Through provincial government agency Experience Ontario, the province will support events ranging from local fests to major affairs like Boots and Hearts and Ottawa Bluesfest.
The Ontario festivals and music events sector has another reason to celebrate this week.
Provincial government agency Experience Ontario (EO) 2026 has announced that it will invest more than $20 million in funding to support nearly 400 festivals and events across the province.
In making the announcement, Stan Cho, minister of tourism, culture and gaming, noted that "From Ontario’s charming and historic small towns to its vibrant cities, festivals and events bring people together, create lasting memories and showcase the best of our communities. As we continue to work to protect Ontario and Canadian identity, investing in these homegrown experiences helps welcome more visitors and ensures communities across the province continue to thrive.”
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The Experience Ontario 2026 program provides support for festivals and events with a tourism economic impact, helping municipalities and event organizers offer locals and tourists of all ages varied entertainment opportunities.
Trade org CLMA (Canadian Live Music Association) welcomed the news, saying via statement that "Festivals, concerts, and live music events have demonstrated the ability to produce high-impact visitor spending and rapid economic returns when appropriately supported.” The organization notes that it recommended a sustained investment in EO in its 2026 Ontario Budget submission.
Founder of Ottawa Bluesfest Mark Monahan says that "Experience Ontario...has helped Ottawa Bluesfest expand into an annual international event, contributing over $40 million a year in tourism economic benefits to Ottawa."
Experience Ontario figures show that, in 2024, visitors to Ontario spent $33 billion and supported more than 300,000 jobs. Since 2018, the Experience Ontario program (formerly known as Reconnect Ontario and Celebrate Ontario) has supported over 2,700 Ontario festivals and events.
This year's funding goes to a highly diverse grouping of festivals and events, ranging from the high-profile and well-attended likes of Ottawa Bluesfest, country fest Boots and Hearts and Ottawa's Festival Franco Ontarien, through to smaller events such as Thunder Bay's Festival of Colours, a summer waterfront festival celebrating South Asian culture, and Grimsby Lights & Après Winter Nights, an event featuring festive light displays and live entertainment in that town.
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New this year to the EO program, a new Capacity Building stream will provide opportunities to support first-time festival and event organizers.
