A major new national music and industry event is launching this May in Ottawa, and it’s one we think your audience will want to know about. Capital Music Week (CxMW) is placing the spotlight on how music and nightlife are shaping the cultural and economic future of cities across Canada, and they have invited the entire country in on the conversation. From May 20–25, artists, city leaders, and industry professionals from across the country and around the world will gather for a powerful week of concerts, conversations, and collaborations.
One of the week’s cornerstone events is Canada After Dark, the first national summit of its kind exploring the role of nightlife in city-building. With participation from cultural policymakers, festival directors, venue operators, and nightlife advocates, the forum aims to ignite a national dialogue about how cities can harness music culture to drive innovation, connection, and growth. Representatives from cities across Canada will join to contribute their voice to the conversation including Vancouver, Montreal, Kingston, London, and Hamilton.
Capital Music Week, with its 6th Annual Capital Music Awards, and a week of dynamic showcases, summits, and programming that will resonate with communities and industry professionals across the country.
OTTAWA LAUNCHES NEW NATIONALLY FOCUSED MUSIC EVENT:
CAPITAL MUSIC WEEK (CxMW)
CANADA’S NEWEST CELEBRATION OF MUSIC INCLUDES TOP-TIER HEADLINING TALENT, INDUSTRY SUMMITS, AND THE FIRST OF ITS KIND NIGHTLIFE ECONOMIES FORUM
REPRESENTATIVES FROM LIVE NATION, MULTIPLE FESTIVALS, AND CITIES ACROSS CANADA TO PARTICIPATE IN CANADA
AFTER DARK: A NIGHTLIFE FORUM
HEADLINING ACTS INCLUDE ELIJAH WOODS,
THE HALLUCI NATION, AND SKYDIGGERS
FREE AND TICKETED ACTIVITIES PLANNED THROUGHOUT
THE WEEK MAY 20 - 25 2025
TICKETS + Schedule https://ottawamic.com/cxmw
Ottawa, ON – April 25, 2025 – The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) is thrilled to announce the first ever Capital Music Week (CxMW), a new and innovative week-long celebration of music that places Ottawa’s music industry on the national stage. CxMW will run from May 20-25, 2025 in multiple venues across the city and will feature public concerts, professional development summits, and networking opportunities that rival other music weeks across Canada, with a creative and strategic focus on re-invigorating the local and national nightlife economies. Marking a significant milestone for Ottawa’s music sector, the launch of CxMW will showcase local talent and foster city-wide partnerships while animating numerous locations within the community.
“CxMW is Ottawa’s invitation to Canada to witness the capital’s creative pulse,” says Melanie Brulée, Executive Director of OMIC. “We’re combining major headlining talent with grassroots energy, innovative conversations, and unforgettable experiences. It’s a launchpad for artists and an invitation for the national industry to recognize Ottawa as a national music hub.”
International Nightlife Summit
Ottawa’s Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin, will host the Canada After Dark Summit (May 20–21), bringing together global nightlife leaders for the first Canadian forum of its kind. From city planners and cultural policymakers to venue owners and artists, the summit explores how music can fuel local economies and reimagine nightlife culture, a strategic initiative intended to extend beyond Ottawa’s borders and help stimulate the nightlife economy across Canada. Participants include development representatives from Montreal, Kingston, Hamilton, and London among numerous others, festival directors, the Regional Vice President of Live Nation Canada, and many more leading stakeholders in Canada’s nightlife economy. In a capital region first, Grondin has coordinated with the City of Ottawa to pilot 4AM last call liquor license extensions for eligible venues during CxMW, a move inspired by successful models in neighbouring cities Toronto and Montreal.
The Capital Music Awards
The centrepiece of the week is the 6th Annual Capital Music Awards (CMAs), held at Southam Hall in the National Arts Centre on May 22. Recognizing excellence across 13 categories from Music Educator of the Year to Group of the Year, the CMAs are a rising regional celebration on a national stage, showcasing Canada's next wave of talent. This year, the night will conclude with a high-energy electronic showcase at the official ByWard After Dark afterparty at Lowertown Brewery and SkyLounge.
Industry Access
CBC q host Tom Power will sit down with legendary Nashville producer Jim Ed Norman on May 20th for a live fireside chat at the National Arts Centre.
Known for shaping careers of numerous artists including Anne Murray,
Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, and Randy Travis, the event will also debut
Norman’s latest work with a local artist.
A Capital Event For The Nation
Spotlighting the vibrancy of Ottawa’s local music scene with a variety of artists performing across multiple genres, attendees will witness a powerful celebration of Ottawa's musical talent including local showcasing artists opening for headliners Elijah Woods, The Halluci Nation, and Skydiggers. On May 21 and 22, the National Arts Centre will host the Ontario Music City Showcase - free lunch-hour concerts featuring exciting performances from artists across the province of Ontario, in addition to local talent.
Showcasing artists will be announced in early May. For a complete list of events, schedules, artists, ticket information, and updates, visit cxmw.ca and follow @cxmw.ca on Facebook and Instagram.
About—OMIC
The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) is a bilingual member-based non-profit whose mission is to play a lead role in the economic, cultural and social prosperity of Ottawa and the surrounding region by creating a thriving and inclusive music ecosystem that provides opportunities for local artists, music professionals and venue owners, fostering collaboration and innovation, and engaging the community.
OMIC is committed to connecting music communities, along with its municipal, provincial, national, and international partners to work toward common goals and creating a vibrant and sustainable music industry in Ottawa that benefits and inspires all members of the community and embeds music into the fabric of the city.
About—Capital Music Week (CxMW)
Capital Music Week (CxMW) is Ottawa's premier music industry event, serving as a platform to amplify the city's musical talent and promote industry growth. From May 20th to 25th, 2025, the inaugural event will host concerts, workshops, an awards gala, and professional development activities, fostering collaboration between artists, entrepreneurs, and fans. Led by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) in collaboration with dozens of partners, CxMW is dedicated to strengthening Ottawa's music ecosystem, boosting economic development, and enhancing the city's reputation as a dynamic music and nightlife destination.
Capital Music Week is supported by these generous partners: The City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, Ontario Creates, FACTOR, The National Arts Centre, The Bronson, Godzspeed, Hello Downtown BIA, ByWard Public Market, Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Alt Hotel by Le Germain, Hôtel Le Germain, spectrasonic, Events.com, HOT 89.9FM, ENTTX Productions, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, Optimal Show Experience OSE, Lycea Productions, Mark A. Macdonald Lighting Design, Boyden, Calian and more.
