1. Juno Awards
National
#1 Music Event
Calgary hosted in 2016, when more than 32,000 people attended the weeklong party, including the Juno Cup hockey game and the Juno Cup Jam. The awards move to Ottawa in 2017 and will be broadcast live from the Canadian Tire Centre. Sponsors include Tourism Ottawa and Google Play Music. Next: March 27-April 2, 2017
Photo: CARAS/iPhoto
2. Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Montreal
#2 Music Event
A new musical park for kids was a hit with families in 2016 when more than two million jazz enthusiasts attended some 800 concerts by more than 2,000 musicians. Big names included Wynton Marsalis and Chick Corea. TD Bank and RioTinto returned as sponsors. Next: June 29-July 8, 2017
Photo: Courtesy of Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
3. Beaches International Jazz Festival
Toronto
#4 Music Event (new to the list)
Canada’s largest free jazz festival topped 750,000 attendees over 23 days in 2016. Multi-arts programing expanded this year thanks to Ontario Trillium Foundation grants, and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport became a sponsor. Next: July 2017
Photo: Michael Wiensczyk
4. Toronto Jazz Festival
Toronto
#5 Music Event
Free and ticketed performances drew about 400,000 to downtown Toronto in 2016. Highlights included a rare Toronto appearance by Avishai Cohen, as well as Vancouver’s Sarah McLachlan and Wynton Marsalis. TD Bank remained the title sponsor. Next: June 2017
Photo: Don Dixon
5. Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
Montreal
#6 Music Event
The Radiohead finale was the highlight of this year’s sold-out festival where more than 100 bands played for 130,000 indie music lovers. Virgin Mobile and Molson Canadian sponsored the three-day music and arts party. Next: August 4-6, 2017
Photo: Tim Snow
6. Winnipeg Folk Fest
Winnipeg
#7 Music Event (up from #9)
More than 60,000 people attended concerts small and large over four days at Bird’s Hill Provincial Park this year. The Bluegrass Situation, a festival within a festival hosted by actor Ed Helms, was a surprise hit. CBC Manitoba and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network sponsored. Next: July 6-9, 2017
Photo: Jenn Kostesky
7. IglooFest
Montreal
#8 Music Event (up from #10)
Mild winter weather pushed attendance at the outdoor electronic music festival to 79,000 over 12 evenings in 2016. The site, on the Jacques-Cartier Quay in the Old Port of Montreal, was redesigned for the event’s 10th anniversary. Sapporo returned as the main sponsor for the fifth consecutive year. Next: January 12-February 4, 2017
Photo: Peter Ryaux-Larsen
8. Dawson City Music Festival
Dawson City
#9 Music Event
Canada’s “tiny, perfect festival” drew 1,000-plus sponsors and volunteers in 2016, increased the number of bands to 25, and moved to the historic Klondike Institute of Art and Culture. Grenon Entreprises was the lead sponsor, along with Air North and Big Rock Brewing. Next: July 21-23, 2017
Photo: Aaron Woroniuk
9. Calgary International Blues Festival
Calgary
#10 Music Event
New efforts to green the festival site, Shaw Millennium Park, couldn’t reverse the effects of bad weather and a poor economic climate in 2016 when attendance dropped to 14,000. Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Calgary Arts Development were sponsors. July 31-August 6, 2017
Photo: Courtesy of Calgary International Blues Festival
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