026 Lineup reveal - June 19

EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING as the Festival Organizing Committee for the Canadian Black Literary Festival 2026 prepares to announce its full lineup of Black creative luminaries via a livestream to be held on Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth) from noon to 1 p.m. EDT.

Stay tuned for more information about how to tune in, when tickets and passes go on sale, and much more.

Use our contact form to reach us if you represent a media outlet, literary reviewer, online news source, or if you have an interest in arranging an interview with us.

Follow #CBLF2026 on social media:

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