The Canadian Black Literary Festival 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.

#CBLF2026 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.

Join us for literary showcases, workshops, and a book fair that helps to position Durham Region at the centre of Black literature in Canada. Ticket sales begin on Canada Day and book fair vendor registration is open.

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

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