Upcoming Festivals in Canada: What to Attend This Season

Festival season in Canada is in full swing. Whether you are looking for live music, artisan food, cultural celebrations, or dance competitions, there is something happening near you. Here is a curated look at the most exciting upcoming festivals across the country.

Music Festivals

Osheaga Music and Arts Festival — Montreal, QC

One of Canada's biggest music festivals returns to Parc Jean-Drapeau in August 2026. Past headliners have included Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, and Radiohead. Expect a stacked lineup across indie, electronic, hip hop, and alternative genres. Tickets typically go on sale in spring — check their official site for details.

RBC Bluesfest — Ottawa, ON

RBC Bluesfest runs for two weeks in July at LeBreton Flats. Despite the name, it spans rock, pop, hip hop, folk, and electronic music. It is one of the most diverse music festivals in the country and draws over 300,000 attendees annually.

Sunfest — London, ON

Sunfest is a free world music festival held in Victoria Park every July. It features over 40 performers from around the globe across four stages, plus international food vendors, an artisan market, and children's activities.

TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival — Vancouver, BC

Running for eleven days in late June and early July, the Vancouver Jazz Fest presents over 300 concerts across 30+ venues. A significant portion of the events are free.

Food and Drink Festivals

Poutine Fest — Multiple Cities

Poutine Fest tours across Canadian cities throughout the spring and summer, celebrating Canada's most iconic comfort food with creative and classic poutine creations from top local restaurants.

Toronto Food and Drink Market — Toronto, ON

The Toronto Food and Drink Market showcases local craft beverages, artisan food producers, and celebrity chef demonstrations. It is a great way to discover small-batch Canadian producers.

Okanagan Wine Festival — Kelowna, BC

The Okanagan Wine Festival runs four times a year — spring, summer, fall, and winter — showcasing the Okanagan Valley's award-winning wineries. The fall harvest festival is the largest, with over 100 events over ten days.

Cultural and Arts Festivals

Fringe Festival — Edmonton, AB

The Edmonton International Fringe Festival is the largest fringe theatre festival in North America, with over 200 shows across 50+ venues in Old Strathcona each August. All shows are under $25.

Afrofest — Toronto, ON

Afrofest is the largest free African music festival in North America, held at Woodbine Park in July. It features live Afrobeat, highlife, soukous, and reggae performances, plus African food, fashion, and art vendors.

Festival d'été de Québec — Quebec City, QC

The FEQ is one of the largest music events in Canada, featuring over 300 shows across 10 stages on the historic Plains of Abraham in July. Past headliners have included Foo Fighters, Celine Dion, and The Weeknd.

Dance Competitions and Events

Dance competitions and congresses run throughout the year across every Canadian province. From salsa congresses to hip hop battles to ballroom championships, the Canadian dance community is thriving.

Why dancers and organizers love Eventist:

• Automated heat scheduling saves competition directors over 1,000 hours per event
• Live judge scoring eliminates paper scorecards and manual tallying
• QR code check-in gets dancers through the door in seconds
• Discover upcoming dance events near you on the Eventist platform

If you are organizing a dance competition or congress, see how Eventist compares to manual processes — or book a call to get started for free.

How to Stay on Top of Festival Season

• Bookmark Eventist's Discover page for a continuously updated list of upcoming events
• Follow your favourite festivals on Instagram and TikTok for early announcements
• Sign up for festival newsletters — many offer exclusive early-bird ticket access
• Plan travel early — festival weekends sell out hotels and flights quickly in popular destinations

Canada's festival scene is one of the best in the world. Whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned festival-goer, there is always something new to discover. Browse events near you and start planning your season.