Music Festival Provider

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The City of Burlington would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Burlington Sound of Music Festival Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers for their dedication and contributions to our community over the past 40 years. Their efforts have helped shape a beloved tradition that has brought joy to residents and visitors alike.  

The City has now issued a call for applications for event organizers interested in hosting a community-focused music festival at Spencer Smith Park beginning in 2026—one that reflects the evolving needs and values of Burlington residents. 

To help guide this transition, an online survey was also launched to gather input on what matters most to the community. Residents will be asked to share their thoughts on key elements such as the importance of free versus paid events, accessibility, environmental sustainability, and the inclusion of Canadian and local talent. 

This feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of music programming in Burlington and ensuring it continues to celebrate community, creativity, and connection. 

The City of Burlington would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Burlington Sound of Music Festival Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers for their dedication and contributions to our community over the past 40 years. Their efforts have helped shape a beloved tradition that has brought joy to residents and visitors alike.  

The City has now issued a call for applications for event organizers interested in hosting a community-focused music festival at Spencer Smith Park beginning in 2026—one that reflects the evolving needs and values of Burlington residents. 

To help guide this transition, an online survey was also launched to gather input on what matters most to the community. Residents will be asked to share their thoughts on key elements such as the importance of free versus paid events, accessibility, environmental sustainability, and the inclusion of Canadian and local talent. 

This feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of music programming in Burlington and ensuring it continues to celebrate community, creativity, and connection. 

  • Free Summer Music Tradition Continues with a New Waterfront Music Festival in Burlington

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    Burlington’s signature waterfront music tradition is set to continue in a new way next summer.

    Following extensive community engagement and a public call for applications, the City of Burlington has selected MRG Live Ltd. as the successful applicant to produce a new, free music festival at Spencer Smith Park in June 2026.

    Taking place Father’s Day weekend at Burlington’s waterfront, the festival will bring a new creative vision and lineup of live music and community experiences—produced, programmed, and operated independently by MRG Live Ltd.

    The process to determine the top applicant included a thorough review by the Festivals and Events Strategy Team, made up of City staff and external stakeholders, including the Burlington Performance Arts Centre, Halton Regional Police Service, Burlington Downtown Business Association and Burlington Economic Development & Tourism.

    The review team also ensured alignment between the applicant’s submission and the City’s Festivals and Events Policy. MRG Live Ltd. demonstrated the strongest alignment with Burlington’s priorities for a free, accessible, and community-focused event that celebrates Canadian talent and supports local businesses.

    Now that the selection process is complete, planning is underway, and more details, including the name of the festival, duration of the event, and all of the ways the community can get involved, including volunteer opportunities and more, will be shared in early 2026.

  • Thank You for Joining Our Music Festival Information Session!

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    We appreciate everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. Your questions were insightful and helped shape the conversation. To ensure everyone has access to the answers, we’ve compiled all the questions and responses into a comprehensive FAQ document.

  • The Call for Applications is now open.

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    Application link

    The City of Burlington is seeking a music festival organizer to lead an event in Spencer Smith Park that reflects the City’s goals and community values. Interested organizations or groups can apply by Nov. 21, 2025. Applications will be reviewed in accordance with the established principles of the Festivals and Events Policy.


    Information Session

    Join a virtual info session on Nov 5, 2025 at noon.

    This session is open to all potential applicants to inquire about running events in Burlington. Following a Q&A format, representatives from the City and Region will be in attendance to assist with any event operating related questions.

    Register here


    The Call for Applications was developed using feedback from the recent resident survey on music festivals.

    Community Insights: What Residents Told Us So Far - Burlington Music Festival Community Survey

    (Although the survey remains open until Nov 17, results compiled between Oct 14 - 27, 2025 are summarized below)

    • 2,876 responses to the survey since it launched on October 14, 2025.
    • Majority of respondents were ages 35–64.
    • Affordability:
      • 42% said it’s very important the festival be free to attend.
      • 67% would still attend if there was an entrance fee.
      • 38% were comfortable paying $6–$10 for admission if the festival wasn’t free.
      • 74% felt proceeds from ticket sales should support local community initiatives.
    • Programming preferences:
      • 94% said featuring Canadian artists is important.
      • Top genres: Rock (61%), Pop/Indie (49%), and Mixed Genres (49%).
    • Festival experience priorities:
      • Live music & performances (91%)
      • Local food/vendors (56%)
      • Community spirit (43%)
    • Environmental sustainability ranked high - 75% want green and waste-reduction practices.

    Thank you to all residents who participated and shared their insights so far.

  • City of Burlington seeking input to guide the search for a music festival provider

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    The City of Burlington is taking steps to ensure that a community-focused music festival remains part of Burlington’s waterfront experience. In the coming weeks, the City will issue a call for applications inviting event organizers to deliver a refreshed festival at Spencer Smith Park beginning in 2026 — one that continues to bring people together while reflecting the evolving needs and values of our community.

    This next step is about renewal and continuity — building on a long-standing tradition while ensuring future events are inclusive, sustainable, and reflective of Burlington’s priorities. The City’s goal is to see a waterfront music festival continue to thrive in a way that evolves with the community and continues to bring people together for years to come.

    Residents are encouraged to complete a survey to give us your feedback. Feedback will help guide the upcoming call for applications process and ensure future events reflect the values, interests, and priorities of our community.

    The feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of music programming in Burlington and ensuring it continues to celebrate community, creativity, and connection.

Page last updated: 09 Dec 2025, 03:58 PM