OTTAWA, February 24, 2026 — Ottawa Tourism, in partnership with the City of Ottawa, is pleased to announce the recipients of the Major Festivals Fund, a new investment totaling $1 million designed to support Ottawa’s most tourism-generating festivals and events and strengthen the city’s position as a premier destination for large-scale cultural and sporting experiences.
The Major Festivals Fund supports events that operate on a significant scale and play a demonstrable role in driving visitation, overnight stays and year-round economic impact in Ottawa. The program is designed to champion festivals with the capacity to attract audiences from outside the region, deliver high-quality experiences and contribute meaningfully to the city’s cultural vitality and visitor economy.
Through this initiative, funding helps festivals deliver programming, support operations and help Ottawa’s major events continue to attract market share and Ottawa’s position as a competitive and compelling destination for visitors.
The following festivals and events have been selected as recipients of the Major Festivals Fund:
- Capital Pride
- CityFolk Festival
- Escapade Music Festival
- Ottawa Bluesfest (RBC Bluesfest)
- Ottawa International Animation Festival
- Ottawa Jazz Festival
- Saunders Farm FrightFest
- Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
“These festivals are cornerstones of Ottawa’s visitor economy and cultural identity,” said Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “By supporting events of this scale, the Major Festivals Fund ensures our destination continues to attract visitation and provide time-bound reasons to visit Ottawa while elevating our destination’s cultural profile in our key tourism markets and enhancing residents’ quality of life.”
“Ottawa’s festivals are celebrations of who we are as a city,” said Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “They bring people together, showcase our creativity, and draw massive crowds, and strengthen our economy. By supporting these major festivals, we’re investing in the experiences that make Ottawa a vibrant, welcoming, and world-class destination for everyone.”
“OFN is very pleased to see this vital investment directed toward our major festivals.” Said Tara Shannon, Executive Director of the Ottawa Festivals Network. “This addresses a critical gap in the funding structure, helping ensure that the festivals driving Ottawa’s visitor economy can access a portion of the tax revenue they generate to support long-term sustainability. The pilot intake process has also provided valuable insight into how the program can continue to evolve and strengthen over time. We are grateful to Mayor Sutcliffe’s Office and Ottawa Tourism for prioritizing this initiative and moving quickly to support a sector that plays such a significant role in our city’s cultural and economic vitality.”
About Ottawa Tourism
Through its values of inclusivity, trust, collaboration and innovation, Ottawa Tourism pursues its vision to be one of Canada’s most visited, vibrant, and appealing urban destinations, as well as the tourism authority for key economic development and city-building decisions in Ottawa. Canada’s capital welcomes an estimated 10 million visitors annually who spend $2.6 billion in the community.
For more information, please contact:
Jérôme Miousse
Director, Public Affairs
corporate@ottawatourism.ca
