Bouchercon 2026 Update: December 2025

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

In This Issue

·   Welcome

·   Enjoy your trip

·   Meet the Guests of Honour: Kathy Reichs

·   Favourite events

·   Unique Calgary events

·   FAQ

·   Fun Fact

·   Reminders 

Welcome

The holiday season is upon us, and we hope you’re enjoying the festivities with friends and family. If you’re planning your resolutions for next year, consider investing in yourself and adding a little joy and excitement to your 2026 by signing up for Bouchercon.

We have visitors from Japan, New Zealand, the U.K., Germany, Australia, South Africa, as well as 37 American states, and across Canada–from Pender Island to Newfoundland–registered to attend Bouchercon 2026.

Calgary and our Local Organizing Committee are ready to welcome you. 

Please check our website for more information.

To see our past newsletters for Bouchercon 2026, click here.

Enjoy Your Trip!

This will be Calgary’s first time hosting Bouchercon, and we’re working hard to make it memorable. Exclusive tours to Banff, Lake Louise, Drumheller, and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump are available if you have time for trips outside the city. If you want to stay close, there’s a historic walking tour of Calgary, free tours of the Central Library, and a special showing at Vertigo Mystery Theatre, located at the base of the Calgary Tower and only one block away from the Telus Convention Centre.

Arrive early and partake in as many events as time and endurance allow. 

Meet the Guests of Honour: Kathy Reichs

Dr. Kathy Reichs is one of only eighty-two forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, as well as a New York Times best-seller with her first novel, DÉJÀ DEAD. More best-sellers followed with twenty-three additional Temperance Brennan novels, which led to the hit Fox TV series BONES. Her newest novel, EVIL BONES, came out on November 18 and is sure to keep you up late reading. She divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Montreal, Québec. 

Kathy has an impressive biography and a captivating backlist, and we look forward to welcoming her in October 2026. Visit Kathy Reichs’ website here to learn more.

Favourite Events

Author Speed Dating is a much-loved event at Bouchercon and we’re planning to run it again in 2026. This is a great opportunity to meet your favourite authors or discover a fresh, new voice. It’s also a fantastic chance for authors to pitch their books to potential new fans.

A call for authors will go out in spring 2026.

Unique Calgary Events

One of the unique attractions we’re offering is the pop-up interactive display from the University of Calgary’s Rare Books and Special Collections Library, featuring select items from Guest of Honour, Steele Curry’s vast collection of mystery and crime fiction, including first editions. There will also be panels and presentations on collecting.

FAQ: Who is Bouchercon for?

Bouchercon is a reader’s convention for anyone who loves mysteries. Each year we attract published authors, aspiring writers, fans of crime fiction, librarians, publishers, editors, agents, and booksellers. It’s a comfortable and inviting place to make contacts while enjoying the companionship of like-minded mystery lovers. 



Fun Fact

Calgary is known as Blue Sky City because it’s the sunniest city in Canada with 333 days of sunshine per year.

The Telus Convention Centre in the heart of downtown Calgary.

Reminders

Registration Tip: If you’ve registered and haven’t received your confirmation email with hotel links and policy information, (and you’ve checked your spam or junk mail folders) reach out to Registration2026@bouchercon.com.

There are special hotel rates available for Bouchercon registrants at the three hotels and there’s still good availability for the convention dates, October 21 through 25, but pre- and post- dates are filling up fast. Make sure you book your stay soon, so you lock in the price, hotel, and room type you want. Convention registration and hotel information can be found here.

 Marriott Hotel - booking rates from $209 CAD (approx. $155 USD)

 Hyatt Regency - booking rates from $229 CAD (approx. $170 USD)

 Fairmont Palliser - booking rates from $259 CAD (approx. $190 USD)

Please Note: Convention registration and payment can only be completed through the Bouchercon 2026 website. We will never send a link for payment via email, PayPal, Zelle, etc. Payments are to Bouchercon Inc. in U.S. dollars.

Passports up to date? If not, it could take a while to update…get it done now and avoid the stress.

Stay Connected

For more updates, follow us on social media or check out our website, here. More information will be added on a regular basis and will increase as the convention draws closer.

We look forward to seeing you in Calgary!