One NXNE venue will receive national exposure, telling their story on Billboard Canada. The initiative highlights the vital small businesses behind Canada’s live music community.
Music is more than about what’s onstage. There’s an entire infrastructure to support the ecosystem of live music.
Behind every unforgettable festival set, sold-out showcase and breakthrough artist is a network of independent venues keeping Canada’s music culture alive.
NXNE and Interac Corp., (Interac) are shining a spotlight on the small businesses powering live music through a new initiative designed to support the venues at the heart of the festival experience.
For more than 40 years, Interac has been part of Canadians’ everyday lives, making Interac® Debit a familiar, trusted and distinctly Canadian way to pay.
As part of the Interac collaboration with the iconic Toronto music discovery festival, we are launching a new initiative to support the vital small businesses that shape the country’s music communities: venues.
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For NXNE 2026, the participating venue with the highest Interac Debit transaction volume during the festival (June 10-14), will be eligible to receive a $10,000 marketing package from Billboard Canada, brought to you by Interac. It’s a chance for one venue to share its story with music fans across the country.
The initiative will highlight the role that everyday consumer support plays in sustaining independent spaces and the importance of supporting local businesses in meaningful ways.
When Canadians choose to pay with Interac Debit, more money can stay with the businesses they care about, including the independent venues, bars and cultural spaces that serve as the backbone of the live music industry. Every tap becomes part of a larger effort to support the venues hosting artists, fans and cultural moments throughout the festival.
In Canada’s festival landscape, local venues play a vital role in artist discovery, community building and nightlife culture. Many emerging artists first develop audiences in intimate rooms long before reaching larger stages, making these spaces essential to the future of Canadian music.
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Contactless and mobile-first payment habits continue to shape consumer behaviour across Canada. When Canadians pay using Interac Debit, they can help small businesses save on transaction fees, keep more money in the hands of small businesses and support the local venues and operators that form the backbone of live music experiences.
How venues can participate:
Participation is voluntary. Opt-in by completing an application form and uploading a report (e.g., a POS or reconciliation report) showcasing the total number of Interac Debit transactions during the festival (June 10-14, 2026), by 12 pm on June 15, 2026.
All submitted data must be fully anonymized and must not include any identifiable information. The successful venue will be determined based on the number of Interac Debit transactions processed during the festival — not transaction value. For participation terms and conditions, please visit ca.billboard.com/Interac.
