Canada Day 2026 will bring music, celebration, and some familiar Canadian faces to Ottawa.
The festivities kick off with the National Noon Ceremony at LeBreton Flats Park before rolling into a star-studded evening concert.
If you can’t make it to the capital, don’t worry. Broadcasters will stream the celebrations across Canada and around the world.
Celebrating Canada While Recognizing Its Full Story
Canada Day means different things to different people.
Many Canadians see July 1 as a day to celebrate community, culture, and the people who help make this country what it is.
Many Indigenous Peoples view the day through a different lens. The legacy of residential schools, displacement, and colonial policies continues to shape communities across the country.
I think it’s important to hold space for both perspectives.
Canada has accomplished some, but reconciliation remains a journey rather than a destination. Listening, learning, and supporting Indigenous voices matters every day, not just on Canada Day.
You can learn more through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
National Noon Ceremony Opens the Day
The National Noon Ceremony begins at noon Eastern Time at LeBreton Flats Park.
The event highlights Canada’s achievements, cultures, languages, and communities through music, storytelling, and special presentations.
Visitors attending in person can also watch from large screens at official sites near Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada.
The ceremony includes several iconic Canada Day moments:
- The national anthem
- Dance performances
- Personal stories from inspiring Canadians
- An Order of Canada Investiture Ceremony
- A flyover by the Snowbirds
Performers Taking the Stage at Noon
This year’s lineup features artists from across the country.
Performers include:
- Alessia Cara
- Loud
- TOBi
- Adrian Sutherland
- Naomi
- Éléonore Lagacé
- Alicia Blore
- Alexandre (Douzie) Tétrault
- Deantha Edmunds
- Julianna Labelle
That’s a pretty strong excuse to start dancing before lunch.
Special Guests Include Two Canadian Icons
One of the most anticipated appearances comes from Jeremy Hansen.
He will become the first Canadian to travel around the Moon as part of the Artemis II mission.
The ceremony will also honour Rick Hansen on the 40th anniversary of his Man in Motion World Tour.
His journey continues to inspire Canadians through advocacy, accessibility, and inclusion.
Olympic and Paralympic athletes from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games will also join the celebration.
Recipients of the Order of Canada will receive recognition for their contributions to the country.
How to Watch the National Noon Ceremony
If you’re in Ottawa, head to LeBreton Flats Park.
If you’re like me and appreciate celebrating in comfortable clothes with unlimited snacks nearby, the livestream works too.
You can watch through:
- CBC Gem
- CBC News
- CBC News YouTube Channel
- ICI TOU.TV
- Radio-Canada Info YouTube Channel
The Evening Show Turns Up the Volume
The celebrations continue from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
The national broadcast originates from Ottawa and includes segments from Moncton and Winnipeg.
The evening lineup features a mix of legendary performers and rising stars.
Artists include:
- Alessia Cara
- Barenaked Ladies
- Beatrice Deer
- Begonia
- Dominique Fils-Aimé
- Lisa LeBlanc
- MICO
- Noeline Hofmann
- Pierre Lapointe
- P’tit Belliveau
As someone who grew up in Winnipeg, I have to admit seeing Begonia and Andrina Turenne on a national stage feels pretty great.
The evening broadcast will also include American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) interpretation.
Planning Your Canada Day
Want more details about events, volunteer opportunities, and celebrations happening across the country?
Visit the official Canada Day website:
Canada Day 2026 Official Website
You can also check out the official Canada Day playlist, find activities near you, and follow updates leading up to July 1.
Whether you’re celebrating from Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg, or somewhere in between, this year’s lineup brings together artists, athletes, and community leaders from across the country.
Canada’s story isn’t perfect. It never has been.
But it continues to grow through the people who challenge it, celebrate it, and work to make it better.
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