Canada is renowned for its diverse culture and lively music scene. Every summer, music lovers from across the globe flock to the Great White North to experience some of the most electrifying festivals that blend natural beauty with world-class performances.
Fans of indie, electronic, rock, country, or folk, here are the top summer music festivals in Canada that will make your hot season one to remember.
Bud Light Escapade 15 (Ottawa, ON)
Dates: June 20-22, 2025
Genre: EDM
The Bud Light Escapade Music Festival is an annual electronic dance music event held in Canada’s Capital Region. This great event combines the most prestigious international and local talent, masterful production, and unparalleled service to create an unprecedented atmosphere.
This year’s lineup features prominent artists such as The Chainsmokers, Kygo, DJ Snake, Kaskade, Gorgon City, Above & Beyond, RL Grime, Excision, Subtronics, and Loco Dice.
Montreal International Jazz Festival (Montreal, QC)
Dates: June 26-July 5, 2025
Genres: jazz, blues
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest jazz festival in the world, the Montreal International Jazz Festival has been synonymous with musical passion and memorable moments for over 40 years. It’s a place where living legends rub shoulders with the finest up-and-coming artists and where jazz explodes at the intersection of genres and influences.
Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, the festival’s site has become a meeting place for jazz lovers from around the world.
Note that the outdoor festival takes place this year from June 26 to July 5, but indoor concerts are hosted all year long.
FEQ (Quebec City, QC)
Dates: July 3-13, 2025
Genres: diverse (rock, pop, folk, jazz, EDM, indie, etc.)
Older than Glastonbury and one of the longest-running festivals in the world, Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) has been making hundreds of festivalgoers dance and sing every summer since 1968 in the heart of Quebec’s capital.
As the largest outdoor festival in Canada, it presents more than 150 shows of all kinds, with international stars, rising stars, and emerging artists.
For 11 consecutive nights, Quebec City’s downtown area is transformed into a true urban celebration.
Badlands Music Festival (Calgary, AB)
Dates: July 3-13, 2025
Genres: EDM, hip-hop, dance, country
Located in the heart of Calgary, Badlands Music Festival offers a unique experience beneath the vast Alberta sky. Nestled amid the stunning natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies and the vibrancy of downtown Calgary, the festival grounds provide a breathtaking backdrop for your dance floor.
The festival blends live performances, immersive art installations, food vendors, and community engagement, creating a dynamic and unforgettable experience.
FVDED in the Park (Holland Park, BC)
Dates: July 4-5, 2025
Genre: EDM
FVED in the Park began as a regular Vancouver club night that evolved into a multistage showcase for leading local, national, and international dance music acts. Subsequent years have seen the lineup venture into hip-hop, pop, and more.
The event was canceled in 2023 but made a remarkable comeback last year, when Holland Park was super busy with all tickets sold out. This year’s FVED promises an edgy, high-caliber lineup with Tiësto, Kaytranada, and Zedd, among the big names.
Festival International Nuits d’Afrique (International African Nights Festival, Montreal, QC)
Dates: July 8-20, 2025
Genres: world music
A festive and colorful gathering of the music and cultures of Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America, le Festival International Nuits d’Afrique (International African Nights Festival) each year warms up the Montreal summer atmosphere. Surprising and delightful, the thirteen days of programming offer audiences a wide range of emotions through a concert series as well as free and paid activities for the whole family.
Winnipeg Folk Festival (Winnipeg, MB)
Dates: July 10-13, 2025
Genres: folk, blues, Americana, country, Celtic, indie rock
The Winnipeg Folk Festival takes place at Birds Hill Provincial Park, in the Boreal Plains ecozone. The event attracts about 80,000 people and folk artists from around the world. The festival focuses on blues, bluegrass, roots, indie folk, Americana, Celtic, gospel, and French-Canadian music. Former top headliners include Sheryl Crow and Elle King.
