Ottawa Events Calendar

Wanderlust: Improvised Tales of Travel, Love & Longing
2026-05-02, 2026-04-25
Wanderlust is a fully improvised theatre experience following two friends on an unpredictable road trip across Canada. Guided by audience suggestions, each performance creates a new journey filled with unexpected destinations, memorable characters, and evolving relationships. Through physical theatre, vocal creativity, and spontaneous storytelling, the ensemble transforms the stage into highways, towns, and landscapes across the country.

Hintonburg Fabric Flea Market
2026-05-02
Don’t miss out on bargain prices on all things sewing-related: quilting cotton, notions, buttons, wool, patterns, tools and so much more.

The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre
2026-05-01 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-30 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-29 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-28 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-27 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-26 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-25 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-24 11:00 - 16:00 UTC | The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre, 1200 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, ON, Canada, Ontario
The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre
Discover your fall style with The Shop List, running September 16–30 alongside our Share It to Win It Contest for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree! ✨Visit the Rules and Regulations for more information about the contest.
📅 Event Hours
Saturday, September 20 & Sunday, September 21 | 11 AM – 4 PM
Saturday, September 27 & Sunday, September 28 | 11 AM – 4 PM
🎁 What’s happening during event hours:
Free limited-edition tote bags (while supplies last)
On-site brand styling ambassadors to guide you through The Shop List and curated fall capsule collections from St. Laurent retailers
Step into the season with style inspiration, shopping perks, and your chance at an unforgettable shopping spree.

Move for Youth 2026
2026-05-01 00:00 - 2026-05-15 23:59 | Move for Youth 2026, NA
Get active and support youth in your community
May 1–15, 2026
Move for Youth is a free activity challenge with a goal to reach 1,500 participants, 75,000 kilometers, 150 million total steps, and $150,000 dollars! Every step you take creates opportunities for local kids to thrive.
By participating, you’ll make sure more kids have safe spaces to play, learn, and grow. From homework clubs to mental health services, you can help children in your community get what they need to succeed.
Get ready to move with us in May. Plus, if you or your team climb to the top of our fundraising and step leaderboards, you can win great prizes!

Ottawa International Writers Festival
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-04 | 550 de la Cité, Gatineau, J8T 0A7, 550 de la Cité, Gatineau, J8T 0A7
Attend the celebration of the finest new and established writing from across Canada and around the world with a fall and a spring edition.

Ottawa PoutineFest and Mac My Cheese
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-03 | 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, K1H 7X7, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, K1H 7X7
More than 30 poutine vendors take over Ottawa and offer up their take on Canada’s dish. Get your curd on!

Ottawa Clay Festival
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-03
Discover the art of clay at the Ottawa Clay Festival. Explore stunning handcrafted ceramics, shop for unique pottery, and meet local artisans. Enjoy live demonstrations, a pottery throwdown, a juried exhibition, and a fun clay area for kids. This spring celebration is for all to enjoy. Admission is free.

Empowering Women in the Music Industry
2026-04-30 - 2026-05-02
Axé WorldFest’s annual conference brings three days of panels, workshops, mentorship, performances, and networking to venues across Ottawa. Focused on inclusion and equity in the creative industries, this dynamic event highlights the voices of women while welcoming everyone. It is presented in partnership with the National Arts Centre and supported by arts and cultural funders.

Mountains on Stage
2026-04-30
Mountains on Stage is a film festival that aims to bring the mountains into cities with a selection of the world’s best films related to mountain sports such as skiing, mountaineering, climbing and paragliding.

Free Thursday Nights presented by BMO at the National Gallery of Canada
2026-04-30 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
From 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday nights, experience the National Gallery of Canada with music and an artful atmosphere. Take part in free art-making activities and themed tours, and finish the evening with seasonal snacks and refreshments, available for purchase.
Admission is free!
Free Thursday Nights presented by BMO.

LABOUR – PARTS+LABOUR
2026-04-29 - 2026-04-30 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
Co-choreographers Emily Gualtieri and David Albert-Toth have built PARTS+LABOUR into a bold and rising voice in contemporary dance. Drawing inspiration from literature, mythology, and philosophy, they value friction and multiplicity rather than resolution and unison in their artistic approach, engaging audiences in narratives that evoke memory, solitude, and community.
With a cast of five performers, their new work LABOUR delves into the often-overlooked labour of care that womxn have carried throughout history, bringing it to the forefront through the body, highly physical choreography, and visual storytelling.

