Festivals
Ottawa Bluesfest Announce 2026 Lineup with Limp Bizkit, Gwen Stefani, The Lumineers, and More
Ottawa is loading up LeBreton Flats with a little bit of everything this summer. Ottawa Bluesfest officially unveiled its 2026 lineup, bringing together country stars, alt-rock favourites, pop icons, hip-hop acts and a few left-field bookings across nine nights from July 9 to 19.
Leading the bill this year are Limp Bizkit, Gwen Stefani, The Lumineers, Conan Gray, Lord Huron, Ella Langley, HARDY and Cody Johnson. Festival organizers had already confirmed that The Guess Who would close out the festival on July 19 as part of Ottawa’s bicentennial celebrations.
The lineup leans heavily into genre-hopping. One night you’ve got Cypress Hill and Marc Rebillet sharing the bill with Steve Earle. Another has Lucy Dacus, Royel Otis and Social Distortion all landing on the same night. It’s the kind of scheduling tailor-made for people who refuse to stay in one Spotify genre lane for more than 20 minutes.
Country fans are especially eating well this year. Alongside Johnson, Langley and HARDY, the festival booked Jessie Murph, plus country-rock staples like Sheryl Crow. On the indie side, names like Patrick Watson, Leif Vollebekk, Dope Lemon and Natasha Bedingfield help round out the lineup.
Festival executive and artistic director Mark Monahan said the goal was to keep the festival broad and accessible while continuing to bring major touring acts to the capital. Ottawa Bluesfest now draws more than a quarter-million attendees annually and generates a significant tourism boost for the city.
One of the more notable additions this year is a new multi-year partnership with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa. The River Stage at the north side of the Canadian War Museum will now be renamed the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Stage, with the company branding parts of the VIP experience as well.
The festival opens July 9 with Cody Johnson headlining alongside Jessie Murph, Rev. Run and Digable Planets. July 10 brings one of the festival’s rowdier nights with Limp Bizkit, Cypress Hill and Marc Rebillet topping the bill. Other standout nights include July 12 with The Lumineers and bbno$, July 15 with Conan Gray and Myles Smith, July 16 with Lord Huron and Lucy Dacus, and July 18 featuring Gwen Stefani, Mariah The Scientist and Shaggy.
A limited number of discounted nine-day passes go on sale Wednesday, followed by single-day tickets on Thursday and three-day passes on March 2. Organizers confirmed that all tickets will include OC Transpo access to and from the festival grounds.
The full festival runs July 9 to 19 at LeBreton Flats, with July 13 and 14 serving as break days between weekends. Head to the festival’s website for more information.
Click here to read our reviews of last year’s shows.
OTTAWA BLUESFEST 2026 LINEUP
Thursday, July 9
- Cody Johnson.
- Jessie Murph.
- Rev. Run.
- Digable Planets.
- GOAT.
- Lloyd Spiegel.
- The Longest Johns.
- Justin Fancy.
- Jade Hilton.
- Jermaine Holmes.
- Satellite Birdhouse.
- DJ Mace.
Friday, July 10
- Limp Bizkit.
- Cypress Hill.
- Marc Rebillet.
- Steve Earle.
- Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band.
- Miko Marks.
- Gwenifer Raymond.
- Alicia Kayley.
- F!TH.
- My Son The Hurricane.
- SexBandit.
- DJ Mace.
Saturday, July 11
- HARDY.
- BigXthaPlug.
- Patrick Watson.
- cleopatrick.
- Luna Li.
- Mo Kenney.
- Ron Artis II.
- Aspects.
- Kat Pereira.
- Mikhail Laxton.
- Tiny Horse.
- DJ Mace.
Sunday, July 12
- The Lumineers.
- bbno$.
- Leif Vollebekk.
- Hazlett.
- DijahSB.
- Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band.
- Kelly McMichael.
- JOLY.
- Les Rats d’Swompe.
- Mehdi Cayenne.
- summersets.
- DJ Karyen.
Wednesday, July 15
- Conan Gray.
- Myles Smith.
- Natasha Bedingfield.
- Sons of Legion.
- All-Star Women’s Blues Showcase.
- Reuben and The Bullhorn Singers.
- Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears.
- Yasmin Williams.
- Nikki D &The Sisters of Thunder.
- Adam Karch.
- Mecca of Stank.
- DJ Karyen.
Thursday, July 16
- Lord Huron.
- Social Distortion.
- Lucy Dacus.
- Royel Otis.
- Dope Lemon.
- Billy Bragg.
- Thee Sinseers.
- The Pairs.
- Jamie Webster.
- Jadea Kelly.
- Koko Love.
- Nico Little and The North Americans.
- DJ Karyen.
Friday, July 17
- Ella Langley.
- Sheryl Crow.
- Death From Above 1979.
- Valerie June.
- Angine de Poitrine.
- JIMI.
- Thunder Queens.
- Nayana.
- The Jay Blues Trio.
- Emerging Artist Showcase.
- TYR ONE.
Saturday, July 18
- Gwen Stefani.
- Mariah The Scientist.
- Shaggy.
- Grace Bowers.
- Aqyila.
- Here Come The Mummies.
- The Texas Horns.
- TJ Wheeler.
- Bridge Music.
- Eadsé.
- TYR ONE.
Sunday, July 19
- The Guess Who.
- Connor Price.
- The Sheepdogs.
- Elisapie.
- Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar.
- 4KORNERS.
- Banggz.
- LeFLOFRANCO.
- Paolo Stante Band.
- Rebelle.
- Savannah Shea.
- TYR ONE.
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