Festivals
2024 Grey Cup Festival Unveils Entertainment Lineup
As excitement builds for the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, the 2024 Grey Cup Festival committee announced six new sponsors, and revealed 19 artists set to perform at both free and ticketed indoor and outdoor events. The highly anticipated festival will take place from November 10-17 in Vancouver, BC, marking the Grey Cup’s return to the West Coast.
“Hard to believe there are just two months to go until Grey Cup! You can feel the excitement building in the city, and today’s announcement only adds to the anticipation. As a music fan, I am particularly looking forward to the great line-up announced today,” said Sxwixwtn, Wilson Williams, a spokesperson for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw. “Squamish Nation is honoured to be hosting Grey Cup on our shared traditional territories and I am looking forward to the music, the game, and the fun we will have together.”
“We’re excited to welcome football fans throughout British Columbia and Canada to the 111th Grey Cup right here in B.C.,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “The Grey Cup and 2024 Grey Cup Festival will be an unforgettable week filled with free, family-friendly events that celebrate Canadian football and showcase the incredible community spirit that defines our province. Our government is proud to support the Grey Cup, which will leave a lasting impact for the people of British Columbia and communities.”
Michelle Collens, Director of Tourism & Destination Events for the City of Vancouver, shared her enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to welcome the Grey Cup Festival to Vancouver for the 2024 Grey Cup! This event is more than just a celebration of football; it’s a vibrant showcase of Vancouver’s music, arts, culture and diversity. At Sport Hosting Vancouver, we’re excited to bring together fans from across the country to experience the dynamic West Coast spirit of our city.”
The festival’s sponsorship lineup grew with six new partners. World Vision joined as a Silver Partner, while ICBC, Old Dutch, Pacific Blue Cross, SiriusXM, and White Spot joined as Bronze Partners.
“The corporate support we have seen this year for the 2024 Grey Cup Festival has been outstanding,” said Riley Wiwchar, Executive Director of the event. “This is a top-tier class of brands set to add even more star power to an already standout field. Their investment directly helps us craft an unmatched week herein Vancouver.”
“It’s been a decade since we last hosted Grey Cup in Vancouver, so many people in BC and the Lower Mainland haven’t yet experienced the passion, energy, and charm of a Grey Cup Festival in their city,” said Duane Vienneau, President of the BC Lions and Co-Chair of the 2024 Grey Cup Festival. “The Grey Cup Festival intersects with business, sports, entertainment and culture, allowing Canadians to engage with both the BC Lions and the CFL through a wide variety of activities and experiences. There’s really something for everyone. If you’ve never been to a Grey Cup Festival before, you’re in for a real treat.”
The Vancouver Convention Centre (West Building) will host many of the festival’s ticketed events, including the Coors Light Team Party Headquarters (Nov. 14-16), CFL Awards (Nov. 14), Business Summit (Nov. 15), CFLAA Legends Luncheon (Nov. 15), Gala Dinner (Nov. 15), Spirit of Edmonton Breakfast (Nov. 16), Coors Light Saturday Night Concert (Nov. 16), and Indoor Tailgate (Nov. 17). The Lordco Auto Parts Block Party (Nov. 17) will take place outside BC Place on game day.
Tickets for the CFL Awards, which will honor top CFL performers, are $175 plus taxes and fees. Hosted by CFL ON TSN favourites Kate Beirness and Milt Stegall, the event will be broadcast live on CFL+. The Business Summit, themed ‘Uniting Sports and Business for Social Impact,’ will bring together business leaders with tickets available for $199.
One of the festival’s highlights is the Gala Dinner, where fans, players, and dignitaries will gather for a night of entertainment and celebration. Attendees are encouraged to embrace the theme of “Black Tie and Team Pride.” Gala tickets are $375 and sold in tables of 10.
The Sam Roberts Band will headline the Coors Light Saturday Night Concert on November 16 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with The Trews opening the show. Tickets are $75 plus fees.
For game day, country artist Tebey will headline the Indoor Tailgate on November 17, with tickets available for $199, including food, beverages, and shuttle service to BC Place. Also on November 17, the Lordco Auto Parts Block Party will feature a performance by Canadian rock icon Bif Naked. Tickets are $75.
The Jonas Brothers will headline the Twisted Tea Grey Cup Halftime Show at BC Place, capping off a week of entertainment leading up to the big game.
Riley Wiwchar emphasized that this year’s festival would offer an exciting lineup of free entertainment. Vancouver-based artist Felix Cartal will kick off the free performances at the Save-On-Foods Street Festival on November 13. The festival’s outdoor Payworks Entertainment Stage will host 22 artists from November 14-16, featuring a range of music genres and daily themes.
Sunday, November 17, will feature the PlayNow Sports Backyard Street Party at Terry Fox Plaza, headlined by singer-songwriter Devon Cole, along with DJ duo VAVO. “Not only have we been able to achieve an all-Canadian lineup of musical acts for this year’s festival, but we also have strong representation from British Columbia born-or-based talent,” said Wiwchar, who hinted that there’s still more to come from festival organizers. “We’ve still got a few more surprises left up our sleeve that we’ll announce later.”
