Ottawa Literary Events, Readings & Poetry
35 events · updated daily
Here are 35 upcoming literary events, readings, poetry and spoken word in Ottawa and the 613. Updated daily from local sources; every listing links back to the organizer for tickets and details.
Ottawa Mystery Writers Fair
Sat, Oct 17, 1:00 p.m. · JACK PURCELL COMMUNITY CENTRE, 320 Jack Purcell, room 203 · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Thugs Need Love Too 2
Sat, Oct 17, 5:30 p.m. · Albion-Heatherington Recreation Centre, 1560 Heatherington Road · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
An Evening with Zadie Smith
Sat, Oct 17, 8:00 p.m. · National Arts Centre – Babs Asper Theatre · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Perfect Books Readings and Signings
Sun, Oct 18 · 258A Elgin · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Art House Cafe Open Mic
Mon, Oct 19, 7:00 p.m. · Art House Cafe, 555 Somerset W. · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Live on Elgin Open Mic
Tue, Oct 20, 8:00 p.m. · 220 Elgin, #2 · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Octopus Books Readings and Signings
Wed, Oct 21 · 116 Third · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
WitchLit Writer Wednesdays
Wed, Oct 21, 12:00 p.m. · Stackt, 60 Byward Market Square · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Ottawa Storytellers Open Mic In Person
Wed, Oct 21, 7:00 p.m. · Ottawa Public Library · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Ottawa Scrabble Club
Wed, Oct 21, 7:00 p.m. · Calvin Christian Reformed Church, 1475 Merivale · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
2026-2027 Munro Beattie Lecture with Ian Williams
Wed, Oct 21, 7:00 p.m. · Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper Street · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
James Brennan, Don't Sleep
Thu, Oct 22, 6:00 p.m. · Carleton University · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Connecting for Caring in Ottawa
Thu, Oct 22, 6:30 p.m. · National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Altared's Open Mic
Thu, Oct 22, 7:30 p.m. · 769 Bank · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Nostalgica Pub Open Mic
Thu, Oct 22, 8:00 p.m. · 601 Cumberland · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Readings, Signings and Book Club Meetings at Evermore Books
Fri, Oct 23 · 875b Bank Street · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Ottawa StoryTellers Signature Series 2026/2027
Sat, Oct 24 · Arts Court · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Re-read Used Books Readings and Signings Riverside South
Sat, Oct 24 · 160 Blanca St #7 · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Ottawa Poets at Enriched Bread Artists Studio
Sat, Oct 24, 2:00 p.m. · 951 Gladstone · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
The Politics of Lonely: Book Launch & Friendship Forum
Sat, Oct 24, 5:00 p.m. · The Grove · Literary · Free. Details & tickets →
The Politics of Lonely: Why Is Friendship So Hard? Fundraiser for the Ottawa Trans Library
Sat, Oct 24, 5:00 p.m. · The Grove · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Stages and Pages
Sun, Oct 25, 12:30 p.m. · 12:30 pm. 12:30 pm. 12:30 pm. Great Canadian Theatre Company, 1233 Wellington Street W. · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
(un)told - Ottawa StoryTellers
Sun, Oct 25, 7:00 p.m. · Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Art-N-Tell
Sun, Oct 25, 7:00 p.m. · Pour Boy, 495 Somerset W. · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
N.G. Avant: Indie Author Group
Mon, Oct 26, 1:00 p.m. · Ottawa Public Library · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Night Oat Open Stage
Wed, Oct 28, 7:00 p.m. · 750 Gladstone · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Indigo Pinecrest Readings and Signings
Thu, Oct 29 · Pinecrest Shopping Centre, 2735 Iris · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Ottawa Urbanism Book Club
Wed, Nov 4, 6:15 p.m. · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Book Launch: Footnotes by Cameron Anstee with Jessica Bebenek and Christine McNair
Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 p.m. · Carleton University, MacOdrum Library, 1125 Colonel By · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Ottawa StoryTellers: Story Cafe
Tue, Nov 10, 7:00 p.m. · Lieutenant's Pump, 361 Elgin · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Singing Pebble Books Readings and Signings
Fri, Nov 13 · 206 Main · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
the ottawa small press book fair autumn 2026 pre fair reading
Fri, Nov 13, 7:00 p.m. · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
the ottawa small press book fair autumn 2026 edition
Sat, Nov 14, 12:00 p.m. · Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview Station · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
City of Ottawa Book Awards
Sat, Nov 14, 7:00 p.m. · Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →
Joyce Carol Oates
Sat, Nov 14, 8:00 p.m. · National Arts Centre, Southam Hall, 1 Elgin · Literary · See listing. Details & tickets →