Downtown Ottawa
Events
Calendar of Events
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Sunday
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4 events,
Step into a vibrant, photo-worthy world of science at the Canadian Museum of Nature - Wild Colour is Ottawa's most colourful museum experience of 2026. Created by the Field Museum in Chicago and enhanced with Canadian specimens, this exhibition explores how animals, plants and minerals use colour to communicate, attract mates, and survive. Museum admission […]
CA$17
Ottawa's award-winning lantern-lit ghost tour runs nightly through downtown streets with cloaked storytellers sharing the city's haunted history at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, the Bytown Museum, and Ottawa's most infamous haunted high school. The 75-minute tour departs from the ticket office at 46 1/2 Sparks Street, steps from Parliament Hill, and runs in all weather […]
CA$24.99
Metcalfe Plaza is downtown Ottawa's summer hangout, transformed by the Downtown BIA into a hub of live music, art and culture. The plaza hosts live performances, DJ sets, fitness classes, pop up markets and weekend activities throughout the season. It runs daily from noon to 10 PM, from June 18 through September 20, right in […] 
Paddle downtown Ottawa's Rideau Canal at dusk in a glowing LED kayak for one of the city's most romantic and visually stunning evening experiences. The 2.5-hour, 5.5-kilometre guided tour launches from Patterson Creek, winding past Parliament Hill, the Chateau Laurier, and the Rideau Canal Locks as the city skyline lights up around you. All experience […]
CA$99 – CA$198
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5 events,
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A two-hour life-drawing session where you can capture the dynamic beauty of powwow dances and their regalia on your own paper. Participants will bring their own material and work with […]
Free
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5 events,
Ins Choi of Kim's Convenience shares Bible stories and growing up as a pastor's son in this funny, heartfelt solo show. The 75 minute production blends storytelling, stand-up comedy and concert while exploring faith and art. It plays in the Azrieli Studio through September 26 with 8:00 PM evening sh…
From $33
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6 events,
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Run, walk or stroll through downtown Ottawa at the Canada Army Run and finish at the National War Memorial. Choose from a 5K, 10K, half marathon or same-day challenge combinations, […]
CA$74.30 – CA$164.01
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4 events,
Featured
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Featured
David Suzuki curates and hosts a live playlist with the NAC Orchestra, mixing classical works with Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. The program moves from Mendelssohn and Beethoven to contemporary songs and includes a world premiere arrangement of Carmen Braden's Imaginal, with conductor Henry Kenne…
From $33
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4 events,
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Craft your own dreamcatcher with Indigenous artist Ashley Clark while learning about the resilience of Indigenous communities. The 1.5 to 2 hour session is led by Bougie Birch and all materials are supplied, so you only bring the inspiration. The workshop is held at Atelier Shenkman Smith across fro…
CA$45
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4 events,
Featured
Jay Odjick's animated projection lights up the Kipnes Lantern with a vision of Indigenous futures. The artwork draws on Woodland art and comic book visuals and uses seeds and planting as symbols of renewal. The free outdoor exhibition runs nightly from 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM after sunset and no tickets…
Free
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7 events,
Street food, lion dances and live music fill Somerset Street West at the Mid-Autumn Night Market in Chinatown. Look for dumplings, BBQ skewers, bubble tea and desserts, plus martial arts displays and musical acts across three days. Hours are Friday 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM …
Free
Hear Afro-Cuban rhythms and Latin jazz from Rachelle Behrens, Anh Phung & Civil Lizard and the Orlando Cardoso Trio. The conference celebrates Canada's multicultural diaspora with concerts, workshops, panels and networking sessions, running September 25 to 27. The Friday concert runs 8:00 PM to 10:0…
CA$25
Twelve dancers and live musicians deliver 80 minutes of ritualised ecstasy in Michael Keegan-Dolan's MÁM. Teaċ Daṁsa is joined by concertina player Cormac Begley and five contemporary musicians in a work drawing on Irish culture and mythology. Performances are at 8:00 PM on September 25 and 26 in So…
CA$33 – CA$79
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12 events,
Featured
Ottawa turns into an open-air gallery overnight at Nuit Blanche Ottawa, a free festival of art, light and performance. Highlights include the eVenti Verticali: CUBO dance performances at 7:20, 9:20 and 11:20 PM, the Prismatica prism labyrinth, the Impulse light-up seesaw and Monuments portraits proj…
Free
Dance to DJ Rise Ashen's soulful house beats while Iron Cabaret performs aerial and acrobatic acts as part of Nuit Blanche Ottawa. Iron Cabaret adds GoGo dance performances, soaring aerial artistry and awe-inspiring acrobatics. The free outdoor event runs from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM at Peter A. Herrndor…
Free
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Bytown Museum marks Ottawa's 200th birthday with a full day of free programming and museum admission. Highlights include an Indigenous welcome, costumed interpreters, a Heritage Fair from 11:00 AM to […]
Free
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Celebrate Ottawa's 200th birthday at a free, all-ages block party with live music and hands-on fun. The full day of programming includes cultural programming, interactive art installations, community-led activities and […]
Free
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Shop handmade goods from local Ottawa artists and makers at the OAG Mini Market anniversary edition. The curated marketplace is set up on Level 1 just outside the OAG Shop. It runs from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM on September 26 and entry is free. The market celebrates the gallery's anniversary weekend. Ven…
Free
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9 events,
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Explore the current exhibition with a gallery educator, then make art in the studio at this free drop-in session. Families and friends discover the exhibition together before hands-on art making. […]
Free
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David Sedaris presents sharp, funny material from his latest essay collection, The Land and Its People. The show draws on themes of identity, friendship and travel, and ends with a post-show autograph session with books sold on site by Perfect Books. The two-hour performance starts at 8:00 PM in Sou…
From $56
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3 events,
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Bead your own Orange Shirt pin with Stephanie Peltier while learning about Indigenous art forms. The workshop explores the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and supplies […]
CA$65
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3 events,
Featured
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Featured
The NAC Orchestra plays an accessible hour of classics and pop favourites in a relaxed neighbourhood concert. Conductor Léa Moisan-Perrier leads works by Mozart and Haydn alongside Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah and music from Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters. The concert runs about one hour with no intermi…
CA$10
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4 events,
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Rose LeMay and Tanya Talaga join a panel asking what meaningful reconciliation looks like and what role women play. The conversation covers systemic barriers facing First Nations, Métis and Inuit […]
CA$39.55
Featured
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Featured
Gogol Bordello headlines a live show at History Ottawa on Wednesday, September 30. Supporting acts are That Handsome Devil and Pons. The show starts at 7:00 PM at 47 Rideau Street and tickets are sold through Ticketmaster Canada. Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attendin… |
3 events,
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Canadian rock veterans Rheostatics bring their Great Lakes Suite show, with film visuals, to the NAC's Babs Asper Theatre. The band has been active since 1979, blends rock, folk, prog, […]
From $45
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4 events,
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Hear chilling tales of ghostly encounters on a 75 minute haunted tour of Ottawa's Bytown Museum. The tour covers ghost stories shared by staff and visitors, plus regional tales about […]
CA$14 – CA$32.99
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A star-studded NAC tribute night honours Canadian music icon k.d. lang with Jann Arden, Michael Bublé, and more. Other performers include Allison Russell, Jill Barber, Mariel Buckley, Wyatt C. Louis, […]
From $56
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