9 of the top festivals in Canada
From film and music festivals to Indigenous celebrations, plan your trip with our pick of Canada’s top cultural events
Festivals are wonderful celebrations of a country’s culture and Canada sure knows how to throw one. Year-round, Canadians find something to celebrate, from music to theatre, or stargazing to sledding. The long list of annual events is diverse.
Many of Canada’s most well-known and celebrated events will teach you more about this vast and fascinating place, whether it’s the country’s Indigenous communities or its Celtic and Caribbean heritage. Get to know Canada by experiencing its best festivals.
1. Winterlude
When: Every February
Where: Ottawa, Ontario
Canada’s capital makes the most of its frigid winters with a joyous celebration of snow and ice. The city becomes a giant winter playground for two weeks and three weekends each February for the Winterlude festival. Try your hand at maple-tree tapping; watch works of art come to life at an ice-carving showcase; or tube slide down a snowy chute. Wrap up warm and embrace the fun.
Claire’s insider tip: Extend your winter wonderland adventures by driving on to the Thousand Islands. This archipelago of more than 1,800 islands in the St Lawrence River is a top spot for snowshoeing, snowmobiling, skating and ice fishing.
2. Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival
When: Around 21 June
Where: Ottawa, Ontario
National Indigenous Peoples Day is held on 21 June in Canada, and the capital marks the occasion with the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival. While the exact details and dates are yet to be confirmed, it is likely to run on the same dates as last year – 21-23 June. The event is held at Mādahòkì Farm, south of Downtown, and visitors can expect traditional Indigenous food, crafts and dance, and the sharing of ancestral knowledge and stories. Be sure to attend the pow wow, which sees drummers and dancers from across North America compete.
Read next: How to experience Indigenous culture in Canada this summer
3. Montréal International Jazz Festival
When: 26 June-5 July 2025
Where: Montréal, Québec
Any jazz lover knows that Montréal is the ‘big one’ when it comes to festivals. Recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest jazz festival on the planet, the event sees Downtown Montréal come alive for 10 days every summer, welcoming acts and fans from around the world. There are around 150 indoor shows but, crucially, the event’s 350 open-air shows at the Place des Festivals are all free to attend. From legends to new artists, classics to the avant-garde, you’ll find them all at the Montréal International Jazz Festival thanks to the programme that explores the genre’s influence on world music.
4. Vancouver Celebration of Light
When: Every July
Where: Vancouver, British Columbia
What’s better than a vast, highly choreographed fireworks display? Three displays, all competing with each other. Held across three nights, the longest running offshore fireworks competition in the world sees teams representing different countries light up the sky from barges on the ocean. Sit back and be prepared to be awed.
Claire’s insider tip: English Bay gets crowded with up to 400,000 spectators. Arrive early to save your spot and bring a picnic: the sunsets from this beach are reliably magnificent. If you want a guaranteed or accessible spot, ticketed viewing areas are available.
5. Toronto Caribbean Carnival
When: 31 July-4 August 2025
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Anyone who has ever been to Canada can attest to the fact that the weather certainly isn’t tropical. And yet, once a year, Toronto transforms into North America’s largest street festival, with a fiesta of feathers, dancing, Soca music and traditional food. Celebrating the city’s strong Caribbean community, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival includes the Panorama steelpan competition; a showcase of the spectacular King and Queen costumes; a Calypso music showcase; and finally the parade of costumed dancers following booming sound trucks.
Arrive hungry. From July Toronto’s Caribbean restaurants get ready with special menus, while food festivals abound. Previous years have seen a Patty Fest celebrating the Jamaican staple and Taste of the Caribbean at St Lawrence Market.
Read next: Here’s why you should visit Canada in 2025
6. Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
When: 14-24 August 2025
Where: Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton is known as ‘Festival City’, holding more than 50 events every year. But perhaps the most famous is its Fringe. North America’s largest and oldest Fringe Festival sees the streets of Old Strathcona transformed by a flurry of pop-up performances. Alongside 200 theatre productions across 38 venues, the street becomes a stage with quirky events from chainsaw juggling and fire spinning to unicycle performances.
7. Celtic Colours Music Festival, Nova Scotia
When: 10-18 October 2025; 9-17 October 2026
Where: Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Sound the bag pipes. Big acts play small stages at Nova Scotia’s Celtic festival. Taking place on the picturesque Cape Breton Island, the event is a celebration of the unique culture found in this region of Atlantic Canada. Performances – including Gaelic singing, Cape Breton fiddling, heritage dances and storytelling – are hosted across the island every day, held in venues from community halls to churches.
Think of attending as a musical road trip. Festival events take place right across the 10,311 sq km island, just as the fall foliage is turning to rust red, yellow and vibrant orange. It’s a pretty time of year to be here. Swing by Bras d’Or Lake, Canada’s largest saltwater lake, or follow the Cabot Trail, one of Canada’s most scenic drives.
Read next: 9 of the best places to visit in Canada
8. Jasper Dark Sky Festival
When: 17 October-2 November 2025
Where: Jasper National Park, Alberta
Look up. Astronomers, amateur star gazers and lovers of the night sky gather under cosy blankets every October for the Jasper Dark Sky Festival. The second largest dark sky preserve in the world puts on two weeks of events, including guided stargazing, the sharing of Indigenous stories around campfires, and star-lit performances from the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Strings. Celestial-themed comedy, anyone?
Claire’s insider tip: Pray for clear skies and keep your eyes peeled for the northern lights – this year is tipped for particularly strong activity. Wrap-up warm. Temperatures hit around 15⁰C to -5⁰C.
Read next: Our guide to Canada’s best hiking trails
9. Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival
When: 1-9 November, 2025
Where: Banff, Alberta
Love the mountains, but prefer to watch someone else scale uncharted peaks, survive on arctic tundras or compete in ultra-endurance races across unforgiving terrain? Same. Grab your popcorn and get comfortable. Now in its 50th year, Banff’s pioneering film festival showcases the best in adventure cinematography from across the world. Last year more than 90 films and 80 events were included, sharing stories of adventure from across the globe. Keep your eyes peeled for some stellar speakers too.
