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Toronto, ON – January 21, 2026 – The Departure Festival + Conference from Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group (OVG) today announces the first round of guests and artists joining their 2026 edition. Building on a successful inaugural year, Departure 2026 is a premier destination for music, media, technology, and culture, uniting artists, industry leaders, and audiences from Canada and around the world. As a dynamic and innovative launchpad for new talent and groundbreaking work, Departure celebrates creatives from all artistic disciplines. Departure Festival + Conference takes place
May 4-10, 2026 in Toronto.
New for 2026, the Departure Conference will move into the heart of downtown Toronto, with transit-accessible venues in a new walkable footprint. The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and the historic Fairmont Royal York will serve as the main stages and central hub for keynote sessions — offering a meaningful nod to Departure’s roots as Canadian Music Week, which operated out of the landmark hotel for many years. The campus will also debut Departure House at Transmission Studios as an innovative pop-up destination for immersive brand activations and specialized programming.
The Conference will welcome some of the most influential voices in the industry including recognized comedian Russell Peters, music legend and Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, and Grammy-nominated songwriter Jenna Andrews who has written hits for BTS and most recently for KPop Demon Hunters and was featured on Netflix’s Hitmakers, among other guests. Departure Festival will once again feature curated music showcases, exclusive premium music shows, comedy, film & TV and interactive pop-ups in various venues across the city. Highlights include an exclusive 10th anniversary Massey Hall show from platinum-selling indie trio Wild Rivers, celebrating the release of their self-titled debut album, Tommy Genesis at The Great Hall, and the return of the SiriusXM Spotlight Series taking over The Mod Club with Canadian artists Katie Tupper, Sacha, Chxrry, and Jev, and the returning SOCAN Songwriters Series.
Departure Honours presented by Ticketmaster also returns this year, celebrating notable changemakers and groundbreaking achievements within the cultural landscape. Music icon Sarah McLachlan will be awarded the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Award presented by Slaight Music, Golden Globe-winner and visionary force behind KPop Demon Hunters, Maggie Kang will receive the Cultural Innovator Award, the creative mastermind behind numerous acclaimed films and shows, including the massive global hit Heated Rivalry, Jacob Tierney will receive the Creative Impact Award, and influential literary star Rupi Kaur will receive the Independent Achievement Award, with additional honourees to be announced. Rupi will also headline a special event at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre the evening prior. Additionally, Departure will once again host the Live Music Awards, presented in partnership with the Canadian Live Music Association.
“After an incredible inaugural year, we’re excited to build on that momentum with a 2026 edition that’s bigger, bolder, and even more connected to the city,” said Kevin Barton, Executive Producer at Departure Festival + Conference. “Welcoming influential voices to new, vibrant spaces in the heart of downtown Toronto, Departure continues to evolve where music, culture, and emerging creative fields collide. This is just the beginning, with more exciting announcements still to come.”
“Departure has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of Canada’s cultural calendar,” said Tom Pistore, President of Oak View Group Canada. “The 2026 edition continues to champion artistic innovation, bringing together boundary-pushing creators and ideas. We’re proud to support a platform that not only showcases world-class talent, but also encourages inspiration, collaboration, and passion across the global creative community.”
Click here for quotes from Sarah McLachlan, Maggie Kang, Jacob Tierney, Russell Peters and Kevin Lyman.
See below for the programming lineup to date, with additional names to be announced. Programming for Departure is led by Pat Murphy who moves into a new position as Executive Director.
Priority and Conference Passes are on sale now at departureto.com.
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