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A Writer's Paradise

Hone your skills and develop work with expert faculty in contemporary literature.

Nolan Natasha, Winter Writers Residency 2024. Photo by Rita Taylor.

Literary Arts

Push your creative boundaries

Banff Centre’s Literary Arts programs provide an inspiring space and focused time for emerging and established writers to push the boundaries of their talent and realize their potential. Our programs prepare writers in all genres for literary success on a national and international scale.

If you wish to stay informed about our upcoming programs and Banff Centre news, please subscribe to our newsletter. 

Our upcoming offerings

Banff Centre's 2025/26 season of Literary Arts offerings consists of nine residencies each focusing on new and dynamic areas of international writing: Horror Writing, Literary Journalism / Creative Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Comics and Graphic Novels, Early Career Writers of Young Adult and Children’s Books, Contemporary French Writing, and new forms in fiction and poetry offered seasonally from our campus on the side of Sleeping Buffalo Mountain. 

Our residencies build community and conversation, mentorship, and professional development— all in the service of supporting national and international authors achieve their writing goals. Each residency features mentors and professional guests who bring the best in contemporary practice, and who are consistently recognized for modelling encouragement alongside their own internationally-recognized writing. 

Banff Centre remains dedicated to supporting the best in new prose writing, poetry, journalism, memoir, and translation with those topics reflected in our ever-evolving offerings.

Dr. Derek Beaulieu
Director, Literary Arts

Programs
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Bishakh Som, Matt Madden, and Tom Hart
Residency
Program Dates October 06, 2025 - October 17, 2025

Comics and Graphic Novels 2025

The Comics and Graphic Novels residency considers how creatives use this unique media as a place for personal narrative, memoir, and exploration.
Application Deadline
May 21, 2025
View Program
Jen Ferguson, Tanya Boteju and Jordan Scott
Residency
Program Dates November 24, 2025 - December 05, 2025

Early Career Writers of Young Adult and Children's Books 2025

New writers of young adult and children's books will expand upon their practice in this 12-day, self-directed residency.
Application Deadline
June 04, 2025
View Program
Deep Winter Writers faculty Holly Pester, Nasser Hussain, and Divya Victor
Residency
Program Dates January 12, 2026 - January 30, 2026

Deep Winter Writers 2026

Deep Winter Writers Residency is a self-directed program that offers time and space for writers to retreat, reconnect, and re-energize their writing practice.
Application Deadline
August 20, 2025
View Program
Program faculty Rhonda Mullins, Santiago Artozqui, Cole Swensen, Chris Clarke
Residency
Program Dates February 09, 2026 - February 20, 2026

Contemporary French Literature

This residency allows contemporary French writers working across genre to explore craft, voice and workshop their manuscripts with exceptional faculty.
Application Deadline
September 24, 2025
View Program
Eden Robinson, Vidyan Ravinthiran, and Nicole Sealey
Residency
Program Dates March 16, 2026 - March 27, 2026

Spring Writers Residency

This self-directed program offers time and space for writers to reconnect and re-energize their practice.
Application Deadline
October 15, 2025
View Program
Literary Journalism faculty Kyo Maclear, Taras Grescoe and Sarah Berman
Residency
Program Dates May 12, 2025 - May 23, 2025

Literary Journalism 2025

This residency gives non-fiction writers time to work on their manuscripts, consult with faculty, and participate in workshops.
Application deadline has passed
View Program
Program faculty Catriona Strang, Douglas Kearney, and Eric Sneathen
Residency
Program Dates August 18, 2025 - August 29, 2025

Summer Writers 2025

This self-directed program offers writers time and space to reconnect and re-energize their practice.
Application deadline has passed
View Program
Ai Jiang, Premee Mohamed, Amal El-Mohtar
Residency
Program Dates September 08, 2025 - September 19, 2025

Science Fiction 2025

This residency supports science fiction writers exploring potential futures, perspectives, and narratives.
Application deadline has passed
View Program

Winter Writers' was an energizing, inspiring and nourishing experience.

Lee Suksi, Writers in Residence - Winter, 2023

Banff Centre Newsletter Signup

Literary Arts Stories
Read More

Director of Literary Arts Derek Beaulieu

Director of Literary Arts and Poet Laureate Derek Beaulieu Awarded Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal

Director of Literary Arts and Poet Laureate Derek Beaulieu Awarded Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal
Read more

Contact Us

For questions about the department and what we offer, please contact:

Email: arts_info@banffcentre.ca
Phone: 403.762.6180


Phone (Main Switchboard)
403.762.6100

Address
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
PO Box 1020
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1H5

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We recognize, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minihrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Metis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.