#NEWMUSIC: NXNE 2026 PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCEMENT

North by Northeast (NXNE), Canada’s premier festival for music discovery, is thrilled to announce its return to Toronto from June 10–14, 2026, with tickets now on sale for the week-long festival. Today, NXNE also announces its first 100 confirmed artists of the over 300 acts playing NXNE. Celebrating its 31st year, the festival is set to be its most expansive edition yet, featuring over 300 artists across more than 30 iconic venues, alongside high-profile industry summits, marquee events, and new programming highlights for 2026.

The festival celebrates and puts forward the best Canadian emerging acts as well as top discovery talent from around the world, including performers from Aruba (activemirror), Australia (Teenage Joans), India (Easy Wanderlings), Germany (nothhingspecial), New Zealand (WHO SHOT SCOTT), the United Kingdom (MOA), and more.

For over three decades, NXNE has served as the heartbeat of the Canadian music scene, providing a launchpad for global superstars like Lizzo, Post Malone, Daniel Caesar, Kaytranada, and The Beaches, who first commanded the stage. The festival returns with a culturally important partnership with AMG (parent company of Billboard Canada and Rolling Stone Canada), amplifying its global reach. This year’s edition will feature artists across 30-plus venues and marquee industry gatherings, including Billboard Canada Power Players, Managers to Watch, Billboard Summit, Billboard Canada: The Stage, Billboard Canada LIVE, and the Canadian Sync Awards.

Anticipating hundreds of thousands of attendees over five days—including stages at Union Station, Billy Bishop, and Pearson Airport—and billions in media impact, NXNE 2026 will stand as a defining cultural moment where music, innovation, and community converge.

Emphasizing an artist-centric approach, NXNE prioritizes accessibility and inclusion, striving to make a lasting impact by empowering and supporting artists through meaningful connections, education, and, above all, providing a platform for performance. NXNE is resolutely focused on dismantling financial barriers for both creators and audiences. This commitment is reflected in its policy of waiving application fees, ensuring that artists receive compensation for their contributions, and maintaining a low all-access festival pass price.

Centered in the heart of Toronto’s vibrant live music scene, the festival delivers a rare moment of cultural concentration across music, design, and nightlife.

Here’s what guests can expect for NXNE 2026 with Programming:

FIRST 100 ARTISTS ANNOUNCED TODAY – We’re thrilled and proud to announce 2026’s lineup of the first 100 emerging artists – each one standing out from a pool of more than 2,000 applications. Artists from Ontario, across Canada, and around the world will play 40-minute sets with a 20-minute changeover – NXNE’s signature format – in 30+ of Toronto’s best live music venues.

NXNE ARTIST HOUSE – The Centre Social Innovation at Queen and Spadina is transformed into NXNE Artists’ House and headquarters – a welcoming space with comfortable seating and an open kitchen/bar will anchor the festival, making it a conducive meeting ground and busy hub for artists for the duration of the festival.

BILLBOARD SUMMIT AT NXNE: Taking place at TIFF Lightbox, this premiere event features masterclasses and panels with cultural innovators. Following the success of 2025’s sessions with deadmau5 and Diljit Dosanjh, the 2026 summit promises bold new perspectives on the industry.

NEXT LEVEL PANELS: A two-day intensive at TIFF Lightbox geared toward industry professionals and creators, covering everything from sync licensing and streaming to touring and songwriting.

BILLBOARD CANADA POWER PLAYERS – A high-level event celebrating the Canadian music industry’s most influential figures and leaders who are shaping the future of global music.

BILLBOARD CANADA MANAGERS TO WATCH: A celebration of the top music managers in Canada, artists, and related music industry professionals, highlighting the momentous career leaps that helped break an artist wide open in a given year, in partnership with MMF.

CANADIAN SYNC AWARDS – Celebrating excellence in music supervision across film, TV, and media – in partnership with the Guild of Music Supervisors.

“The festival grew dramatically last year, our 30th, and we intend to blast past that with an even bigger NXNE in 2026,” says Michael Hollett, NXNE President and Founder. “Band applications are up 100 per cent, we’re close to doubling our number of venues, and our secret shows and underplays will feature arena acts. There’s so much musical talent in Canada and from around the world, and we are thrilled to present the best of it, often at the very beginning of a musician’s artistic journey.”

For more information, tickets, and the full artist lineup, visit NXNE.com.

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About NXNE:
For more than 30 years, NXNE has been the heartbeat of new music in Canada — a cultural institution that unites artists, fans, and industry leaders while shaping what comes next. More than a festival, NXNE is a platform for discovery, a launchpad for emerging talent, and a global meeting ground for the most influential voices in music and culture. Generations of artists, from The Beaches to Post Malone, The Arkells, Lizzo, Daniel Caesar and Kaytranada, first stepped onto the NXNE stage before defining their eras.

North by Northeast (NXNE) has been Canada’s leading festival of music discovery since 1995. Canadian and international stars from Billy Talent, Haviah Mighty, and Sam Roberts to Lizzo and The Lumineers all performed critical NXNE showcases early in their careers.

Originally formed in partnership with Austin’s SXSW, founder Michael Hollett continues to lead NXNE as president and CEO, along with Managing Director Barbara Hefler. The festival’s primary goal remains to showcase and support emerging musical talent from Canada and around the world while promoting Toronto’s live music scene.
www.nxne.com

About ArtsHouse Media Group (AMG):

ArtsHouse Media Group is a premier music media company and publisher producing bilingual content that resonates with audiences across Canada and beyond. As the parent company of Billboard Canada, Billboard UK, Rolling Stone Canada, Rolling Stone Quebec, Waveland Canada, Climate Library, and Arts Help, AMG collaborates with diverse creators to elevate voices and deliver compelling narratives. Through innovative storytelling and strategic partnerships, AMG connects local culture with global audiences at the forefront of the new cultural economy, redefining the media landscape.

NXNE is generously supported by FACTOR, the Government of Canada, Ontario Creates, Experience Ontario, and the City of Toronto.