The Feeling of Free

Family programming Music Theatre Workshops Summer events

Some of our best shows aren’t on the stage this summer. They are in and around the NAC, floating down the Rideau Canal or happening in our public spaces. Whatever you choose to do, it will be fun for everyone. Plus, everything is free!

Upcoming events

  1. New Free In-person
     © Miguel De Armas

    Join us for Music on the Canal every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon for a delightful soundtrack for your walk, run, bike, or rollerblade along the scenic Rideau Canal. 

  2. New Free In-person
     © The Lionyls

    Join us for Music on the Canal every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon for a delightful soundtrack for your walk, run, bike, or rollerblade along the scenic Rideau Canal. 

  3. New Free In-person
     © John Kofi Dapaah, Valérie Despax et Cendrine Despax

    Bring your lunch and prepare to be transported to a world of elegance and sublime beauty. This free noon hour concert of classical and chamber music in our Atrium will illuminate your day! This …

  4. New Free In-person Video
    Les six membres du groupe musical Beauxmont, souriants parmi des poules, devant une grange.  © Debout gauche à droite : Jonathan Mpunge, Patrick Dugas, Justin Doucet, Chris Cormier, Felix Belliveau et Jesse Mea.

    This six-member band coming from all corners of Acadia carries a rich heritage of musical traditions rooted in their longstanding generations. Blending modern and traditional instruments, they …

  5. New Free In-person Video
    Les six membres du groupe musical Beauxmont, souriants parmi des poules, devant une grange.  © Debout gauche à droite : Jonathan Mpunge, Patrick Dugas, Justin Doucet, Chris Cormier, Felix Belliveau et Jesse Mea.

    This six-member band coming from all corners of Acadia carries a rich heritage of musical traditions rooted in their longstanding generations. Blending modern and traditional instruments, they …

  6. New Free In-person
     © The Lionyls

    Join us for Music on the Canal every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon for a delightful soundtrack for your walk, run, bike, or rollerblade along the scenic Rideau Canal. 

  7. New Free In-person
     © Miguel De Armas

    Join us for Music on the Canal every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon for a delightful soundtrack for your walk, run, bike, or rollerblade along the scenic Rideau Canal. 

  8. New Free In-person
     © The Moss Trio: Paul Casey, Karen Kang et Erica Miller.

    Bring your lunch and join The Moss Trio for a free noon hour concert in the Atrium! The Moss Trio was formed by Erica Miller, Paul Casey, and Karen Kang in 2022. They met performing at the National …

  9. New Free In-person Video
    L'artiste Quique Escamilla se produit sur scène avec sa guitare, portant un sombrero.  © Quique Escamilla

    JUNO Award-winning Quique Escamilla is a Mayan-Zapotec singer-songwriter from Chiapas, Mexico—based in Toronto—who blends Pan-American rhythms such as huapango, cumbia, rock and reggae…

  10. New Free In-person Video
    Le musicien est assis de manière décontractée dans un bar, portant un chapeau, une chemise bleue et un petit foulard rouge autour du cou. © Quique Escamilla

    JUNO Award-winning Quique Escamilla is a Mayan-Zapotec singer-songwriter from Chiapas, Mexico—based in Toronto—who blends Pan-American rhythms such as huapango, cumbia, rock and reggae…

  11. New Free In-person
    Le corniste Lawrence Vine joue de son instrument au coucher du soleil sur un bateau sur le canal Rideau.  © Le corniste Lawrence Vine de l'OCNA

    Join us for Music on the Canal every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon for a delightful soundtrack for your walk, run, bike, or rollerblade along the scenic Rideau Canal. 

  12. New Free In-person
    Le corniste Lawrence Vine joue de son instrument au coucher du soleil sur un bateau sur le canal Rideau.  © Le corniste Lawrence Vine de l'OCNA

    Let us provide the soundtrack as you walk, run, bike or rollerblade along the canal. Every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon, members of the NAC Orchestra or a popular band will play aboard our …

  13. New Free In-person
     © The Oxbow Trio

    Bring your lunch and enjoy a blissful musical interlude with The Oxbow Trio! As a geographical formation, an oxbow wetland is both familiar and unexpected, adding richness and diversity to an …

  14. New Free In-person Video
    Membres de Okavango African Orchestra. © Okavango African Orchestra

    Explore the rich fusion of African traditions, languages, and instruments with Okavango African Orchestra, a Juno award-winning ensemble rooted in Toronto and Montreal, crafting a distinctive and…

  15. New Free In-person Video
    Membres de Okavango African Orchestra se produisant sur scène avec leurs instruments.  © Okavango African Orchestra

    Explore the rich fusion of African traditions, languages, and instruments with Okavango African Orchestra, a JUNO award-winning ensemble rooted in Toronto and Montreal, crafting a distinctive and…

  16. New Free In-person

    Are you ready to dive into the captivating world of physical expression? This is your chance to learn from the best in the field and unlock your creative potential. Sherry Lee Hunter, the founder, …

