Epic Ontario music festivals

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