Ottawa's biggest annual celebration of local music, Capital Music Week, runs October 2 to 10, 2026, under the tagline "Our Soul Is Our Sound."
What's on the schedule
The week opens October 2 with a new event outside the city itself: a Métis Kitchen Party at the North Lanark Agricultural Hall in Almonte, part of Capital Music Week's first-ever expansion beyond Ottawa. Tickets are $40 through ticketsplease.ca.
Back in the capital, the Independent Music Business Summit takes over Bayview Yards on October 3, running 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with sessions aimed at working musicians and industry professionals. From October 7 to 8, the National Arts Centre hosts the Canada After Dark Nightlife Summit, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, focused on the business side of Canada's nightlife and live music scene.
The week builds to the Capital Music Awards on October 9 at the National Arts Centre's Southam Hall, 1 Elgin Street. Doors open with a red carpet at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. The awards are presented by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) and billed as the week's marquee event.
Who's performing
Organizers have announced a lineup that spans genres, with Bif Naked, Jamie Fine, Tyler Shaw, Ya Levis, Saltina Shaker and Despised Icon among the performers confirmed for CxMW 2026.
Why Almonte
The move to add an Almonte stop wasn't Ottawa's idea, it came from the Almonte side. "It was an exciting call when CxMW's Director of events called me to say that they wanted to expand beyond Ottawa and had chosen to come to Almonte because of our event," Belcourt said.
For OMIC, the goal is bigger than any single stage. Executive Director Melanie Brulée said the week is about giving artists exposure and connecting them to people who can help their careers. "Capital Music Week brings it together. It's about putting artists in the spotlight, connecting them with new audiences and industry, and inviting people to experience Ottawa through its music," Brulée said.
The Ottawa angle
While the Almonte addition pulls one event outside the city limits, the week is still anchored in Ottawa: Bayview Yards, the National Arts Centre and Southam Hall host every other listed event, and OMIC, the group behind the Capital Music Awards, is an Ottawa music industry organization.
Planning your week
The Almonte kitchen party and the Bayview Yards summit both land on October 2 and 3, while the nightlife summit and the awards close out the following week.
Sources: Capital Music Week (official), Municipality of Mississippi Mills (official), National Arts Centre (official)
