Some big names in music will be in Toronto this week to headline shows in Toronto as part of the NXNE Festival, including Khalid and Daniel Caesar.
The NXNE Musical Festival kicks off on June 11 and runs until June 15 with shows happening at various venues across the city. It was originally founded in 1995, and is held annually in Toronto to encourage club-hopping and special artist performances.
It was developed through a partnership with SXSW (South by Southwest), to help eliminate financial barriers for artists to perform without paying fees through a structured schedule of musical lineups.
This year, Grammy-nominated R&B artist Khalid will be performing a free show at Sankofa Square, formerly known as Yonge & Dundas Square, on June 12 as part of Billboard Canada’s The Stage at the NXNE festival.
Canadian R&B star Daniel Caesar will also be performing in the city at The Mod Club, previously known as the Axis Club, for an exclusive concert following the venue’s rebrand.
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Keep reading below for more details on the festival schedule and other big names that are set to hit the stage in Toronto.
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, the festival will begin with a networking event at The Theatre Centre with entertainment industry experts from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A “secret” artist pop-up show is expected to occur simultaneously, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in a location which has yet to be announced.
The duration of the day will consist of the Billboard Summit — a series of conversations from entertainment industry leaders, musicians, and cultural innovators about the future of show-biz.
Following the summit, the Billboard Canada Managers to Watch 2025 and Billboard Canada 2025 Power Players event will be held at Illuminarium to celebrate the pioneers of music managers and influential leaders shaping Canada’s music industry.
To close off the night, indie-rock band The Beaches is hosting a party DJ set, along with 25-plus artists performing that night at NXNE’s selected locations.
THURSDAY
Thursday will begin with more networking at The Theatre Centre, along with a screening of the Rom-Com, Who the F**k is Jason Porter?
After the screening, Toronto OVO Sound R&B artist Roy Woods’s Dark Nights short film will premiere at the TIFF Lightbox — a dark, emotional film about betrayal and emotional survival, which was inspired by his EP released this year.
At 6 p.m., Canadian artists Alicia Moffet, Aqyila, Roy Woods, and 4Korners are joining Khalid to perform at Sankofa Square as part of NXNE’s 30th Birthday Party concert. Entrance is free.
The rest of the night is dedicated to emerging artists performing at NXNE’s 25-plus venues, with wide-ranging genres from electronic pop to modern rock.
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Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Here comes the weekend — a series of more networking events, panels, and surprise concerts!
On Friday, festival attendees can join music professionals at the Next Level Panels to hear key speakers discuss cutting-edge ideas in the industry, followed by the B2B Networking Cafe and Meet & Mix mixer where participants can make meaningful connections with highly-skilled industry leaders.
On Saturday, free live music and food vendors will be at the NXNE outdoor Day Party with Long & McQuade, located at the store at 925 Bloor St West (at Concord Ave). The party is open to the public to celebrate the collaboration and another year of serving Torontonians through this musical avenue.
Sunday closes off the five-day event with indie-rock band The Beaches performing at The Mod Club.
