Hosted by Kyo Maclear

Join us for an engaging evening of storytelling at Literary Cabaret, part of the Literary Journalism residency at Banff Centre. Across three nights, explore captivating readings from participants and faculty mentors.

This chapter is hosted by Kyo Maclear, an essayist, novelist, and children’s author. Her nonfiction books include the hybrid memoir Birds Art Life (2017)—a finalist for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction and winner of the Trillium Book Award—and Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets (2023), winner of the Governor General’s Award for nonfiction. Her work has appeared in Orion Magazine, Brick, Border Crossings, The Millions, LitHub, The Volta, Prefix Photo, Resilience, The Guardian, Lion’s Roar, Azure, The Globe and Mail, and elsewhere.

Enjoy a drink from the bar, browse a curated selection of books at Pages Books, and immerse yourself in the vibrant literary atmosphere. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., with readings starting at 7:00 p.m. Afterward, mingle with the writers and faculty until 9:30 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to experience the future of literary journalism. 

Hosted by Taras Grescoe

Join us for an engaging evening of storytelling at Literary Cabaret, part of the Literary Journalism residency at Banff Centre. Across three nights, explore captivating readings from participants and faculty mentors.

This chapter is hosted by Taras Grescoe, the award-winning author of eight nonfiction books (among them the bestselling Bottomfeeder, Shanghai Grand, and Straphanger). As a journalist, Grescoe’s features have appeared in The Walrus, Saturday Night, The Globe and Mail, L’actualité, Canadian Geographic, Maclean’s, The National Post, and The Ottawa Citizen, and been published around the world in The New Yorker, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Atlantic (among many others).

Enjoy a drink from the bar, browse a curated selection of books at Pages Books, and immerse yourself in the vibrant literary atmosphere. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., with readings starting at 7:00 p.m. Afterward, mingle with the writers and faculty until 9:30 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to experience the future of literary journalism.

Hosted by Sarah Berman

Join us for an engaging evening of storytelling at Literary Cabaret, part of the Literary Journalism residency at Banff Centre. Across three nights, explore captivating readings from participants and faculty mentors.

This chapter is hosted by Sarah Berman, a journalist covering culture, politics, and justice. Berman’s first book, Don’t Call It a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith Raniere and the Women of NXIVM, was shortlisted for a Kobo Emerging Writer Prize and a Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence. She is a former senior editor at VICE and past contributor to Reuters, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, and many more publications.

Enjoy a drink from the bar, browse a curated selection of books at Pages Books, and immerse yourself in the vibrant literary atmosphere. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., with readings starting at 7:00 p.m. Afterward, mingle with the writers and faculty until 9:30 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to experience the future of literary journalism

Our Soundweavings residency offers musicians and ensembles from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds the time and space to focus on their craft. Embracing music from across the world, the program encourages connections between artists working in different traditions.

Explore the program’s global music soundscapes with this intimate concert, which happens toward the end of the participants’ two weeks at Banff. During that time, each musician will have taken risks, collaborated with their peers, refined their artistic process, and been exposed to a bevy of diverse approaches to music-making.

Experience the fresh perspectives of these talented artists as they bring collaborative works and unique compositions to life. 

Soundweavings is made possible through the generous support of the Yolande Freeze Master Artists in Music Fund.

Explore the global music soundscapes of our Soundweavings residency, which offers musicians and ensembles from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds the space and time to focus on their craft. Embracing music from across the world, the program encourages connections between artists working in different traditions.

This concert occurs toward the end of the participants’ two weeks at Banff. During that time, each musician will have taken risks, collaborated with their peers, refined their artistic process, and been exposed to a bevy of diverse approaches to music-making.

Experience the fresh perspectives of these talented artists as they bring unique compositions and collaborative works to life. 

Soundweavings is made possible through the generous support of the Yolande Freeze Master Artists in Music Fund.

Explore campus on this 1-hour walking tour guided by knowledgeable staff. Get a unique peer into some of our most influential spaces, including those that are typically reserved for participants, faculty, and performers.

Tours are subject to change depending on campus activity, but a tour with us may include: a backstage walk through our theatre complex, a peek into our Visual Arts facilities, a session inside the Music Huts, and an exclusive visit to the current Walter Phillips Gallery exhibition, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer.

Learn how Banff Centre went from a single drama course in 1933 to a global leader in arts, culture, and creativity as part of your 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival experience.

Tours will occur rain or shine. Please dress for the outdoors, and be prepared for uphill and downhill slopes.

Explore campus on this 1-hour walking tour guided by knowledgeable staff. Get a unique peer into some of our most influential spaces, including those that are typically reserved for participants, faculty, and performers.

Tours are subject to change depending on campus activity, but a tour with us may include: a backstage walk through our theatre complex, a peek into our Visual Arts facilities, a session inside the Music Huts, and an exclusive visit to the current Walter Phillips Gallery exhibition, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer.

Learn how Banff Centre went from a single drama course in 1933 to a global leader in arts, culture, and creativity as part of your 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival experience.

Tours will occur rain or shine. Please dress for the outdoors, and be prepared for uphill and downhill slopes.

Explore campus on this 1-hour walking tour guided by knowledgeable staff. Get a unique peer into some of our most influential spaces, including those that are typically reserved for participants, faculty, and performers.

Tours are subject to change depending on campus activity, but a tour with us may include: a backstage walk through our theatre complex, a peek into our Visual Arts facilities, a session inside the Music Huts, and an exclusive visit to the current Walter Phillips Gallery exhibition, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer.

Learn how Banff Centre went from a single drama course in 1933 to a global leader in arts, culture, and creativity as part of your 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival experience.

Tours will occur rain or shine. Please dress for the outdoors, and be prepared for uphill and downhill slopes.

Explore campus on this 1-hour walking tour guided by knowledgeable staff. Get a unique peer into some of our most influential spaces, including those that are typically reserved for participants, faculty, and performers.

Tours are subject to change depending on campus activity, but a tour with us may include: a backstage walk through our theatre complex, a peek into our Visual Arts facilities, a session inside the Music Huts, and an exclusive visit to the current Walter Phillips Gallery exhibition, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer.

Learn how Banff Centre went from a single drama course in 1933 to a global leader in arts, culture, and creativity as part of your 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival experience.

Tours will occur rain or shine. Please dress for the outdoors, and be prepared for uphill and downhill slopes.

Explore campus on this 1-hour walking tour guided by knowledgeable staff. Get a unique peer into some of our most influential spaces, including those that are typically reserved for participants, faculty, and performers.

Tours are subject to change depending on campus activity, but a tour with us may include: a backstage walk through our theatre complex, a peek into our Visual Arts facilities, a session inside the Music Huts, and an exclusive visit to the current Walter Phillips Gallery exhibition, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer.

Learn how Banff Centre went from a single drama course in 1933 to a global leader in arts, culture, and creativity as part of your 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival experience.

Tours will occur rain or shine. Please dress for the outdoors, and be prepared for uphill and downhill slopes.