Folk Canada Conference 2026

Canada's largest annual gathering for the folk, roots, and traditional music community is back, and it's landing in Hamilton this fall. The 2026 Folk Canada Conference takes place October 14–18 at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, Ontario.

If the name looks new, that's because it is. The conference was recently renamed from the Folk Music Ontario Conference to reflect the organization's new national focus. But the roots run deep — since 1986, the organization has been a leading gathering place for artists, presenters, and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and create new opportunities.

This isn't a small room. The 2025 edition in Ottawa drew over 1,100 attendees from 15 different countries, and the conference continues to welcome a growing number of international delegates each year.

What's on offer for 2026:

• Official, Spotlight, and Acoustic Showcases (formerly Private Showcases) designed to facilitate artist discovery and career growth
• Three days of performances, networking, meetings, and professional development, with customized programming for folks at any stage of their career
• The Ontario Folk Music Awards (ticketed separately from the conference)
• The Community Folk Fest on Sunday, October 18 — a completely free day of concerts for the people of Hamilton

For artists weighing a showcase: showcases are awarded on artistic merit and performance readiness, assessed by a committee of music industry peers — Folk Canada staff facilitate the process but don't take part in the jurying. Official Showcase artists also get the option to join the Export Development and Canadian Buyers Programs, with priority access to one-on-one pitch meetings. Worth noting the deadline has passed for 2026 — applications closed January 30 — but it's one to flag for next year.

Folk Canada members save $100 on registration. Tickets are available now.

Website - www.folkcanada.com