ELECTRIC CABARET

The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) presents the ELECTRIC CABARET, where poetry leaves the page and takes centre stage for an electric evening of readings, spoken word and performance, showcasing emerging writers from Toronto’s universities and creative writing programmes. At the heart of the night is the inaugural Fabienne de Cartier Award for Poetry, celebrating a young Ontario poet whose creativity, compassion and commitment to social justice inspired its creation. Finalists perform live before the award is presented. The night is a celebration of artistic courage, experimentation and new voices, as a new generation of poets play with language, form and performance.

See below for the Call for Submissions.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) invites submissions for the 2026 Fabienne de Cartier Award for Poetry, a $2,500 annual literary award recognizing an exceptional young and emerging Ontario poet (16-25 years) whose work demonstrates artistic promise, courage, originality, and a deep commitment to the craft of poetry.

The award honours the life and legacy of Fabienne de Cartier, a young Toronto poet and activist whose creativity, compassion, and commitment to social justice continue to inspire. It celebrates a new generation of poets who are developing distinctive voices, taking creative risks, and exploring what poetry can be—on the page, on the stage, and in forms that move between the two. The award welcomes poets working across traditions and forms, including page poetry, spoken word, performance poetry and hybrid forms.

Submissions will be reviewed by a three-person jury of established professionals from the literary and spoken word communities.

Ten finalists will be selected and invited to read or perform one work at the Electric Cabaret on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Emmanuel College in Toronto, as part of TIFA. All ten finalists will receive a $150 performance fee for their participation (and a travel stipend for those who live more than 100 km outside the GTA). Following the finalists’ presentations, the recipient of the 2026 Fabienne de Cartier Award for Poetry will be announced live at Electric Cabaret.

To meet the eligibility criteria, applicants must:

• Be between 16 and 25 years of age at the nomination deadline.

• Be a resident of Ontario.

• Demonstrate an active practice in poetry, including page poetry, spoken word, performance poetry, or hybrid forms.

• Have demonstrated significant artistic promise through published work, public performance, or community engagement.

• Publication of a full-length book is not required.

• The use of AI in any part of the creative process renders the submission ineligible.

• Be available to present their work at the Electric Cabaret on October 28, 2026.

• Applications can be submitted in written or audio form.

Apply Here

Nominations open on September 15 and close October 5 at 11:59PM. Self nominations are welcome, and nominations can also be submitted by publishers, literary organizations, arts organizations, educators, mentors, fellow writers, or individuals familiar with the nominee’s work.