Ottawa’s Major Events and Sport Newsletter – Spring 2025

2025 IRONMAN Canada-Ottawa course revealed

One of the biggest sporting events of the year is almost here. IRONMAN Canada–Ottawa takes place on August 3, 2025, welcoming more than 3,000 registered athletes to compete across a course that blends Ottawa’s stunning landscapes with vibrant urban energy.

The official course has now been released.

Athletes will begin with a one-loop, 3.8-kilometre swim in the Ottawa River at Britannia Park, a location with plenty of space for cheering spectators. Next is a 2.75-loop, 180-kilometre bike course, closed to traffic and offering scenic views with mild elevation changes, including highlights like Embassy Row. The final challenge is a 42.2-kilometre run through the lively streets of downtown Ottawa, leading to a memorable finish line with Parliament Hill as the backdrop.

Expect serene river views, city landmarks and incredible crowd energy every step of the way. See the course overview.

International rugby returns to Ottawa for 2025 Canada vs USA Women’s Test Match

Ottawa will once again host a classic cross-border rivalry as Canada’s Senior Women’s Rugby Team faces off against the United States on August 1 at TD Place—their only home match of the season and the final test before the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. Ranked second in the world, Canada’s team is set to deliver a thrilling performance in front of a passionate home crowd.

This marks the fourth consecutive year Ottawa has hosted international rugby at TD Place. In 2023, Canada’s Women’s Team played in the Pacific Four Series in front of the largest crowd in Canadian women’s rugby history. The Men’s National Team also took the field in 2022 and 2024, solidifying Ottawa’s place as a proud rugby city.

Purchase tickets.

Ottawa to host 2025 and 2026 Canadian Track & Field Championships

Ottawa will host the Canadian Track & Field Championships in both 2025 and 2026, returning to the city for the first time since 2017 and 2018. This year’s event takes place July 30 to August 3 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

The championships will feature Open, U20, Para Athletics, and Combined Events, serving as a qualifier for both the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.

Athletics Canada CEO Mathieu Gentès called Ottawa “an easy choice,” praising the city’s reputation for delivering a first-class, fan-friendly event.

Purchase tickets.

uOttawa wins 2025 University Cup in Ottawa

The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s hockey team won the University Cup for the first time in the program’s history. The event took place at TD Place Arena, and it was the first time the Gee-Gees played in the U Sports championship game.

Ottawa hosted 2025 FIVB Volleyball Nations League

From June 4–8, 2025, Ottawa welcomed the FIVB Volleyball Nations League to TD Place Arena, the first time that women’s teams competed at this venue. Week 1 of the preliminary phase saw elite international action as Team Canada faced off against top teams from Japan, the Netherlands, Serbia, the Dominican Republic and Bulgaria. A crowd of 5,100 spectators watched Team Canada take on unbeaten Japan in a thrilling match that showcased the very best of women’s volleyball.

2025 Special Olympics Ontario School Championships held in Ottawa

Canada’s capital city hosted the 2025 Special Olympics Ontario School Championships from June 3–5 at Carleton University. More than 1,100 athletes, with and without intellectual disabilities, along with partners and educators from across Ontario, came together to celebrate this prestigious provincial event for youth aged 13 to 21.

2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards celebrate 20th anniversary in Ottawa

The 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA) returned to their birthplace in Canada’s capital region to celebrate their 20th anniversary from April 3 to 6. The multi-day celebration featured a series of bilingual concerts that showcased the diversity of Canada’s folk music scene. Rather than a single awards ceremony, awards were presented throughout the concerts, with categories including Indigenous Songwriter, New/Emerging Artist, and Pushing the Boundaries. Venues such as the National Arts Centre and the Canadian Museum of History hosted the festivities.

Credit: Curtis Perry

Ottawa Tourism’s Major Events and Sport team Toronto Sales Trip

In May, Patrick Quirouette (Assistant Director, Sales, Business & Major Events), Devin Jenkins, and Joey Swarbrick (Managers, Major Events & Sport) connected with national and provincial sport organizations in Toronto. Hosting a lively evening at The Broadview Hotel, the team shared ideas over dinner and drinks, finishing off with some friendly and surprisingly competitive bocce matches at Lob. The event sparked new opportunities and celebrated the people shaping Canada’s sports landscape.

Team OT at Sports ETA Symposium 

Ottawa Tourism’s Major Events and Sport champions, Joey Swarbrick (Manager, Major Events and Sport) and Devin Jenkins (Manager, Major Events and Sport), attended the Sports Events & Tourism Association Symposium in Tulsa from April 14–17, 2025.

As one of the biggest gatherings in the sports tourism industry, the Symposium brings together top decision-makers, destinations, and event organizers for a week of networking, learning, and business development.

Joey had this to say about the event:

"This iteration of the Symposium had the highest attendance, and I can see why the Symposium keeps growing each year. The networking and education sessions were fantastic. There were so many opportunities to engage with and meet so many new people within the Sports Tourism industry. These chances to learn from, and about, different destinations and rights holders are invaluable."

Getting to talk all things sport hosting and how Ottawa is a great destination for Major Events was the cherry on top of a special week!”

• 2025 NextGen Quebec Championship – July 3-5
• 2025 ScotDance Canadian Championship Series – July 5-9
• 2025 ACL Canada National Championship – July 17-20
• 2025 Commissionaires Ottawa Open – July 21-27
• 2025 Canadian Ultimate Championship - Masters - July 25-27
• 2025 Junior Players Tour - Open @ Greensmere – July 25-27
• 2025 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship, Presented by BDO – July 28-31
• 2025 Junior Players Tour - Championship @ Rockland – July 30-August 1
• 2025 Canadian Track and Field Championships – July 30-August 3
• 2025 Rugby Canada vs USA Senior Women's Test Match - August 1
• 2025 IRONMAN Canada-Ottawa – August 3
• 2025 Masters Indigenous Games - August 14-17
• 2025 Trillium Championship Show – August 28-31
• 2025 OVGA Cup Junior Golf Championship – September 5-7

• September 18, 2025, in Ottawa – Thirsty Thursday at the House of Sport (RA Centre)
  • Ottawa Tourism hosts this social event for sporting associations within the RA Centre in Ottawa