Folk Canada Conference 2026

Tickets are now available for the 2026 Folk Canada Conference, taking place October 14–18 at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada!

Since 1986, Folk Canada (formerly Folk Music Ontario) has been the leading gathering place for artists, presenters, and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and create new opportunities. The conference remains the premier networking event for the Canadian folk music community, welcoming a growing number of international delegates each year.

This year’s event offers a dynamic range of opportunities, including:

• Official, Spotlight, and Acoustic Showcases (formerly Private Showcases) designed to facilitate artist discovery and career growth.

• Export-Ready programming, connecting artists with international buyers through curated B2B meetings.

• Receptions, Lightning Talks, and informal gatherings to foster meaningful business relationships.

• A full schedule of keynotes, panels, workshops, roundtable discussions, and peer-to-peer sessions.

• The Developing Artist Program for artists aged 25 and under, offering mentorship, training, and showcasing opportunities.

• The READI (Ready & Emerging Artist Development Incubator) Program for artists of all ages and genres to gather for an intensive day of training, peer sharing, mentorship, and community building.

• The Culture in Climate Summit - 3 days of sessions, panels, and important discussions centred around climate impact and action.

• The Ontario Folk Music Awards, celebrating the achievements of our community with awards presentations and performances (note: this event has a separate ticketing system from the conference - more info coming soon!)

• The Community Folk Fest, happening Sunday October 18th, 2026, is a completely free day of concerts held for the people of Hamilton!

The 2026 Folk Canada Conference promises four days of music, learning, and connections that can shape your career. TICKET TYPES: (note: all tickets allow for access to the entirety of conference activities other than the Ontario Folk Music Awards) Folk Canada members save $100 on registration!

If you would like to become a member of Folk Canada, simply sign up using the Member rate, and we'll contact you regarding signing up for membership! If you are unsure about which rate to use, please contact us at joel@folkcanada.com EARLY BIRD RATE MEMBER - $275.00 - Available until June 26, 2026 EARLY BIRD RATE NON-MEMBER - $375.00 - Available until June 26, 2026 ADVANCE RATE MEMBER - $400.00 - Available from June 27 - August 31, 2026 ADVANCE RATE NON-MEMBER - $500.00 - Available from June 27 - August 31, 2026

REGULAR RATE MEMBER - $550.00 - Available from September 1 to end of conference REGULAR RATE NON-MEMBER - $650.00 - Available from September 1 to end of conference ARTIST RATE MEMBER - $200.00 - The ARTIST rate is available for those who applied to showcase but are not Official Showcasing artists. It also applies to Spotlight and Acoustic Showcase performers. There is no deadline on this rate. ARTIST RATE NON-MEMBER - $275.00 - The ARTIST rate is available for those who applied to showcase but are not Official Showcasing artists. It also applies to Spotlight and Acoustic Showcase performers. There is no deadline on this rate. ADDITIONAL MUSICIAN RATE MEMBER - $75.00 ADDITIONAL MUSICIAN RATE NON-MEMBER - $150.00 - The ADDITIONAL MUSICIAN rate is only available for musicians playing with a showcasing artist. This rate can only be used if at least one member of the group has registered at the ARTIST rate. There is no deadline on this rate. THURSDAY DAY RATE - $350.00 FRIDAY DAY RATE - $350.00 SATURDAY DAY RATE - $350.00

We strive to keep our registration rates as low as possible to make the conference accessible to all. If the cost is a barrier and would prevent you from attending, please reach out to us to request a community ticket, which helps offset registration fees. We also encourage folks to consider volunteering—it's a fun and meaningful way to attend the conference for free while supporting the event through various activities.