Ottawa's weekend of September 11 to 13, 2026 has something for almost every mood: a stadium-sized concert, a Broadway classic, a cross-river music festival, and a full slate of free NCC programming. Here's what's on, grouped by day.
Friday, September 11
Mt. Joy: Celebrating 10 Years of Mt. Joy
Doors open at 7:00 pm at Hard Rock Casino Ottawa, 4837 Albion Road. This show is 19+ with valid photo ID required, and all sales are final. Check the event page for ticket pricing.
The Great Gatsby
This stage production runs at Salle Southam Hall, 1 Elgin St, across the whole weekend: Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 1:00 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 1:00 pm and 7:30 pm. Pricing isn't listed here, so check with the venue for tickets and showtime availability.
Riverside Festival Kicks Off in Gatineau
Riverside Festival returns to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau for three days starting today, with Marshmello, Steve Aoki and Excision headlining plus a new free CaféBeats morning program. Full details are in ottown's coverage.
Saturday, September 12
BikeNight on the Rideau Canal
The NCC is closing a 10.8 km loop along the Rideau Canal for a car-free evening ride with music and food. It's part of the bigger Open NCC day, more in ottown's writeup.
Open NCC: Free Behind-the-Scenes Access
The National Capital Commission is opening sites across Ottawa and Gatineau today with free tours and activities, wrapping into the evening's BikeNight ride. Details on what's included are in ottown's guide.
NCC's Cottage Season Bucket List
Four city docks, open parkways and a free shuttle to the Mackenzie King Estate are all part of the NCC's Summer Bucket List Challenge, running through September 16. No need to leave the city for a cottage-style day, read more at ottown.
22 Things to Do This Weekend
A hot air balloon festival across the river, a Vietnamese moon celebration and a Serbian cultural festival are all on @ottawalist's roundup of 22 weekend picks. See the full list at ottown.
Chase Golden Hour on the Water
A local boat cruise operator offers landmark views and golden hour lighting on the river for around $50 a rider. Full details at ottown.
A Late-Summer Bike Day Around Ottawa-Gatineau
The NCC has mapped out a full day of swimming, picnicking and sunset patios along the river, all reachable without a car. See the route at ottown.
Sunday, September 13
Riverside Festival Wraps Up
The festival's final day at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau closes out the Marshmello, Steve Aoki and Excision run. Details in ottown's coverage.
Last Weekend for Supervised Swimming at NCC River House
Today is the final day for lifeguard-supervised hours at the NCC River House, though the unsupervised swim area stays open until September 30. Full details at ottown.
A Cottage-Vibes Day Trip in the Capital
A local itinerary strings together biking, swimming docks, patio lunches and sunset views, all without leaving the capital region. Read it at ottown.
Get Outside Before the Sunsets Creep Earlier
Ottawa's sunsets are dipping before 8 pm now, a reminder to squeeze in warm-weather outings while they last. More at ottown.
For the complete, constantly updated listing, check out all Ottawa events this weekend.
Sources: Ticketmaster listings, and reporting from ottown's own articles on the Riverside Festival, Open NCC, BikeNight, and NCC programming.