The festival’s tagline, “All ROARS Lead To This,” was also revealed. Caitlin Buckell, Director of Marketing & Communications for the festival, explained, “Fans across the country have been roaring in stadiums or at screens from their homes, bars, or wherever they’re watching from all season long, so the tagline is meant to serve as an invitation to every fan, from every fanbase, to bring that energy here to Vancouver. ROAR really is what you make of it—be it an expression of celebration, pride, passion, or perhaps even a little frustration. Either way, it all leads to Vancouver November 10 to 17.”
Tickets for the 111th Grey Cup game and the festival’s ticketed events are now available at Ticketmaster.ca. Tickets to the 2024 Grey Cup Festival ticketed events go on sale to the public September 24 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET, with the exception of the Spirit of Edmonton Breakfast and Athletes In Action Grey Cup Breakfast which will be sold on separate platforms. All can be accessed through the festival’s website at greycupfestival.ca.
Festivals
HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026 – Recap & Photos
The Prudential Center was absolutely buzzing as it hosted the much-anticipated HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026, a classic highlight of New York’s summer music scene. This event is all about bringing together the best of the best in hip hop, rap, and R&B, creating a stage where both rising stars and seasoned veterans can shine.
This year’s lineup was stacked, featuring big names like French Montana, Max B, DaBaby, and G Herbo, promising to be “the biggest party ever to hit an arena.” To keep the party jumping, Hot 97 enlisted the help of legendary on-air personalities Funkmaster Flex, Nessa, and the Mornings with Mero team. As anticipated, the lineup drew a packed house, completely selling out the venue.
Hip Hop heads can go all the way back to the 90s to see just why something like this matters so much to the culture. Over the years, HOT 97 Summer Jam has given us unforgettable moments, from sparking epic rap feuds to reuniting legendary groups. This year was no different, packed with standout highlights. It’s not false advertising to say something iconic will happen on a Summer Jam stage – it’s expected.
One of the biggest moments of the night was Fetty Wap‘s homecoming. The crowd went wild for hits like “679” and “My Way,” though he had to cut his set short because of time limits. As the show rolled on, Yung Miami brought the energy with her summer banger “Spend Dat,” even tossing stacks of cash into the audience, causing a frenzy with everyone trying to stuff their pockets. Emerging artists were also front and center, like Zeddy Will, who energized the crowd from the upper bowl. DaBaby also brought his infectious energy to the crowd as he ran through his catalog, connecting with the fans in a unique way that really elevated the atmosphere.
On a sultry R&B vibe, Mariah the Scientist performed hits like “Is It a Crime” and “Burning Blue,” showcasing her killer stage presence and stunning vocals. The night wrapped up with French Montana, who brought out Max B and Remy Ma to help perform nostalgic Coke Boys favorites like “Unforgettable,” “Stay Schemin,” and “Ever Since You Left Me.” Despite their busy schedules with tours and new music releases, it’s great to see these artists giving back to the culture. They provided fans with a taste of their musical talents while solidifying their place in Summer Jam history. The surprise guests who were not listed on the lineup truly made this showcase unforgettable. We had the chance to see Lola Brooke, Fat Joe, and the entire cast of Zeus Network’s hit show, The Baddies. It truly was the hottest ticket of the weekend.
I just wished we could have partied a little longer. Some acts were unable to hit the stage for the final curtain, but on all accounts, the Hot 97 team delivered a show they can be proud of. HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026 left everyone hyped. Funkmaster Flex hosted the night flawlessly, keeping the energy high and the transitions smooth between acts. You can bet that the fans are already hyped for what next year has in store, eagerly locked into Hot 97 on the radio for the next Summer Jam lineup. I’ll be looking out for that announcement too; I know they are already cooking for 2027.
Check out our favorite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: @GALLERYBYTM | Anthony Grant Photography
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – Kaytranada
The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE closed out another memorable week on Sunday with the biggest match in world football and a fitting musical finale. Fans packed the site well before kickoff, creating a sea of jerseys, flags, and face paint as they gathered to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. Every big chance was met with gasps and cheers, and when Spain secured the victory, the celebrations spread across the festival grounds as supporters soaked in the final moments of a month-long tournament.
There was little time for the excitement to settle before the day’s entertainment shifted from football to live music. Montreal’s Kaytranada took over the Amphitheatre stage, giving fans one last reason to keep the energy going after the trophy presentation. Known for blending house, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music into a sound that feels uniquely his own, Kaytranada delivered exactly the kind of set the festival needed to close the weekend.
With Spain crowned world champions and Kaytranada providing the soundtrack to the celebration, the FIFA Fan Festival wrapped up another successful day at the PNE. It was a reminder that throughout the tournament, football and music proved to be the perfect combination, bringing thousands of people together to celebrate on and off the pitch.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KAYTRANADA
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer