History Ottawa music venue to open in ByWard Market in August

Live Nation Ottawa’s artist renderings show the outside of History Ottawa, a new entertainment venue set to open in the old Chapters store in downtown Ottawa. (History Ottawa/website)

Ottawa’s newest music venue will open in the ByWard Market this August.

Live Nation Canada announced the new ‘History Ottawa’ will open in August, and unveiled its first slate of shows.

The lineup includes The Wallflowers on Aug. 20, Kaleo on Sept. 9, The Pretty Reckless on Sept. 13 and Sabaton on Sept. 26. Other acts scheduled to perform at ‘History Ottawa’ include Two Door Cinema Club on Oct. 2, Marianas Trench on Oct. 24, TALK on Dec. 4 and Wolf Parade on Dec. 11.

Tickets will go on sale on March 27 at 10 a.m.

“History Ottawa will officially open its doors this August, becoming the newest hub for live music and entertainment in the ByWard Market,” Live Nation Canada said on Monday.

“The venue is an expansion of the iconic Toronto location, which first opened in 2021 in collaboration with global music icon Drake.”

Live Nation Canada unveiled plans in February 2025 to open a 2,000-person concert venue in the former Chapters building on Rideau Street.

Live Nation says the two-level venue will include a convertible general admission area and reserved seating configurations for “all types of events – from concerts, live entertainment and galas to community programs and events.”

“The venue located at 47 Rideau Street will feature state-of-the-art sound and lighting, alongside History’s signature, high-end hospitality, hosting a dynamic range of events - from concerts, live entertainment and galas to community programs and special events,” Live Nation Canada said.

“Drawing hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors to the downtown core, the venue is poised to play a major role in revitalizing Ottawa’s entertainment district while driving meaningful economic impact.”

In July 2025, the National Capital Commission announced an agreement to lease the former Chapters building on Rideau Street to Live Nation to create a new venue in the downtown core.

The NCC purchased the former Chapters building for a sale price of $20 million. Chapters closed the location in 2022 when parent company Indigo opened a new store in the CF Rideau Centre.

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