Hands waving in the air at VELD music festival.

Epic 2023 music festivals

Note that dates may vary so check the website for the most up-to-date information.

From rock to blues, indie to pop, electronic to jazz, and everything in between, move to your favourite tunes at a summer music festival. Here are some upcoming live music events to keep on your radar.

Toronto music festivals

Canadian Music Week

Ontario’s summer music festival season kicks off in mid-May with Music Week, Canada’s largest and leading multi-day celebration of music, media and entertainment with in-person and virtual events.
When: June 5-10, 2023

Luminato

Toronto is transformed into a surreal, multi-day, multi-sensory experience for artists and art lovers alike with performances and visual arts at some ticketed and many free, outdoor events.
When: June 7-18, 2023

NXNE

Discover your new, favourite act during NXNE. Ontario’s answer to SXSW, this music and cultural extravaganza promotes emerging musicians and artists with performances taking place in live music venues and outdoor spaces.
When: June 13-17, 2023

TD Toronto Jazz Festival

The annual 10-day event is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year with some of the biggest names in Jazz, Blues, R&B and Soul, entertaining music lovers in free and ticketed settings throughout the city.
When: June 23-July 2, 2023

Afrofest

Celebrating its 35th year anniversary this year at Woodbine Park, Afrofest is the largest free African music and culture festival in North America.
When: July 7–9, 2023

Field Trip

Enjoy the perfect blend of music and culture at this family-friendly, multi-disciplinary, cross-generational summer event.
When: July 8, 2023

TD Salsa in Toronto Festival

Canada’s largest Latino-themed celebration returns to St. Clair Street with music, dance, art and authentic Latin food.
When: July 8-9, 2023

Beaches Jazz Festival

Jazz takes centre stage during this lakeside Beaches community event celebrating its 34th year. Performances are held in several different outdoor venues, including streets and parks.
When: July 6-30, 2023

VELD Music Festival

This all-ages event consistently brings out of some of the best in electronic dance and hip-hop to Downsview Park.
When: August 4-6, 2023

Toronto Caribbean Carnival Weekend

Join the revelry of North America’s largest street festival, the culmination of a month-long celebration of Caribbean music, food and culture. Celebrating 55 years since its first debut, this event continues to advocate for freedom, diversity and inclusion.
When: August 3-7, 2023

OVO Fest

Drake’s curated hip-hop festival with performances by Drake himself and a roster of his closest friends in the 6ix.
When: August 6, 2023

Rolling Loud

The largest hip-hop festival makes its Canadian takes place in Toronto this summer. Rolling Loud is best known as one of Miami’s hottest annual events.

When: TBA

Ottawa music festivals

Escapade Music Festival

Don’t miss the annual electronic dance event with superstar DJs and up-and-coming local talent booming in Canada’s capital.
When: June 23-25, 2023

RBC Bluesfest

Blues, pop and rock fans and aficionados converge on LeBreton Flats Park for this annual tradition with big names like Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Foo Fighters, Pitpull, Weezer, and Shania Twain topping the list of performers on the three outdoor stages.
When: July 6-16, 2023

Southern and Central Ontario music festivals

The Festival of Small Halls

Enjoy ‘big music in a little place’ with intimate performances by exceptional artists held in various cherished venues and spaces across Eastern Ontario.
When: TBA
Where: Eastern Ontario

Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival

Incredible jazz and blues entertainment takes over the town of Orangeville for three days this summer.
When: June 2-4, 2023
Where: Orangeville

Sound of Music Festival

For eight days enjoy free and ticketed live music events including the Live on the Lake concert, Sound of Music Club Series at popular spots in downtown Burlington and the Street Festival and stages in the park with food trucks and craft vendors.
When: June 11–18, 2023
Where: Spencer Smith Park, Burlington

Tall Pines Music & Arts

Celebrate the beauty of nature, art and music with the likes of Big Wreck, Sloan, Bedouin Soundclash and K-OS.
When: June 16–17, 2023
Where: Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst

Westben Performing Arts Theatre

Showcasing a mix of musical and stage performances in a magnificent open-air, timber-frame barn with views over the rolling farm hills outside Campbellford. The 2023 summer season of live concerts feature Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, Jill Barber, Dan Hill, Chantal Kreviazuk and more.
When: July, 2023
Where: Campbellford