  17. New Free In-person Video
     © LeFLOFRANCO

    Ottawa artist of the #RapFrancoCan scene, LeFLOFRANCO offers a sound filled with high vibrations accompanied by lyrics full of emotion. Seeking to push the hip-hop scene to new heights, he describes …

  18. New Free In-person
     © Collected Strands

    Bring your lunch and join Collected Strands for a free noon hour concert in the Atrium!  Collected Strands is an improvising chamber music ensemble composed of four fantastic musicians …

  19. New Free In-person
     © Turkwaz

    Turkwaz is a unique combination of four musician/singers, immersed in diverse traditions from mysterious Sufi devotional love songs, to rousing Thracian dance music. Each performer brings a special …

  20. New Free In-person
     © Turkwaz

    Turkwaz is a unique combination of four musician/singers, immersed in diverse traditions from mysterious Sufi devotional love songs, to rousing Thracian dance music. Each performer brings a special …

  21. New Free In-person
     © Miguel De Armas

    Live from the Canal Showboat is renowned Cuban pianist Miguel de Armas whose rich and sophisticated musical heritage, gleaned over many years of study, performance, and creation has brought him …

  22. New Free In-person

    Experience classical and chamber music in a family-friendly environment with Chamberfest’s Bring the Kids! series. Featuring some of Chamberfest’s top musicians, Bring the Kids! concerts …

  23. New Free In-person

    Chamberfest’s City Series Chamberfest’s City Series brings chamber music out to our community all year long! City Series programming is in partnership with local community organizations …

  24. New Free In-person
    Trois jolies femmes qui te regarde. © Les Fireflies

    Les Fireflies are comprised of three exceptionally talented, award-winning fiddlers, multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters. Samantha Robichaud, Louise Vautour and Christine Melanson have …

  25. New Free In-person
    Trois jolies femmes qui te regarde.  © Les Fireflies

    Les Fireflies are comprised of three exceptionally talented, award-winning fiddlers, multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters. Samantha Robichaud, Louise Vautour and Christine Melanson have …

  26. New Free In-person
     © Curtis Perry

    Experience classical and chamber music in a family-friendly environment with Chamberfest’s Bring the Kids! series. Featuring some of Chamberfest’s top musicians, Bring the Kids! concerts …

  27. New Free In-person
     © Nicole Presentey et John Kofi Dapaah au Ottawa Chamberfest.

    Join us in the NAC’s Atrium, for a mixed program about Love, Loss, and Exile, including a piece by the same name, with poetry by Afghani women composed by Afghani composer Juhi Bansal.  …

  28. New Free In-person
     © Moneka Arabic Jazz Group

    Moneka Arabic Jazz is a project reflecting the life and artistic journey of its founder, Ahmed, from Baghdad to Toronto. It showcases melodies from his homeland, Iraq, interwoven with the African …

  29. New Free In-person
     © Moneka Arabic Jazz Group

    Moneka Arabic Jazz is a project reflecting the life and artistic journey of its founder, Ahmed, from Baghdad to Toronto. It showcases melodies from his homeland, Iraq, interwoven with the African …

  30. New Free In-person Video
     © Chancz Perry

    Unleash your creativity and embark on an exhilarating journey of movement and improvisation with our engaging workshop. Join renowned theatre artist Chancz Perry as he equips participants of all …

  31. New Free
     © Diyet & The Love Soldiers

    Diyet & The Love Soldiers is alternative country, folk, roots and traditional with catchy melodies and stories deeply rooted in Diyet’s Indigenous world view and northern life. Diyet sings …

  32. New Free In-person
     © Diyet & The Love Soldiers

    Diyet & The Love Soldiers is alternative country, folk, roots and traditional with catchy melodies and stories deeply rooted in Diyet’s Indigenous world view and northern life. Diyet sings …

  33. New Free In-person
    2 hommes et 3 femmes se tiennent dans une pièce sombre au sol en bois. © Aviva Chernick and the Serena Quintet

    Singer and bandleader Aviva Chernick reimagines traditional Judeo-Spanish folk music with intimacy and emotional range. Aviva and her band bring this musical legacy into the present. Aviva’s …

  34. New Free In-person
    2 hommes et 3 femmes assis sur deux bancs de parc vous regardent droit dans les yeux. © Aviva Chernick et et le Quatuor Serena

    Singer and bandleader Aviva Chernick reimagines traditional Judeo-Spanish folk music with intimacy and emotional range. Aviva and her band bring this musical legacy into the present. Aviva’s …

Past events

Related packages and series

  • The Feeling of Free

    Some of our best shows aren’t on the stage this summer. They are in and around the NAC, floating down the Rideau Canal or happening in...

  • Stage Series

    Take a seat in Southam Hall and experience beloved classics performed by the NAC Orchestra or your favourite artists. Visit the Babs Asper...

  • Wood Terrace Series

    Spend your sunsets with us under the stars as inspirational artists share their musical visions of culture, identity and tradition. Access...

  • $8 Play Series

    From the beauty of words to laughter and creativity, and sounds that make you want to rewind the cassette tape – our three summer...