Capital Music Week (CxMW)

Ottawa’s 2026 Capital Music Award Nominees Revealed, City’s One-Of-A-Kind Second Edition of Capital Music Week Expands City-Wide Programming

Public voting now open as Ottawa prepares for a 9-day celebration of music, nightlife, and culture

Ottawa’s largest celebration of music will take place during Capital Music Week (CxMW), October 2-10, 2026, transforming the city into an immersive celebration of live music, creativity, nightlife, and community. CxMW brings together artists, audiences, music professionals, entrepreneurs, and local businesses through concerts, networking events, conferences, music documentary screenings, music photography exhibits, workshops, panels, and public activations across the city.

CxMW’s first unveiled programming initiatives include Canada After Dark, the 2nd annual nightlife forum co-presented with Mathieu Grondin and the City of Ottawa’s Nightlife Office. Taking place at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage on October 7 & 8, this 2-day summit will feature keynote speaker Ariel Palitz, internationally recognized for her leadership in advancing nightlife policy, nighttime economies, and Music City development in New York City. The forum will also welcome additional national and international speakers, artists, policymakers, and industry experts for conversations exploring nightlife, live music, tourism, safety, culture, and the evolving role of the nighttime economy in shaping vibrant cities.

New this year, OMIC will present Portraits of a Music City, a city-wide photography exhibition presented in partnership with Happy Goat Coffee Co. and Art House Café. The exhibition will showcase local musicians through the lens of local photographers across eight cafés throughout Ottawa, pairing an established mentor photographer with an emerging mentee photographer, creating opportunities for artistic growth, collaboration, and community storytelling across Ottawa-Gatineau. CxMW will also introduce a new music documentary film festival as part of this year’s programming.

Together, these initiatives reflect Capital Music Week’s broader vision to create new opportunities for artist discovery, industry connection, tourism, nightlife activation, and cross-sector collaboration while helping position Ottawa as a leading Music City. 

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will once again officially proclaim Capital Music Week in Ottawa at an event co-presented by Downtown BIA, underscoring the growing civic, cultural, and economic importance of the 10-day celebration and its role in strengthening Ottawa’s identity as a Music City.

A celebration of the excellence, diversity, and creativity of the National Capital Region’s music community, the Capital Music Awards are the centrepiece of Capital Music Week and have recognized the outstanding contributions of hundreds of artists, industry professionals, venues, educators, entrepreneurs, and cultural builders since 2020.

About the Capital Music Awards (CMAs)

Since 2020, the Capital Music Awards have celebrated musical excellence and innovation across the National Capital Region. Spanning 13 categories, the awards ceremony and red carpet honour the artists, venues, promoters, technicians, music educators, and entrepreneurs whose work helps shape Ottawa’s cultural identity and vibrant music ecosystem. The 2026 Capital Music Awards will take place on Friday, October 9, at Southam Hall inside the National Arts Centre, marking the second time Ottawa’s local music community will be celebrated on one of the country’s premier national stages. 

Click below to discover the nominees

Website: ottawamic.com/cma 
Social media: @ottawamic (Facebook + Instagram)

About Capital Music Week (CxMW)

Centred around the Capital Music Awards, CxMW returns October 2-10, 2026, as Ottawa’s premier city-wide collaborative musical celebration. The week-long event transforms the city into an immersive, city-wide celebration of live music, creativity, nightlife, and community, bringing together artists, fans, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and local businesses.

Designed to encourage exploration and unexpected connection, CxMW introduces audiences to new artists, cross-sector collaborations, and unique music experiences across venues and public spaces throughout the region. Through live concerts, conferences, film screenings, photography exhibits, networking events, and community activations, the festival creates opportunities for artists to reach new audiences, access industry opportunities, and build momentum for their careers while driving tourism, supporting local businesses, animating downtown spaces, and strengthening Ottawa’s reputation as a vibrant cultural destination.

With support from local, national, and international partners, CxMW is projected to welcome more than 10,000 attendees annually by 2027, helping position Ottawa as a vibrant and globally connected Music City.

Website: cxmw.ca 
Social media: @cxmw.ca (Facebook + Instagram)

About the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC)

The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) is a registered bilingual, member-based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a thriving and inclusive music ecosystem that drives Ottawa’s economic, cultural, and social prosperity. As the leading advocate and first point of contact for Ottawa’s music industry, OMIC connects and supports all facets of the sector, including creators, performers, music and sector-adjacent businesses, entrepreneurs, presenters, venues, technicians, labels, promoters, BIAs, organizations, and the City of Ottawa—while fostering collaboration, innovation, and community engagement.

A fast-growing organization with 550 active members, OMIC represents a diverse network of artists, music professionals, businesses, and fans. As the only bilingual, member-driven music office in Ontario, OMIC works to build Ottawa’s reputation as a vibrant Music City. OMIC values accessibility, transparency, equity, diversity, inclusion, collaboration, innovation, excellence, growth, and community engagement.

For media inquiries and media passes, please contact:

Kari Zalik, Bad Parade
kari@badparade.com 
(647) 250-7470‬

I want to get involved!

I'm a Brand/Company/Sponsor:

Looking to get visibility in front of 5000+ of dynamic consumers, creators, businesses, and tourists? Connect with Melanie Brulée melanie@ottawamic.com about how we can tailor a package to fit your price point and needs. No investment is too small. Let's get you involved.

I'm an Artist or Music Entrepreneur:

Nomination submissions for the 2026 Capital Music Awards are now closed, but OMIC is always looking for performers. Submit via the Artist Submission Form. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on socials to get crack at next year's awards submissions!

I'm a Supporter/Volunteer:

Want to meet other like-minded music lovers and be part of history? Contact our CxMW Volunteer Coordinator Justin Gunderson at justin@ottawamic.com.