Steven Ho Not Your Hero Comedy Tour
2026-04-26 19:00 - 23:00
Comedian and content creator Steven Ho brings his unique perspective on healthcare and everyday life to the stage. Known for his viral “Tips from the ER” series, Ho blends storytelling with real-life hospital experiences and audience-inspired anecdotes. The performance offers a humorous look at the unpredictable moments that arise in the world of medicine.

Spring Craft Market - Mother’s Day edition
2026-04-26 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
Head to the NAC for another edition of the Spring Craft Market, a vibrant showcase of local creative culture. Shop from a curated selection of handmade goods, makers, producers and artists, all while supporting small businesses in our community. It’s the perfect opportunity to buy your Mother’s Day gifts!

Ottawa Guitar Show
2026-04-26
Variety of musical gear from different exhibitors, selection of used, newer and vintage guitars, vintage and boutique amps, pedals, cases and guitar parts.
Musical instruments for the beginner to the professionals and collectors. Buy, sell and trade.

Capital Comic Book Convention
2026-04-26 | 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, K1H 7X7, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, K1H 7X7
An event designed for both casual comic book fans and serious collectors. The show focuses solely on comic books and graphic novels. You’ll see comics from the Golden Age right up to present day. Vendors will be appearing from Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and Quebec. The best selection of comics at any convention in Ontario or Quebec.

Stars On Ice
2026-04-26 | 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa (Kanata), K2V 1A5, 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa (Kanata), K2V 1A5
Stars on Ice returns this spring with a dynamic new show celebrating Canada’s Olympic figure skating talent. Featuring the country’s top skaters — past, present, and future — the show highlights world-class athleticism, artistry, and Olympic aspirations in a one-of-a-kind live experience. Fans will have the chance to see these celebrated athletes up close and enjoy the beauty of figure skating.

Battle of Santiago
2026-04-25 20:00 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
Toronto-based group – Battle of Santiago – combines classic Afro-Cuban rhythms and vocals with a distinctly Canadian art-rock spirit and sensibility.
The band’s recent release Los Santos y Pecadores (The Saints and Sinners) dives deep into Afro-Cuban waters, mixing Afro-Cuban Yoruba chants with subtle electronica and rumbas with post-rock experimentalism. The sound is more than just Radiohead meets Fela Kuti – there’s some cumbia tinged with dub anthemic Latin rock and even smooth funk.

Outdoor and Adventure Travel Show
2026-04-25 - 2026-04-26 | 2706 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, K1V7T4, 2706 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, K1V7T4
Annual event showcasing the latest products, gear and trips for every type of outdoor enthusiast.
The Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show has something for everyone who loves being outdoors, from paddling and camping to adventure travel and family activities. Enjoy free admission and free parking, see the products, plan the trips and enjoy the presentations on the Adventure Stage throughout this weekend-long event at the Nepean Sportsplex.
The show also publishes Ottawa Outdoors, a free digital magazine for local adventure-seekers.

Spring Fling in Manotick
2026-04-25
Feast your eyes on art, fill your ears with music and tempt your tastebuds with festive spring menu items at our various cafes and restaurants. Shop and enjoy in-store specials, sampling and giveaways!

The Great Canadian Comedy Caravan Tour
2026-04-24 20:00 - 22:00
The Great Canadian Comedy Caravan presents a gala evening of stand-up comedy featuring Canadian performers including Rick Currie, Todd Reid, Matt Watson, and Don Kelly. The showcase highlights a range of comedic styles while supporting community initiatives through an evening of laughter and entertainment.

Kozé
2026-04-24 20:00 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
The group Kozé introduces audiences to maloya, a traditional musical style originating from Réunion Island. Blending percussion, choral singing, and expressive rhythms, maloya reflects a rich cultural heritage rooted in storytelling and resistance. Kozé’s performance combines traditional and contemporary influences in an immersive musical experience.

Old Dominion
2026-04-24 19:00 | 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa, K1X 1A3, 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa, K1X 1A3
Country music band Old Dominion performs live at Hard Rock LIVE Ottawa. Known for their chart-topping hits and distinctive songwriting, the band blends modern country sounds with pop influences. Fans can expect an energetic live performance featuring some of their most recognizable songs.
