Huge festival brings nearly 100 music, comedy and drag stars to Edmonton this month

Edmonton music, comedy and drag fans are in for a treat this winter because a massive festival is bringing some great shows to town.

The sixth annual Winterruption YEG is happening from Jan. 21 to 25 at over a dozen stages downtown.

Nearly 100 artists from across the city, Canada and North America will be in Edmonton for the highly anticipated event.

Whether you’re looking to dance all night to great music or laugh it up with some stand-ups, there’s a show for you to discover. And tickets and passes are on sale now.

“I know I say this every year, but 2026 is the biggest and best lineup we’ve ever put together,” said Brent Oliver, producer of Winterruption YEG, to Daily Hive.

“From established and legendary acts, to tons of up and coming artists – I’m really proud of the balance we’ve struck in our programming for downtown Edmonton.”

The multi-venue music and arts festival first started in 2019  in conjunction with Winterruption festivals in Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, and Calgary’s Big Winter Classic.

It has since grown to encompass events on 13 stages downtown, as well as The Rec Room South Edmonton for Love Pro Wrestling.

Headliners include punk legends FEAR, hip hop star Talib Kweli, and roots rock artist Hiss Golden Messenger.

Other performers include Thumpasaurus, Shad, Open Mike Eagle, and Stomach Book.

Eric Kozakiewicz Photography/Winterruption YEG

“It’s also been very important to us to provide not only musical diversity, but representation from underrepresented groups,” explained Oliver.

“We pride ourselves on our programming showcasing the BIPOC and LGBTQ2S++ communities. We also make sure we have events for all ages, and certain events are free to attend to remove as many barriers as possible.”

Guests can enjoy drag from Miz Cracker, Pheromone Killz, Georgiie Street, Trinkett, Ephemerah and Rebecca Blk.

Winterruption YEG will also feature comedy from Kyle Kinane and The Beaverton Live.

Festival wristbands and tickets to individual shows are available online. There will also be a number of free outdoor activities to discover in the downtown core.

“The downtown business community have been a great partner in our festival year after year as we can’t do it without each other,” added Oliver. “They also appreciate us bringing nearly 100 artists to downtown Edmonton in a typically slow time of year.”

When: Jan. 21 to 25, 2026
Where: Multiple venues in downtown Edmonton
Cost: Various prices, with a festival wristband available. Purchase online