From Wednesday, October 14 through Sunday, October 18, 2026, Folk Canada brings its national conference to downtown Hamilton, gathering artists, presenters and music-industry professionals for folk, roots and traditional music programming. Everyone is welcome, although the programme is designed primarily for people working in music and the creative industries.
Expect Official, Spotlight and Acoustic Showcases; keynotes; panels; workshops; roundtables; peer sessions; artist-development programming; networking and business meetings; and the three-day Culture in Climate Summit. Developing artists can also connect through the READI incubator and programming for artists aged 25 and under.
The October 14 Ontario Folk Music Awards are limited to nominees and conference delegates/attendees. Folk Canada also notes separate awards ticketing; confirm awards ticket requirements with the organizer before attending. A free Community Folk Fest for Hamilton residents takes place on Sunday, October 18 and is listed separately.
Event actions are closed
Responses and planning are no longer available for this event.
Folk Canada offers supervised childcare for registered attendees from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Caregiver registration, community tickets for attendees facing cost barriers and volunteer registration options are also available through the organizer.
Official programme, speakers, session times and rooms: folkcanada.com/2026-conference-schedule
October 14: Opening reception at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, 4–6 p.m., followed by the Ontario Folk Music Awards at The Studio, 6:30–9 p.m. Terra Lightfoot hosts, with performances by Tanika Charles, Vicki Brittle, Jonathan Nvita, kazdoura and Logan Staats.
October 15 highlights at the Sheraton: Music Fusion, a discussion of traditional and contemporary Haudenosaunee music with Sadie Buck and Derek Miller, moderated by Deanna Yerichuk, 9:30–10:30 a.m. in MacNab; Art to Heal the Heart, a writing and songwriting workshop with Maureen Pollard, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in Durand; and the Culture in Climate opening keynote with Tamara Lindeman of The Weather Station, 2:45–3:30 p.m. in Heritage.
October 16: Culture in Climate action planning, 10 a.m.–noon in Heritage, with Laura Severinac, Devin Latimer, Ellorie McKnight and Caroline Brooks among the speakers. See the official programme for all sessions, room assignments and eligibility restrictions.
Sheraton Hamilton Hotel · 116 King Street West
Venue details →Paid on-site parking is available. Folk Canada lists rates of $6.50 hourly or $17.95 daily, with electric vehicle charging. The garage clearance is 6 ft 2 in at the King Street entrance and 6 ft 6 in at the Bay Street entrance.
Sheraton Hamilton Hotel states that its main entrance, meeting spaces and on-site parking are accessible. Folk Canada offers caregiver registration and asks attendees seeking specific accommodations to contact the organizer.