Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival
First hosted in 2006, the Festival features regional, national, and international storytellers, and encompasses a School Program and Public Events in both English and French.
Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling on the Path to Peace | Se raconter une nouvelle histoire de paix
Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival 2026
We were very excited to be planning the 20th edition of the Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival - English from Wednesday, April 29 to Saturday, May 2, 2026. This year's Festival will include a school program for K-12 schools, storytelling workshops and events for local teachers and storytellers, and public performances by local and international storytellers.
Information about the 2026 Festival du Conte de Winnipeg featuring French storytelling, generously supported by the Le Bureau de l’éducation française de Manitoba can be found here: Le Festival du Conte de Winnipeg
Thank you to the Winnipeg School Division for collaborating again in 2026. We will also be expanding programming to schools from other school divisions and independent schools in 2026.
Public Events
Storytelling is a unique art form. From tradititional stories to personal narrative, the breadth of possibilities means experiencing a storytelling event is unlike any other. Please join us at one of our 2026 Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival public events - all tickets are free.
The Heron's Journey
The Heron’s Journey combines spoken storytelling, quilting, paper sculpture, and intentional movement. Meet the title character Lake in various forms of self-discovery on his journey from boy to heron. Featured storyteller, Adam Booth's performance art piece shares an allegory filled with magic, challenges to opposition, and transformation. Audience members have found themselves deep within the story, echoing themes such as immigration, orientation, ability, spiritual freedom, and self-awareness.
After the performance, the audience will be invited to stay for a talkback discussion session about the story.
Also Featuring Local Storytellers: Somia Sadiq and Rylee Nepinak
Date: Thursday, April 30 @ 7:00 - 8:45 PM
Venue: Cherry Karpyshin Mainstage Theatre Prairie Theatre Exchange - 393 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor, Portage Place
Tickets (free): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1986565951237
Recommended for audiences 12 years and older. Know Before You Go - parking and other helpful information.
Saturday Night Storytelling
The best of featured and local storytellers from this year’s festival – a unique evening of traditional and personal narrative storytelling.
Featuring:
ADAM BOOTH, 2022 West Virginia Governor’s Arts Awards Folk Artist of the Year, creator of The Heron’s Journey
LEIGH-ANNE KEHLER, Winnipeg-based, internationally acclaimed storyteller, playwright and actor
SCOTT WHITEHAIR, Producer of This Much is True, one of Chicago’s longest running personal narrative series, creator of Story Lab Chicago
Also Featuring: Additional Local Storytellers in collaboration with Winnipeg Story Slam
Date: Saturday, May 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:45 pm
Venue: Fr. Jensen SJ Theatre (Room 100), St. Paul’s College (University of Manitoba)
Tickets (free): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winnipeg-international-storytelling-festival-saturday-night-storytelling-tickets-1987157748318
Recommended for ages 12 years and older.
Bring Your Class to the Storytelling Festival
Since 2006, the Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival has been welcoming as many as 4,500 to 5,000 students and teachers to the Storytelling Festival every year (pre-pandemic). There is no cost to participate in the festival.
A Grade K-8 class visit to the Storytelling Festival includes either morning or afternoon participation in the following:
(i) Storytelling Workshop (Storyshop – 55-minutes) A grade-level-specific, facilitated storytelling workshop designed for students to consider their own personal stories and to express that through the activity. Different methods include puppetry, theatre-based approaches, written stories, weaving/beading approaches, among others.
(ii) Storytelling Show (Storyshow – 55-minutes) Four classes come together in one auditorium to watch a traditional storytelling performance. Two local storytellers or one local storyteller and one featured visiting international storyteller, are paired and present one Storyshow.
There is no cost to participate in the festival. Schools are responsible for arranging and paying for transportation.
Festival dates and time slots are filling fast - Wednesday, April 29 through Friday, May 1. The two main venues are the Manitoba Theatre for Young People and St. Paul's College (University of Manitoba).
For more information about bringing your K-8 class to the Storytelling Festival, please contact mauro.institute@umanitoba.ca