Breakout West 2026

The largest music industry event in Western Canada is heading back to Vancouver Island. BreakOut West will be staged September 30 to October 4, 2026, at more than a dozen venues throughout Victoria, with the Victoria Conference Centre serving as the primary home of the five-day event — marking the festival's return to the city for the first time in over a decade.

BreakOut West is a music industry showcase, conference, and festival designed to match export-ready artists based in Western Canada with industry professionals. The multi-genre gathering also incorporates the Western Canadian Music Awards, and features over 50 Western Canadian artists alongside select national and international acts, with each artist performing twice across the festival.

For delegates, the daytime conference runs alongside the evening showcases. Registration opens May 25, 2026, with attendees receiving a badge for the daytime conference sessions and a wristband for the evening festival performances. The conference is built to bring together artists and music industry professionals from across the country, offering a space to connect, collaborate, and grow their careers through panels, keynotes, networking receptions, and one-on-one industry meetings.

The 2026 edition follows this past year's festival in Winnipeg, continuing the event's rotation through Western Canadian host cities.

Website - breakoutwest.ca.