8 major festivals and events to receive funding from Ottawa Tourism this year

The Ottawa sign in the ByWard Market on Jan. 2. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)

Eight Ottawa festivals will split $1 million in funding this year, as part of a plan to support “tourism-generating festivals and events.”

Ottawa Tourism, in partnership with the City of Ottawa, announced the festivals will be the recipients of the Major Festivals Fund.

The festivals are Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Escapade Music Festival, Capital Pride, CityFolk Festival, the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Saunders Farm FrightFest and Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Each festival will receive $125,000.

Ottawa Tourism says the Major Festivals Fund supports events that “operate on a significant scale and play a demonstrable role in driving visitation, overnight stays and year-round economic impact” in Ottawa.

“These festivals are cornerstones of Ottawa’s visitor economy and cultural identity,” Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism, said in a statement.

“By supporting events of this scale, the Major Festivals Fund ensures our destination continues to attract visitation and provide time-bound reasons to visit Ottawa while elevating our destination’s cultural profile in our key tourism markets and enhancing residents’ quality of life.”

The funding was announced the same day Ottawa Bluesfest unveiled the lineup for the 2026 festival in July at LeBreton Flats.

The Lumineers, Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow, country music artists Cody Johnson and Ella Langley, Hardy, Limp Bizkit and Cypress Hill are among the acts scheduled to perform.

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