NXNE (Toronto, ON)
Dates: July 11-15, 2025
Genres: diverse (rock, hip-hop, pop, folk, punk, pop country)
Canada’s iconic music discovery festival, NXNE (North by Northeast) works with Toronto’s remarkable music venues to feature top emerging Canadian and international acts throughout Festival Week.
Created in 1995 in partnership with Austin’s SXSW, NXNE has developed its own identity to showcase emerging talent in the early stages of international success. NXNE also features interactive events, art exhibitions, film screenings, and various cultural experiences, making it a great celebration of creativity and talent.
Calgary Folk Music Festival (Calgary, AB)
Dates: July 24-27, 2025
Genres: folk, funk, hip-hop
Held annually at Calgary’s picturesque Prince’s Island Park since 1980, the Calgary Folk Music Festival has grown into one of Canada’s premier and most innovative music festivals, renowned both nationally and internationally for its diverse and forward-thinking programming.
The festival site offers something for everyone, including a family area with interactive activities and live entertainment, a Talk Tent hosting comedians and spoken word artists, and a variety of other engaging site animations. Visitors can also enjoy an artisan market, savor global culinary delights, and relax in a tree-shaded beer garden, all within earshot of two captivating music stages.
Shambhala Music Festival (Salmo River Ranch Campground, BC)
Dates: July 25-28, 2025
Genre: EDM
Here’s one of Canada’s largest electronic music events. The Shambhala Music Festival takes place each year on the stunning 500-acre Salmo River Ranch. For three days and nights, festival-goers come together as one vibrant community, immersing themselves in unforgettable music, festivities, and entertainment.
Caribana Toronto (Toronto, ON)
Dates: July 31-August 4, 2025
Genre: Caribbean music
The Toronto Caribbean Festival, commonly referred to as Caribana, is an energetic celebration of Caribbean culture held annually in Toronto. This festival promises a colorful and lively experience filled with music, dance, and cultural presentations. From the spectacular Grand Parade to various cultural events and nightlife, Caribana offers something for everyone.
Osheaga Music & Art Festival (Montreal, QC)
Dates: August 1-3, 2025
Genres: rock, indie, hip-hop, EDM, and more
A celebration dedicated to music and visual arts, OSHEAGA has given itself the objective of championing the discovery of local and national emerging talent, offering them the opportunity to play alongside some of the biggest international artists in the business, including Coldplay, Rufus Wainwright, Arcade Fire, Eminem, Florence + The Machine, Dua Lipa, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
With its numerous outdoor stages located at Jean-Drapeau Park, OSHEAGA is the most important festival of its genre in North America and attracts 135,000 music lovers from around the world.
VELD Music Festival (Toronto, ON)
Dates: August 1-3, 2025
Genre: EDM
Veld Music Festival is the largest electronic dance music (EDM) event in Canada. Taking over Toronto’s Downsview Park from August 1 to 3 this year, the music festival promises to bring a packed weekend full of good vibes and even better beats courtesy of some serious heavyweights on the EDM scene for its 12th year running.
Among these heavyweights are John Summit, Alesso, and Tiësto, alongside fellow headliners Lane 8, Rezz, Cosmic Gate, Crankdat, and Sullivan King.
Rifflandia (Victoria, BC)
Dates: September 12-14, 2025
Genres: diverse (indie rock, alternative, hip-hop, folk, etc.)
Established in 2008, Rifflandia Festival has been home to the wild ones, the loud ones, and the sturdy West Coast ones. The event has been the backdrop to first concerts, first kisses, and forever friendships.
Over its history, the festival has hosted such musical icons as Iggy Pop, Run The Jewels, Lorde, Moby, Charli XCX, Post Malone, Paris Hilton, and more.
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Canada’s summer music festivals offer an incredible diversity of experiences for music lovers. Whether you’re into indie, electronic, folk, country, or rock, these festivals not only highlight the talent of Canadian artists but also bring together global acts in stunning locales. No matter which festival you choose, attending one in Canada is an unforgettable experience that promises to create lasting memories, celebrate culture, and immerse you in the vibrant energy of summer.