5 Years,
1 Community
The Downtown Eastside holds a powerful tradition of storytelling – one rooted in activism, resilience, and amplifying voices too often left unheard. From urban residents to Indigenous artists and People of Colour; for those living in SRO's to individuals navigating substance use and mental health challenges, our words speak to survival, creativity, and healing.
May 20 – 24, 2026
Over 30 events at Carnegie Community Centre and locations throughout the Downtown Eastside
Festival Update:
Love for $ale event time change: New time is 6:30-7:30 pm on Thursday, May 21
We Cultivate a Space Where Every Voice
Finds a Home
Writing is both a refuge and a bridge. It connects us to ourselves, to one another. and to the wider human story. Through language, we build understanding, strengthen community, and transform lived experience into art.
We warmly invite you to join us at the DTES Writers Festival. Come to listen and engage, to learn and share, and to grow together. Wherever your journey has brought you from, may you find inspiration, connection, and belonging within our collective creative tapestry.