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Capital Music Week 2026
October 2-10, 2026
Ottawa's largest celebration of music returns this fall as Capital Music Week (CxMW) transforms the city into a nine-day festival of live music, creativity, nightlife, culture, and connection.
Centred around the Capital Music Awards at the National Arts Centre on October 9, CxMW brings together artists, fans, music professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and local businesses through concerts, showcases, conferences, networking events, workshops, film screenings, photography exhibits, and city-wide activations.
Designed to inspire discovery and create opportunity, Capital Music Week offers emerging and established artists the chance to connect with new audiences, industry professionals, presenters, media, and potential collaborators while celebrating the incredible talent that calls Ottawa home.
This year's expanded programming includes:
Independent Music Business (IMB), Capital Music Week's professional development conference, featuring workshops, panels, networking opportunities, and industry discussions designed to help artists, managers, entrepreneurs, and music professionals build sustainable careers and businesses in today's evolving music industry.
Official Showcases and Live Performances across multiple venues, highlighting some of the National Capital Region's most exciting emerging and established artists while creating opportunities for industry discovery and audience growth.
Canada After Dark, Ottawa's premier nightlife forum, featuring international keynote speaker Ariel Palitz alongside leading voices in music, tourism, culture, public policy, and nighttime economy development.
Portraits of a Music City, a city-wide photography exhibition pairing established and emerging photographers to showcase Ottawa-Gatineau musicians across eight local cafés.
A new Music Documentary Festival, celebrating the stories, artists, and communities that shape music culture.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will once again officially proclaim Capital Music Week, recognizing the growing cultural and economic impact of Ottawa's music sector and the city's continued evolution as a Music City.
At the heart of the celebration are the 2026 Capital Music Awards, honouring outstanding artists, venues, educators, technicians, entrepreneurs, and industry builders across 13 categories.
Whether you're an artist looking to advance your career, a music fan eager to discover your next favourite act, or a creative professional seeking new connections and ideas, Capital Music Week offers something for everyone.