Epic Ontario music festivals

Here are some upcoming live music events to keep on your radar.
Note that dates may vary so check the website for the most up-to-date information.
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) music festivals
Lavender Wild
One-day celebration of great music, local vendors and the queer community at RBC Echo Beach.
When: June 4, 2023
Canadian Music Week
Ontario’s summer music festival season kicks off 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 36th 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
Hot in Herre
Downsview Park will heat up with Nelly headlining, and joined by Ne-Yo, Akon, T.I., Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Ja Rule, Chingy & Keri Hilson.
When: Jun 24, 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
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 35th year. Performances are held in several different outdoor venues, including streets and parks.
When: July 6-30, 2023
#BollywoodMonster Mashup
The largest South Asian festival in Canada returns for its 13th year featuring free concerts with international Bollywood stars, a food festival, dance performances, a laser show and more at Mississauga Celebration Square.
When: July 21, 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 56 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
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
Ottawa Jazz Festival
This much anticipated, annual, multi-stage event brings music lovers together for vibrant jazz and a spectrum of other musical genres. This year’s lineup includes heavyweights like Herby Hancock, Buddy Guy, Feist and many more.
When: June 23-30, 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
Chamberfest
This popular concert series has been engaging and inspiring audiences in Ottawa for almost four decades. Don’t miss this year’s summer event.
When: July 21-August 4, 2023
Nostalgia Music Festival
The ultimate tribute event celebrating the music you loved from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s! Enjoy full-services bars, food vendors and a great line-up of professional tribute shows.
When: August 23-27, 2023
CityFolk Festival
Gather on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park for a four-day, fall celebration of great music, food and fun at CityFolk. Hozier is scheduled to perform on September 17 with more artist announcements coming. Tickets on sale now.
When: September 14-17, 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: Concerts take place late summer and into the fall season
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
Springtide Music Festival
Enjoy a diverse set of musicians across all genres in a variety of downtown Uxbridge venues.
When: June 9-11, 2023
Where: Uxbridge
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 15-18, 2023
Where: Spencer Smith Park, Burlington
Tall Pines Music & Arts
Celebrate the beauty of nature, art and music with the likes of Blue Rodeo, Serena Ryder and Tokyo Police Club.
When: June 16-17, 2023
Where: Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst
Salsa at Blue
This family-friendly street party transforms Blue Mountain Village into a showcase of Latin life with pulsating live music, passionate dancing and vibrant culture.
When: June 23-25, 2023
Where: Jozo Weider Boulevard, The Blue Mountains
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
Collingwood Music Festival
Since 2019 the Collingwood Music Festival has grown into a much-anticipated event bringing exceptional performances to the region. Enjoy award-winning artists in classical, world music, jazz and Indigenous genres, as well as a popular youth program. The 2023 highlights include the National Academy Orchestra of Canada with Jeremy Dutcher, the Toronto Mass Choir and Beny Esguerra & New Tradition Music.
When: July 8-15, 2023
Where: various venues, including the primary venue, 200 Maple Street, Collingwood
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
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
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
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
Lighthouse Blues Festival
Outdoor music event featuring ticketed Friday and Saturday evening main stage with 12 international artists, 7 performance stages for regional musicians at the free Saturday shuffle and a popular Sunday morning gospel revival.
When: July 14-16, 2023
Where: Lakeside downtown Kincardine
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
Revelree Music Festival
Sarnia’s Canatara Park will be rocking with established and up and coming artists. The 2023 lineup includes Lights, the Arkells, Tom Cochrane, Aysanabee and JJ Wilde.
When: July 21 & 22, 2023
Where: Sarnia
Vibrant Brampton
A wildly popular south Asian arts, heritage and music festival showcasing more than 150 local and international acts.
When: July 21-22, 2023
Where: Garden Square, Brampton
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
Kitchener Blues Fest
The spotlight shines on the best of the ‘90s with The Spin Doctors, I Mother Earth, Dandy Warhols, Rheostatics, as well as Juno award-winning Digging Roots, favourite blues acts and more during this three-day, three-stage event.
When: August 10-13, 2023
Where: Downtown Kitchener
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 Elora
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
Gussapolooza Music Festival
Gussapolooza is a one-of-a-kind music festival dedicated to supporting independent, local emerging artists and talent.
When: September 15-17, 2023
Where: Cookstown
Cicada Music & Arts Festival
A dynamic celebration of music, art and culture with a diverse lineup across multiple stages, showcasing a range of genres from the best of Ontario artists, as well as food and drink vendors in the heart of Niagara.
When: September 30 and October 1, 2023
Where: Henley Island, St. Catharines
VENUExVENUE Music Festival
Three-day, four-venue live music extravaganza featuring over 40 emerging artists in London, Canada’s first UNESCO designated “City of Music”.
When: November 9-11, 2023
Where: various venues in London
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 on the River
Rock on 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 21-22, 2023
Where: Timmins
Mattawa Voyageur Days
Enjoy free activities for all ages and a legendary line-up of Canadian country, rock and folk music.
When: July 28-30, 2023
Where: Mattawa
Harbourfest
Join fellow ‘Harbourites’ for two nights of epic performances on the shores of Lake of the Woods for Northwestern Ontario’s biggest summer party.
When: August 4-5, 2023
Where: Kenora
Live From the Rock Folk Festival
An annual, grassroots gathering of over 2,000 music lovers on Lake Superior’s North Shore with world-class music on four daytime workshop-style stages, as well as an evening festival concert stage.
When: August 10-13, 2023
Where: Red Rock
Northern Vibe Festival
Experience the joy of camping and live concerts in the backwoods near Sault St Marie. Dance to the music from talented Canadian artists that will keep you moving to the beat. You can fill up on the delicious offerings from the food trucks on site after you work up an appetite.
When: August 25-27, 2023
Where: Bruce Mines
Wake the Giant
A celebration of cultures and inclusivity, this music festival focuses on Indigenous artists and musicians.
When: September 16, 2023
Where: Thunder Bay Waterfront
Last updated: November 3, 2023