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RBC Amphitheatre Ushers In A New Era for Toronto Concerts
RBC Amphitheatre is here, and it marks a promising new era for live music in Toronto.
Last night (May 21), the beloved waterfront amphitheatre formerly known as Budweiser Stage kicked off its summer concert season under its new name. The change was announced in Oct. 2025 as part of a new partnership between Live Nation Canada and RBC, along with plans for an expansion that will transform it into a year-round venue by 2030.
At the centre of this major moment for live music in Toronto was RBC.
"This is such an iconic venue. Fans of music will always point to this amphitheatre as being one of the greatest experiences in live music in this country," Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of RBC, tells Billboard Canada. "It's a moment of pride for our employees."
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The Toronto live music staple rang in the summer with an opening concert from rock stars Imagine Dragons, and has a packed summer calendar that will include many of Canada's biggest summer concerts and festivals in the coming months, including Khalid (May 24), bbno$ (June 5), All Things Go Toronto (June 6-7) and many more.
Already in its inaugural season, there will be a record number of concerts, including shows by artists like Arkells (June 19), The Strokes (June 21), Alex Warren (July 7), Jack White (July 14), a 20th anniversary tour by Billy Talent (July 18) and the All The Feelings Tour with Broken Social Scene, Metric and Stars (August 7). And that’s just a taste.
The amphitheatre will undergo renovations during the 2028 season to expand its summertime capacity and to be able to remain open during the winter season, with an indoor capacity of 9,000 seats. With an estimated 130 shows and 1.5 million visitors annually by 2030, RBC Amphitheatre is aiming for a record attendance and a record number of shows that will capitalize on live music, one of the country's biggest economic drivers, like never before.
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"The lawn is such a special part of experiencing music in Toronto and it's an important part of the design going forward,” says DePaoli. “There will be a new pedestrian bridge to improve access and crowd flow. There is going to be upgraded food and beverage, expanded hospitality areas and a new lookout deck with elevator access to the lawn.”
RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto on May 21, 2026.George Pimentel
This latest step reflects RBC's deep ongoing commitment to music, with the bank having already invested over $140 million into the Canadian music and arts industry. Since partnering with Live Nation Canada in 2017, RBC has impacted over 8 million fans, providing over $3 million in tickets, along with discounts, upgrades, free merchandise and more.
Separately, artist support programs like RBCxMusic and First Up have given artists at all levels of their careers access to audiences and platforms to grow. Through RBCxMusic Concert Cash and an exclusive 15% merch offer every Thursday this summer at RBC Amphitheatre for RBC clients, RBC is making it easier for fans to get closer to the artists they love, and soon, Avion Rewards members will be able to use their Avion points toward eligible ticket purchases on Ticketmaster.ca.
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RBC was also the official financial services partner in Canada for Taylor Swift's monumental Eras Tour, bringing Canadian Avion Rewards members exclusive ticket access and providing tickets to the local Vancouver and Toronto communities through partners like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Drake even wore an RBC patch on his jacket emblazoned with iconic Canadian brands as part of the blockbuster Iceman rollout last week.
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But this is the first time RBC has invested or put its name on a permanent venue in Toronto.
RBC Amphitheatre will not only deliver an elevated live music experience for fans, but also provide a large boost for Toronto's local economy. Live music already generates over $11 billion for the Canadian economy as a whole while bringing 20 million visitors, and Toronto is becoming one of the world’s biggest markets for top-tier touring acts. More events bring more subsequent ancillary spending into Toronto at restaurants, hotels, transportation and retail.
"We have more small business clients than any other bank in Canada, so this is meaningful for us,” DePaoli explains. “Small businesses make up 45% of all event service providers in Toronto. Having a sold-out show just a few blocks away can make the difference between a good month and an outstanding month for a small business. [Live music] has such a ripple effect and we're really proud to be part of it."
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