Bif Naked, Tyler Shaw, and Jamie Fine Headline Ottawa’s Capital Music Week
Ottawa’s music scene will have plenty to say this fall as more than 100 artists fill 25 venues for the second annual Capital Music Week (CxMW), running October 2 to 10.
Presented by Godzspeed, the nine-day event will bring concerts, showcases, industry gatherings, and cultural programs to spaces across the city.
Bif Naked, Tyler Shaw, and Jamie Fine are among the names leading the 2026 edition.
A Citywide Celebration of Sound
CxMW will stretch beyond Ottawa’s major concert halls. Performances and activities will take place at Southam Hall, neighbourhood cafés, public spaces, and other unexpected spots throughout the city.
Bif Naked will kick off the week on October 2 with a DJ and drag show hosted by Jamie Fine. The evening features Saltina Shaker, an alum of Canada’s Drag Race, and Bif will perform her new dance single, “Hey Little Frankie.”
On October 3, Bif Naked will return for a smaller gathering. She will host and perform at a Women in Music song circle with Kellylee Evans and Capital Music Awards nominees.
“Capital Music Week brings it together,” said OMIC Executive Director Melanie Brulée. “It’s about putting artists in the spotlight, connecting them with new audiences and industry, and inviting people to experience Ottawa through its music.”
Here are the essential details you need to know:
- Event: Capital Music Week 2026
- Dates: October 2 to 10, 2026
- Location: 25 venues across Ottawa
- Artists: More than 100 performers
- 2026 Ambassador: Jamie Fine
- Presented By: Godzspeed
- Theme: “Our Soul Is Our Sound”
- Capital Music Awards: October 9 at Southam Hall
- Canada After Dark: October 7 and 8 at the National Arts Centre
- Tickets: On sale now at CxMW.ca
Major Names and New Discoveries
The program will feature Bif Naked, Tyler Shaw, Logan Staats, Ya Levis, Amanda Rheaume, and Pierre Kwenders, along with performers from Ottawa and other parts of Canada.
The schedule will also move beyond live sets. Visitors can take in music documentaries, photography exhibitions hosted across several cafés, workshops, and panels. An Ontario Music Cities Boat Cruise will add another setting for the week’s cultural programming.
Jamie Fine, a multi-platinum Ottawa artist, will serve as the 2026 Ambassador, helping represent an event built around the people and places shaping the city’s musical identity.
Capital Music Awards Mark a Seventh Year
The 7th annual Capital Music Awards will be held October 9 (Friday) at Southam Hall and presented by the National Arts Centre.
Tyler Shaw and Kellylee Evans will co-host the ceremony, which will recognize a record 58 nominees across 13 categories.
Six live performances are also planned, including the official Ottawa 200 anthem, written and performed by Jessica Pearson, Yao, and Amanda Rheaume.
Music Business Meets Nightlife
CxMW will create space for people working behind the scenes through two conferences.
The Independent Music Business Summit will offer a full day of panels, workshops, and networking aimed at helping music professionals build sustainable careers and businesses.
Canada After Dark, the national summit focused on nightlife and the nighttime economy, will take place at the National Arts Centre.
Co-presented with the City of Ottawa’s Nightlife Office, the summit will unite Canadian and international leaders to discuss the economic, cultural, and social possibilities of cities after dark.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will once again officially proclaim Capital Music Week, recognizing music’s growing place in the city’s culture and economy.
Which Capital Music Week 2026 artist are you most excited to see in Ottawa this October? Let us know in the comments.
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