Sunfest

Food, art, culture and music from around the world makes this event a summer highlight.
When: July 6-9, 2023
Where: Victoria Park, London

Mariposa Folk Festival

Hosting world-class folk, roots, blues, gospel, acoustic and world music traditions since 1961, this year’s line-up includes Tegan and Sara, Rufus Wainwright, Feist and more.
When: July 7–9, 2023
Where: Orillia

Home Country Music & Art Festival

For three full days, musicians are set to perform on seven stages, plus the event features over craft artisans and various food vendors, admission by donation.
When: July 14–16, 2023
Where: Victoria Park, London

Rock The Park

Four days of big-name bands and artists including Mumford & Sons, Bahamas, Alexisonfire, Ja Rule and more at this annual live music event.
When: July 12–15, 2023
Where: Harris Park, London

Kemptville Live Music Festival

One of Eastern Ontario's largest music festivals celebrates a range of music genres including country, rock, rhythm and blues, folk and roots.
When: July 20–23, 2023
Where: Kemptville Campus, Kemptville

Vibrant Brampton

A wildly popular south Asian arts, heritage and music festival showcasing more than 150 local and international acts, including headliner Punjabi Canadian heartthrob Geeta Zaildar.
When: July 21–22, 2023
Where: Garden Square, Brampton

Hagersville Rocks Music Festival

Hagersville Rocks Music Festival is the biggest music event of the year in Haldimand County.
When: July 14–15, 2023
Where: Heaslip Ford Amphitheatre, Grant Kett Memorial Park, Hagersville

Hillside Summer Festival

A multi-genre, multi-day, musical celebration at Guelph Lake with camping, food vendors, kid-friendly programs, crafts workshops, drum and dance, and amazing music performed on five different stages.
When: July 28–30, 2023
Where: Guelph Lake, Guelph

Festival of Friends

Going strong since 1976, this event combines outdoor music, arts, crafts vendors and more.
When: August 4–6, 2023
Where: Gage Park, Hamilton

Goderich Celtic Roots Festival

Held on the shores of Lake Huron, this is the ultimate Celtic experience in Ontario celebrating traditional Celtic music and crafts.
When: August 7–13, 2023
Where: Lions Harbour Park, Goderich

Boots & Hearts

Canada’s largest annual camping country music mash-up is open to all ages and excited to announce this year’s line up include Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Nickelback.
When: August 10–13, 2023
Where: Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, Oro-Medonte

Coming Home Festival

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind health and wellness event celebrating in the spirit of community and friendship featuring live music, drumming circles, sound baths, yoga and meditation, forest bathing and workshops.
When: August 11–13, 2023
Where: Grand Valley

RiverFest

One of Ontario’s most beautiful villages hosts one of Ontario’s most popular live music festivals, along with camping, craft beer, food trucks and cool merch.
When: August 18–20, 2023
Where: Bissell Park, Elora

Supercrawl

This annual arts and indie music event takes over downtown Hamilton in September with outdoor performances and exhibits.
When: September 8-10, 2023
Where: James Street North, Hamilton

Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues

Enjoy a three day outdoor music festival on two stages featuring a vendor's village and Liquid Lounge.
When: September 15–17, 2023
Where: Wasaga Beach

Northern Ontario music festivals

Northern Lights Festival Boréal

The tradition and continues and evolves at this signature annual event with more amazing acts including emerging talent and highly acclaimed artists.
When: July 6–9, 2023
Where: Sudbury

Go North Music Festival

This family-friendly, outdoor, camping festival features a variety of musical genres including new music, folk, roots, bluegrass, rock and pop, as well as food vendors, locally made beer, local art and activities for kids.
When: July 7–8, 2023
Where: St. Joseph Island

River and Sky

Combine camping, hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, family-friendly activities and amazing music at this multi-day music festival.
When: July 20–23, 2023
Where: West Nipissing

Rock the River

Rock the River is one of Timmins’ greatest annual music festivals, featuring a strong lineup of performers this year including Dallas Smith, The Reklaws, Rosewood Ave, Default, Dopamine, The James Barker Band, Papa Roach and Crown Lands.
When: July 21–23, 2023
Where: Timmins