Festivals
Veld Music Festival Unveils Full 2025 Lineup Ahead of 12th Edition
Toronto’s biggest EDM weekend is shaping up to be massive. Veld Music Festival has just revealed the full lineup for its 2025 edition, following an earlier Phase 1 tease back in December. The three-day festival returns to Downsview Park in Toronto from August 1–3, and this year’s roster is packed with big names, buzzy newcomers, and a healthy dose of homegrown talent.
Joining previously announced headliners Deadmau5, Dom Dolla, John Summit, and Tiësto, the expanded lineup adds heavy-hitters like Alesso, Excision, Lane 8, Meduza, Eli Brown, Cosmic Gate, Massano, Chris Avantgarde, Odd Mob, Sullivan King, and more. One of the weekend’s most anticipated sets is a rare back-to-back from Green Velvet and Layton Giordani.
Now in its 12th year, Veld remains Canada’s largest electronic music festival and a major fixture on the summer circuit. From house and techno to bass and trance, this year’s bill covers the full spectrum of electronic sound.
The lineup also leans into Canadian representation, with appearances from Niagara Falls native Deadmau5, London duo Loud Luxury, and Kelowna’s Excision, who’s become a festival staple both onstage and, more recently, through that viral Shrek visual making the rounds on TikTok.
Other notable acts on the lineup include Dabin, Danny Avila, Kai Wachi, and Timmy Trumpet, adding more depth to an already stacked weekend.
Pre-sale tickets go live Tuesday, February 4 at 10 a.m. EST via Frontgate, with general on-sale starting Wednesday, February 5 at 10 a.m. Fans can sign up for pre-sale access and the official Veld Fan Club at veldmusicfestival.com to stay in the loop on daily schedules, merch drops, contests, and more.
Summer might feel far off, but the countdown to Veld 2025 has officially begun.
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.
Festivals
Phillips Backyard Festival Returns With Chance the Rapper, Father John Misty, and Modest Mouse
Victoria’s summer concert calendar just got a major boost. The Phillips Backyard Music Festival is back, and this year it’s packing everything into one tight, three-day run from July 10–12 at Phillips Brewing & Malting Co..
After spreading across multiple weekends in past years, the 2026 edition trims things down to a single stretch, but the lineup is anything but smaller. Each night is led by a Grammy-winning or nominated act, with Chance the Rapper opening Friday, Father John Misty taking Saturday, and Modest Mouse closing things out on Sunday.
Chance’s booking is a big one. The Chicago artist has never played Victoria before, so expect a rush when tickets drop. Meanwhile, both Father John Misty and Modest Mouse are making long-awaited returns, with neither having played the city in over a decade.
The supporting lineup fills out nicely across the weekend. Friday leans upbeat with Duckwrth, Sophia Stel, Nicky MacKenzie, and DACEY. Saturday brings a mix of local and global names, including Sudan Archives and Victoria favourites Jon and Roy. Sunday wraps with indie staples like Wolf Parade, alongside Angine de Poitrine, Fake Shark, and Darrian Gerard.
Organizers are promising a smoother experience this time around. The space is getting an upgrade, the raised stage is staying, and RFID wristbands are out. There’s even more still to come, with additional artists set to be announced for the returning Music BC stage.
Tickets go on sale March 25 at 10 a.m., with single-day passes at $125 and full weekend access priced at $325. If past years are any indication, waiting is a bad idea.
More information on the festival’s website.
