Epic Music Festivals

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: mid-May, 2022
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 9–19, 2022
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 14–19, 2022
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 24–July 3, 2022
Afrofest
Celebrating its 34th year anniversary this year at Woodbine Park, Afrofest is the largest free African music and culture festival in North America.
When: July 8–10, 2022
Field Trip
Enjoy the perfect blend of music and culture at this family-friendly, multi-disciplinary, cross-generational summer event.
When: July 9, 2022
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 9–10, 2022
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 21–23, 2022
VELD Music Festival
This all-ages event consistently brings out of some of the best in electronic dance and hip-hop to Downsview Park. Headlining this year are Alesso, Armin Van Buuren, The Chainsmokers, Marshmello, Martin Garrix and Porter Robinson.
When: July 29–31, 2022
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: July 28–August 1, 2022
OVO Fest
Drake’s curated hip-hop festival with performances by Drake himself and a roster of his closest friends in the 6ix.
When: early August, 2022
Rolling Loud
The largest hip-hop festival makes its Canadian debut in Toronto this summer. Rolling Loud is best known as one of Miami’s hottest annual events. The franchise will extend north of the border to Ontario Place. Artists such as Skepta, Migos and Canadian talents Nav, Belly, Pressa and Roy Woods will perform at the venue, in addition to headliners Dave, Future and Wizkid.
When: September 9–11, 2022
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 24–26, 2022
RBC Bluesfest
Blues, pop and rock fans and aficionados converge on LeBreton Flats Park for this annual tradition with big names like Rage Against the Machine, Sarah McLauchlan, Blink 182 and Alanis Morissette topping the list of performers on the three outdoor stages.
When: July 7–17, 2022
Southern Ontario Music Festivals
The Festivals 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. Look for Basia Bulat, Hawksley Workman, Skydiggers and Wakefield-raised Kaia Kater in this year's lineup.
When: May 13–29, 2022
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 3–5, 2022
Where: Orangeville
Sound of Music Festival
For nine 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 Streetfest and stages in the park with food trucks and craft vendors.
When: June 11–19, 2022
Where: Spencer Smith Park, Burlington
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 2022 summer season of live concerts features over 70 artists, including a campfire series featuring Sarah Lewis and David Maracle hosted by Alderville First Nations Chief Dave Mowat and Suzie Undgerleider and Julian Taylor hosted by Ken Tizzard.
When: July, 2022
Where: Campbellford
Sunfest
Food, art, culture and music from around the world makes this event a summer highlight.
When: July 7–10, 2022
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 Mavis Staples, Serena Ryder, Lennon Stella, JP Saxe, Allison Russell, Kathleen Edwards and Blackie & the Rodeo Kings.
When: July 8–10, 2022
Where: Orillia
Collingwood Music Festival
The Collingwood Music Festival delivers live performances by award-winning, world-renowned artists in the fields of classical, world, jazz and Indigenous genres. Concerts vary from intimate chamber music recitals to full orchestral concerts, including two world music ensembles.
When: July 8–15, 2022
Where: various venues in Collingwood
Home Country Music & Art Festival
For three full days, 30 artists are set to perform on seven stages, plus the event features over 120 craft artisans and a variety of food vendors, admission by donation.
When: July 15–17, 2022
Where: Victoria Park, London
Rock The Park
Four days of big-name bands and artists including July Talk, Big Wreck, TLC, Nelly and Arrested Development and more at this annual live music event.
When: July 13–16, 2022
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 21–24, 2022
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 22–23, 2022
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 23, 2022
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 22–24, 2022
Where: Guelph Lake, Guelph
Festival of Friends
Going strong since 1976, this event combines outdoor music, arts, crafts vendors and more.
When: July 29–31, 2022
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 5–7, 2022
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 includes the one-and-only Shania Twain.
When: August 5–7, 2022
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 5–7, 2022
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 19–21, 2022
Where: Bissell Park, Elora
Supercrawl
This annual arts and indie music event takes over downtown Hamilton in September with outdoor performances and exhibits.
When: mid-September, 2022
Where: James Street North, Hamilton
Northern Ontario Music Festivals
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 4–5, 2022
Where: Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst
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 7–10, 2022
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 8–9, 2022
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 21–24, 2022
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 Our Lady Peace, The Tea Party, Econoline Crush, Chevelle, Monster Truck, Saint Asonia and Crown Lands. This two-day music festival will be held in the scenic Hollinger Park. Tickets will be exclusively sold at the door.
When: July 22–23, 2022
Where: Timmins
Mattawa Voyageur Days
Making a triumph comeback in 2022, enjoy three days free activities for all ages and a legendary line-up of Canadian country, rock and folk music.
When: July 22–24, 2022
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: July 29–31, 2022
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 5–7, 2022
Where: Red Rock
Wake the Giant
A celebration of cultures and inclusivity, this music festival focuses on Indigenous artists and musicians.
When: September 17, 2022
Where: Thunder Bay Waterfront
Last updated: August 8, 2022