Toronto’s literary scene is set for a high-profile autumn as the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) welcomes back The Moth Mainstage for a single night of live storytelling at Koerner Hall on September 18. The event, part of the TIFA Presents 2025 series, will feature an eclectic lineup of storytellers from across Canada and beyond, each delivering true personal tales without notes—a hallmark of The Moth’s signature format.
“The Mainstage is the quintessential Moth experience, a two-act show where the storytellers and a notable host share true personal stories, without notes,” the festival announced. “The Moth brings the power of personal storytelling to millions of people each year, creating community and building empathy around the world with unique, intimate, and often enlightening experiences.”
The Moth, which has been hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket,” has become a global storytelling phenomenon, reaching audiences through live events, podcasts, and radio broadcasts. Its return to Toronto underscores the city’s growing profile as a hub for cultural exchange and literary innovation.
A Star-Studded Literary Lineup
The Moth’s Mainstage is one of several major draws in TIFA’s fall calendar. On September 17, Koerner Hall will host “An Evening with R.F. Kuang,” the New York Times #1 bestselling author known for Babel and Yellowface. Kuang’s newest work, Katabasis, promises to explore “themes of rivalry, redemption and the boundaries between life and death.” Tickets start at $15.
The festival’s literary gravitas will deepen with an exclusive Canadian appearance by Booker Prize winner Ian McEwan on September 28 at the Isabel Bader Theatre. McEwan will discuss his latest novel, What We Can Know, described as “a sweeping love story, captivating detective story, and a stark, dystopian vision of the future.” That event has already sold out.
Margaret Atwood, one of Canada’s most celebrated authors, will take the stage at Toronto’s Winter Garden Theatre on November 4. The evening will celebrate her upcoming release, The Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, with conversation, readings, and performance. “Over a remarkable career, Margaret Atwood’s award-winning work has influenced imaginations worldwide, capturing the heart of what makes the world tick,” TIFA notes. Tickets start at $35, with pre-purchase options for the memoir at a discounted rate.
Building Community Through Literature
Beyond marquee names, TIFA continues to foster grassroots engagement with its TIFA Book Club, running from September 10 to December 10. Priced at $74 plus HST, the club offers participants a first look at titles featured in the festival’s flagship programme. The reading list spans Canadian and international voices, including All Things Under the Moon by Ann Yu-Kyung Choi, Letters to Kafka by Christine Estima, Bones of a Giant by Brian Thomas Isaac, The Trial of Katterfelto by Michael Redhill, and Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa.
Participants will “be the first to unpack the themes and ideas being explored on our stages this fall, by delving deep into a range of stories that span diverse genres and countries,” the festival says.
Showcasing Toronto Talent
In partnership with the Toronto Arts Council, TIFA’s Toronto Lit Up program will spotlight local voices, including the August 21 launch of Antonio Michael Downing’s Black Cherokee. The free event at It’s OK* Studios promises “a vibrant, genre-blending evening of music, literature, and community,” moderated by educator and writer Matthew R. Morris.
The program is also accepting submissions for book launches scheduled between October 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Applications close on August 22, offering Toronto authors a chance to secure development support and event funding.
A Call for Support
TIFA’s fall season reflects a broader mission to expand its reach beyond the festival’s Harbourfront Centre home. “This year, TIFA will take its festivals to where the readers are, reaching audiences across Toronto, expanding access and creating unforgettable moments with world-class authors and rising stars in some of the city’s most iconic venues,” organizers said. The festival is actively seeking donations to help “make this vision a reality.”
Tickets and Access
Tickets for The Moth Mainstage start at $58, with other events ranging from $15 to $35, depending on the venue and guest. While some appearances have already sold out, organizers note there is still availability for The Moth, Kuang, and Atwood.
For Toronto’s literary community, the return of The Moth Mainstage offers more than an evening of entertainment—it reaffirms the city’s place in the global storytelling circuit. Whether through high-profile author events, community book clubs, or debut launches, TIFA’s fall 2025 lineup underscores the enduring power of the written and spoken word to connect, challenge, and inspire audiences.