Festivals
Boots And Hearts Music Festival Is Coming To Alberta
Republic Live, the internationally acclaimed and multi-award-winning live entertainment company behind the Boots and Hearts Music Festival and OEG Sports & Entertainment (OEGSE), a North American leader in sports and entertainment, are bringing the iconic Boots and Hearts brand to Western Canada. Boots and Hearts West officially arrives in Edmonton on August 28 and 29, 2026, in Fan Park @ ICE District.
This exciting expansion marks a significant moment for the festival’s evolution, bringing the beloved Boots and Hearts experience—known for its unmatched fan community, immersive festival atmosphere, and world-class performances—to an all-new audience in Western Canada. The move reflects the brand’s growing national presence and the deep affinity fans have built over 15 years with the #BootsLife: unforgettable weekends rooted in connection, celebration, and country music culture.
To kick off its inaugural year, on the heels of his multi-week #1 hit at Canadian country radio, Platinum-selling artist Russell Dickerson will headline on Friday, August 28, followed by Grammy Award–nominated and genre-blending trailblazer Shaboozey on Saturday, August 29. The full festival lineup will be revealed at a later date.
Tickets will be available for pre-sale on Wednesday, December 3 at 10 a.m. MT, with public on-sale beginning Friday, December 5 at 10 a.m. MT exclusively at www.bootsandhearts.com. Fans can also take advantage of flexible payment options through PayPal or Klarna.
For over a decade, Boots and Hearts – Canada’s largest camping and music festival –has built a passionate, loyal fan base drawn to the festival’s signature mix of music, community, and memory-making. An eight-time CCMA Country Festival of the Year winner and recognized by the Academy of Country Music for Festival of the Year, Boots and Hearts continues to set the standard for world-class festival experiences. Boots and Hearts West will build on that legacy by bringing the same spirit to Western Canada—expanding reach, deepening the brand’s national footprint, and offering fans new ways to experience the festival they love.
“Boots and Hearts has always been about living the lifestyle of country music & celebrating its community. It is a feeling of connection and belonging. Bringing BootsLife to Edmonton is incredibly meaningful for us and is the perfect place for our next chapter,” shares Eva Dunford, Boots and Hearts Music Festival Co-Founder. “Alberta’s deep country roots and honest, grounded culture feel naturally aligned with the spirit our festival has cultivated over the past fifteen years. We are honoured to partner with OEG, a trusted leader in sports and live entertainment whose track record makes this possible. We can’t wait to share our stories, friendships, and music with a community that lives this spirit wholeheartedly. Our boots are on, and we’re heading west!”
“We’re excited to welcome Boots and Hearts to Alberta for its first-ever music festival outside of Ontario,” said Adam Oppenhiem, SVP, Live Entertainment and Events, OEGSE. “Boots and Hearts West combines one of Canada’s premier country music events with the unmatched energy, vibrancy, and excitement of ICE District—and some of Canada’s most passionate country music fans. These types of world-class festivals are exactly what venues like Fan Park @ ICE District and the future Event Park are made for, and Boots and Hearts West is yet another example of our tireless efforts to make Edmonton a must-stop destination for the biggest events in live entertainment. We look forward to delivering an unforgettable experience for country music fans from across Western Canada.”
Festivals
Governors Ball 2026 Release Daily Schedules
The set times are in. Governors Ball Music Festival just dropped its daily schedules for June 5–7, and the usual game begins: mapping your day, picking your battles, and accepting you can’t see everything.
Friday, June 5
Day one leans indie-pop into rap by night. Lorde closes the main stage at 8:30, opposite the tail end of Baby Keem(7:30–8:30). That’s your first big call: polished pop spectacle or Keem’s high-energy set.
Earlier, things get messy in a good way. KATSEYE (6:35–7:30) overlaps with Pierce the Veil (5:30–6:30) bleed, and The Beths (6:00–7:00) sit right in between. Indie fans will feel that pinch.
Midday conflicts are lighter, but The Dare (4:00–4:45) vs. Arcy Drive (3:30–4:15) creates a small fork in the road.
If you’re pacing yourself, the cleanest run is late afternoon into Mariah the Scientist (4:45–5:30), then pick your lane.
Saturday, June 6
Saturday is the most chaotic on paper. Stray Kids headline at 8:30, directly after Kali Uchis (7:30–8:30). That transition is smooth if you stay put.
The real trouble hits earlier. Major Lazer (6:30–7:30) collides with Blood Orange (5:30–6:30) and the start of Amyl and the Sniffers (7:30–8:30). Dancehall vs. alt-R&B vs. punk. Pick a mood and commit.
Mid-card is stacked with clashes: Ravyn Lenae (4:00–4:45) overlaps with Jane Remover (3:30–4:15), and Snow Strippers (4:45–5:30) runs right into Wet Leg (4:45–5:30). That last one is a true coin flip, two buzzy acts at the exact same time.
Sunday, June 7
Sunday might be the strongest day top to bottom. A$AP Rocky closes at 8:45, opposite the end of JENNIE (7:45–8:45) and Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (7:45–8:45). That’s the toughest final hour of the weekend.
The lead-up is just as tight. Dominic Fike (6:45–7:45) overlaps with Clipse (5:45–6:45) and Hot Mulligan (6:15–7:15). Three different crowds, same window.
Earlier, Japanese Breakfast (4:00–4:45) and Holly Humberstone (3:15–4:00) form a nice back-to-back if you stay mobile, but Between Friends (2:30–3:15) cuts into that flow.
The takeaway
Friday is manageable. Saturday is conflict-heavy. Sunday is stacked late.
If you hate missing songs, plan short splits. If you want full sets, accept you’ll miss something big. That’s part of the deal, and honestly, half the fun.
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts Announce 2026 Lineup
Vancouver’s summer concert calendar is locking into place. The annual Summer Night Concerts are set to return to the Pacific National Exhibition from August 22 through September 7, bringing live music back to one of the city’s biggest seasonal events.
This year carries a bit more weight than usual. The series will debut at the brand-new Freedom Mobile Arch, a 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre built for large-scale performances. The venue promises better sightlines, improved sound, and a more immersive setup for fans. It’s a major shift for the fair, which spent much of last year dealing with construction that limited its footprint and contributed to a drop in attendance.
Now, with the full site back in action, organizers are aiming for a reset. The 2026 lineup leans into that idea, mixing legacy acts with newer names across genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic.
Headliners include Blue Rodeo, The Guess Who, The Beaches, Nelly, and Zedd, alongside artists like Mt. Joy, Train, and Barenaked Ladies. Special performances include Cynthia Erivo backed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances from Punjabi Virsa, Weird Al Yankovic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pierce the Veil, Sarah McLachlan, and Boy George & Culture Club.
The full schedule runs nightly:
- Aug. 22: Blue Rodeo
- Aug. 23: The Guess Who
- Aug. 25: The Beaches
- Aug. 26: Nelly
- Aug. 27: Zedd
- Aug. 28: Mt. Joy
- Aug. 29: Cynthia Erivo with VSO
- Aug. 30: Punjabi Virsa
- Sept. 1: Train
- Sept. 2: Barenaked Ladies
- Sept. 3: Weird Al Yankovic
- Sept. 4: Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sept. 5: Pierce the Veil
- Sept. 6: Sarah McLachlan
- Sept. 7: Boy George & Culture Club
Tickets start at $49 plus fees and include admission to the PNE Fair. Presale began April 19, with general on-sale launching April 20 through TicketLeader.
New venue, full fairgrounds, and a lineup that leans both nostalgic and current. After a quieter year, the PNE looks ready to feel busy again.