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
Osheaga 2026 Reveals Daily Schedule
The annual ritual every Osheaga fan both loves and dreads has arrived. The festival has officially unveiled its daily schedule for the 2026 edition, giving attendees their first look at who will be playing when across Parc Jean-Drapeau from July 31 to August 2.
As always, the release of set times brings excitement, anticipation, and plenty of scheduling headaches. With major headliners, breakout stars, indie favourites, and hometown talent spread across six stages, fans will once again be forced to make some difficult decisions throughout the weekend.
Here’s a closer look at some of the biggest moments and potential conflicts from each day.
Friday, July 31
Friday eases festival-goers into the weekend before building toward a stacked evening lineup led by Twenty One Pilots, The XX, and The Neighbourhood on the Bell River Stage.
The day begins with performances from Super Plage, Wunderhorse, Wet Leg, and Moses Belanger before momentum picks up in the afternoon. One of the first notable clashes arrives when Kehlani takes the Mountain Stage while Amber Mark performs on the Forest Stage and Billie Marten appears on the Valley Stage.
The evening presents some particularly difficult choices. Fans of alternative rock will have to decide between The XX and rising Japanese sensation YOASOBI, whose set overlaps with portions of the night.
Another major conflict comes later when Brutalismus 3000 and JID perform simultaneously. Those looking for a high-energy electronic experience may head toward the Coca-Cola Stage, while hip-hop fans will likely be making a run toward the Valley Stage.
The festival’s opening night closes with Twenty One Pilots on the main stage, while Geese and Amelie Lens provide compelling alternatives elsewhere across the site.
Friday Highlights
- Twenty One Pilots
- The XX
- The Neighbourhood
- Kehlani
- YOASOBI
- JID
- Amelie Lens
- Wet Leg
- Wunderhorse
- Geese
Saturday, August 1
Saturday may feature the weekend’s most relentless run of performances from top to bottom.
The day starts with sets from Baby Nova, Wolf Parade, Stella Lefty, Laura Scavo, and Fanclubwallet before quickly transitioning into a packed afternoon. Fans of indie and alternative music will have several choices throughout the day, including Villager, Kingfishr, and AJ Tracey.
One of the day’s biggest talking points will be the overlap between Little Simz, followed by Franz Ferdinand’s set. Both artists are expected to draw large crowds and appeal to different corners of the Osheaga audience.
As night falls, things only get tougher. Punk fans will likely gravitate toward Viagra Boys and Turnstile, while electronic fans may be tempted by Odd Mob and Kettama. Meanwhile, indie pop fans will be trying to squeeze in as much of Sombr as possible before heading to the main stage.
The evening culminates with Canadian pop superstar Tate McRae closing the Bell River Stage, while electronic powerhouse Empire of the Sun headlines the Forest Stage.
Saturday Highlights
- Tate McRae
- Empire of the Sun
- Turnstile
- Franz Ferdinand
- Little Simz
- Viagra Boys
- Wolf Parade
- AJ Tracey
- Sombr
- Kettama
Sunday, August 2
The festival’s final day delivers arguably the strongest collection of pop talent across the entire weekend.
Things begin with Valley, Amble, Between Friends, and Tia Wood before the afternoon ramps up with performances from Mother Mother, Paris Paloma, Billie du Page, and Of Monsters and Men.
One of the biggest scheduling dilemmas of the weekend arrives during the evening stretch. Fans hoping to catch Zara Larsson, SG Lewis, and Gunna will need to carefully plan their route through the grounds, as several of the performances overlap.
The night’s final run is packed with major draws. Lorde headlines the Bell River Stage while Major Lazer closes the Forest Stage. At the same time, electronic fans can head to Space 92’s special Popof-presented Turbo Recordings set, while alternative music fans may find themselves torn between Not For Radio, Horsegiirl, and Subtronics.
Sunday offers a fitting finale to what looks like one of Osheaga’s most diverse lineups in recent memory.
Sunday Highlights
- Lorde
- Major Lazer
- Zara Larsson
- Gunna
- SG Lewis
- Mother Mother
- Of Monsters and Men
- Paris Paloma
- Valley
- Horsegiirl
Start Planning Now
With the daily schedule now available, fans can finally begin mapping out their weekends and preparing for the inevitable conflicts that come with a lineup this deep.
Whether you’re heading to Parc Jean-Drapeau for the headliners, discovering your next favourite artist, or trying to sprint between stages to catch a little bit of everything, Osheaga 2026 is shaping up to deliver another unforgettable weekend in Montreal.
Tickets and additional festival information are available through the official Osheaga website.
Festivals
Riot Fest 2026 Brings Tool, Alanis Morissette, Morrissey, and Twenty One Pilots to Chicago
Chicago’s beloved punk and alternative festival, Riot Fest, is back with another stacked lineup for 2026. The three-day event returns to Douglass Park from September 18-20, bringing together more than 100 artists across punk, rock, indie, metal, and alternative music.
Leading this year’s lineup are Tool, Alanis Morissette, Morrissey, Twenty One Pilots, and Pierce the Veil. The festival continues its tradition of mixing legendary names with newer acts and cult favorites.
Other major artists on the bill include Patti Smith and her band, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Santigold, Pixies, Rise Against, Bad Religion, Taking Back Sunday, Social Distortion, The All-American Rejects, and Bright Eyes.
Fans of heavier and more chaotic sets will have plenty to look forward to with appearances from GWAR, Chat Pile, Melt-Banana, and Insane Clown Posse. Riot Fest is also bringing together punk history with performances from Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter and Public Image Ltd.
The festival’s deep lineup stretches far beyond the headliners, with artists such as Pennywise, Descendents, Iggy Pop, Mom Jeans, The Format, Twin Peaks, Algernon Cadwallader, This Is Lorelei, and Jejune set to perform throughout the weekend.
Last year’s edition marked Riot Fest’s 20th anniversary, featuring returning favorites such as Green Day, Blink-182, and Weezer. This year’s lineup keeps that same mix of nostalgia, chaos, and genre-spanning energy that has made Riot Fest one of North America’s most recognizable alternative festivals.
Three-day passes are on sale now, including general admission, VIP, and deluxe ticket packages. Payment plan options are available for fans looking to spread out the cost of the weekend.
More information at riotfest.org.