Osheaga’s nineteenth version was one for the books.
The three-day music and humanities pageant and Montreal simply wrapped up its nineteenth yr by logging considered one of its most profitable editions, drawing its second-highest-ever attendance with over 151,000 followers. It’s proof that one of many largest festivals in Canada continues to get even larger, with two out of three nights absolutely bought out this yr.
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Osheaga was Canada down this yr, and Tate McRae helped make historical past. The Tate-headlined Saturday date (Aug. 1) was bought out almost three weeks upfront, the quickest sellout ever for a person day. The gross sales had been largely pushed by the Canadian hitmaker’s headlining slot and its huge hype. Evenko, the promoter behind the pageant, already forecasted the sellout in Could.
McRae took the stage for her first-ever pageant headline look in her dwelling nation whereas concurrently changing into the primary Canadian to headline the pageant since Arcade Fireplace changed the Foo Fighters in 2022, and The Weeknd headlined in 2017.
The native spirit was remarkably excessive this yr, with about 50% of this yr’s crowd comprised of Quebec followers, up from about 40% final yr. One of many weekend’s most anticipated moments got here within the type of Quebec heroes Angine de Poitrine, who performed a shock set on Saturday. The band was booked in Could, previous to their legendary record-setting set at Montreal Jazz Fest. They had been saved as a last-minute shock as a result of gross sales had been already regular, in order that they added some last-minute buzz. Osheaga initially soft-launched their look by together with their identify throughout the lineup on choose merch items simply sooner or later previous to their efficiency, and later revealed them the next morning, giving ticketholders a assured alternative to see the world’s most viral band.
The pageant has confirmed its knack for reserving effervescent acts proper earlier than they spike in reputation, and this yr’s version adopted go well with with that pattern. Rising singer-songwriter Stella Lefty, who’s presently charting within the prime 5 of the Billboard Canadian Sizzling 100 and Billboard Sizzling 100, stuffed up the Mountain stage throughout her ripe 3 pm set, and Malcolm Todd performed the first essential stage after incomes thousands and thousands of latest listeners previously months, for the reason that lineup first dropped.
As nostalgia continues to blanket 2026, this yr’s Osheaga was a full-circle version together with a number of throwbacks to its personal programming from 10 years in the past, together with Lorde’s return as a headliner and different Osheaga alumni making their approach again to Parc Jean-Drapeau.
“Zara Larsson performed in 2017. She’s had an awesome profession, however now swiftly she’s enormous,” Osheaga founder Nick Farkas tells Billboard Canada. The Swedish pop star pulled one of many weekend’s largest crowds amid her main chart resurgence. Followers rocking shiny colors and flowers stuffed the viewers throughout each essential levels, keen to listen to Larsson’s hits each previous (“Lush Life”) and new (“Midnight Solar” and “Stateside”). The Heated Rivalry craze additionally led Wolf Parade to the pageant as soon as extra, with Farkas including that it was “a lot enjoyable having Wolf Parade again.” The band famously performed the inaugural version of Osheaga and made their second decennial return this yr, now having performed in 2006, 2016 and 2026, a run that speaks to their very own longevity in addition to that of the pageant.
Learn extra right here. — Stefano Rebuli
October’s Very Personal upped the ante for its second OVO Golf Traditional final Thursday (July 30).
The clothes and tradition model co-founded by international famous person Drake took over all three award-winning programs at TPC Osprey Valley, dwelling of the Canadian Open, for a spirited day of music, sport and group in help of the Remix Undertaking and the Scarborough Taking pictures Stars Basis. It was hosted by eTalk’s Tyrone Edwards, a Remix alumnus himself, and sports activities broadcaster Rod Black, the voice of the Scarborough Taking pictures Stars.
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The occasion was produced by artistic advertising and marketing and experiential occasions company That Good.
Whereas 2025’s first version set a regular for the occasion, the second yr was even larger. There have been 91 groups (up from 36 final yr), totalling 364 golfers.
That included some main names from music, tradition and sports activities: the NBA’s Devin Booker and Jordan Clarkson, soccer star Johnny Manziel and soccer star Jozy Altidore, OVO Sound artists Smiley, Nineteen85, Roy Woods and Jordan Ullman of Majid Jordan, social media stars Glamzilla, MD Motivator, Kyle Foregard of the NELK Boys and lots of extra.
Following an 11 a.m. shotgun begin, golfers spent the day enjoying by a superpowered model of the acclaimed golf course. Each gap was activated with unique giveaways and challenges, including an additional layer to the motion on the course. Billboard Canada was the companion for gap 11, letting members star on their model of a Billboard cowl between swings.
All the cash raised went towards the Remix Undertaking and the Scarborough Taking pictures Stars Basis, the charitable arm of a Canadian Elite Basketball League staff, funding youth packages that present entry to sport, mentorship and alternative for under-resourced youth locally.
On the finish of the day, a helicopter dropped a set of balls onto the course, every with a possible huge prize together with a collection for 20 individuals for a Toronto Blue Jays Recreation, tickets to any NFL recreation, a $1000 OVO present card, a Gretzky Hockey College jersey signed by Wayne Gretzky and a one-night, two-round keep for 4 golfers at TPC Osprey in 2027.
After everybody was finished on the course, a particular meal and reception fed and entertained the star-studded crowd.
Learn extra right here. — Billboard Canada
Kevin Barton has stepped down from his position as government producer at Departure.
Barton held the position for each years of the convention and pageant because it was purchased by Oak View Group and Loft Leisure in 2024 and rebranded from Canadian Music Week. Barton stays a companion and shareholder at Loft, the Toronto-based music firm co-founded by former Bell Media and Common Music Canada government Randy Lennox and movie producer Jeffrey Latimer.
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“I’m concluding my position as Govt Producer of Departure Pageant + Convention,” Barton tells Billboard Canada. “After spending the previous two years serving to information its evolution, it appears like the proper time for me to start a brand new chapter.”
In March, shortly earlier than the second version of Departure, the Canadian Arts & Vogue Awards (CAFA) introduced Barton could be taking an expanded position as chief technique officer. On the time, Barton clarified on Instagram that he would proceed in his roles at Departure and Loft.
Barton says his determination to maneuver on from Departure was not pushed by his expanded position at CAFA, however quite by a need to concentrate on new tasks.
“I’ve reached some extent the place I need to concentrate on a broader portfolio of labor, together with CAFA, strategic advisory tasks, and creating new initiatives round tradition, enterprise and innovation,” he says.
All through his profession, Barton has bridged the worlds of music, style and artwork, constructing the City Music division at Common Music Canada and likewise working in movie and images.
Canadian Music Week’s transformation into Departure additionally shifted from its longtime id because the Canadian music business’s main convention into one which additionally targeted on media, know-how, movie, style and different cultural topics.
“After I joined, considered one of my priorities was serving to reimagine the pageant’s id to raised replicate the place tradition was heading,” Barton says, increasing throughout artistic sectors to replicate “how at present’s inventive communities really collaborate and create.”
Billboard Canada discovered there have been layoffs following this yr’s version of Departure. Barton attributes that to seasonal staffing, which he says is frequent throughout the reside occasions business. “Organizations broaden to ship the pageant after which realign afterward as they transition into planning, partnership growth and long-term technique for the following version.”
Learn extra right here. — Richard Trapunski
