The second annual Departure 2026, the new incarnation of the long-running Canadian Music Week, taking place in Toronto from May 4 to 10, is primarily an industry conference, but it does have affordable options for general interest panels, the multi-venue music festival, a handful of film screenings, priced between $20 and $99 — as well as a couple of free music showcases.
While the priority all-in pass is a pricey $1,199, the enhanced conference pass $999 and basic conference pass $699 (plus fees and taxes), there are now single-day summit passes for $99 for the Creators Summit (May 5), Live Music Summit (May 6), Sync Summit (May 7), and Sports Summit (May 8) — all held at at Transmission Studios’ temporarily renamed Departure House (58 Berkley St).
The music showcases are $20 each or $65 for the festival pass to take in shows all week at participating venues Adelaide Hall, Baby G, the Bovine, Burdock, Cameron, Cassette, Division 88, Horseshoe Tavern, Longboat Hall, Lulu Lounge, Painted Lady, Paradise Grapevine, Rhythm, Rivoli, the Garrison, The Great Hall, The Lounge at Live Nation, The Sound Garage, and the El Mocambo’s The Starlight Room.
Over 120 acts are performing around the city (see the list here).
Some of the must-sees are Witch Prophet at Burdock Music Hall May 6; Pick a Piper at Rhythm May 7; Georgia Harmer at Cassette May 9, and the whole evening at the Bovine, May 9, curated by Billy Talent guitarist Ian D’sa and former Sum 41 bassist Cone McCaslin, which includes sets by Trigger Happy and Michie Mee.
The freebie nights are the Barbados Showcase at Lula Lounge, May 5, with Casheda Dottin, Kris Irie, Shadia Marshall, Kojo, Larix, Marley Kirton, Tionne Hernandez, Nikita, Ch’an, Alix Cage, Tikara “Sprinklez” Browne, Sivers, Sprinklezz, Azizi Clarke, and deejay Dr. Jay, and on May 8, School Night at Longboat Hall with Cherrykim, Puma June, Nia Nadurata, and BAD CHILD.
The $99 Summits are:
The Creator Summit, May 5, includes panellists Rêve, Juno-nominated singer-songwriter; Kimberly Moffit, content creator, relationship expert, Ask Kimberly; and recording artist Whipped Cream.
The Live Music Summit, May 6, includes, veteran booking agent Nick Storch) (Disturbed. Limp Bizkit), Brooke Dunford, Republic Live, Boots and Hearts; and Kevin Lyman, founder, Warped Tour;
Sync Summit, May 7, which focuses on music placements (syncs) in film and TV, includes Mary Ramos (Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Django Unchained, and Little Fires Everywhere), Jenna Andrews, Grammy-nominated songwriter; Maria Alonte, SVP of Synchronization at Big Machine Label Group (BMLG); and music supervisor Matthew Hearon-Smith.
Sports Summit, May 8, includes Lilly Singh, award-winning host and comedian, and part owner of Toronto Tempo; CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston in a fireside chat with CFL legend Michael “Pinball” Clemons; Mike Beckerman of Canada Soccer, and Chris Shewfelt of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
Full the full list of panels and panelists, go here.
On the film front, Power Ballad (starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas), is May 5 at TIFF Lightbox, while the rest of the screenings take place at Paradise Theatre: Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King, including a Q&A with Machel Montana, May 6; I Love Boosters, May 7; Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience the afternoon of May 9; and Bif Naked: A Documentary, with a Q&A and performance, the evening of May 9.
There are also two awards shows, which might be too insider, but are good for schmoozing if you want to get your foot in the door. One is a tad more than $99.
The Canadian Live Music Association’s Live Music Awards, May 6 at the Bluma Appel Theatre, will hand out awards in various live industry categories, as well as special awards to Warped Tour’s Kevin Lyman: former CLMA president & CEO Erin Benjamin; and Live Nation Concerts Canada’s vice-chair Patti-Anne Tarlton. Tickets start at $114.50.
The Departure Honours, May 7 at Koerner Hall, will celebrate Grammy-winning musician Sarah McLachlan, KPop Demon Hunters creator/director Maggie Kang; award-winning writer, director, and producer of Heated Rivalry, Jacob Tierney; legendary artist manager Bruce Allen (Michael Bublé, The Offspring), and multidisciplinary arts training charity The Remix Project, and award-winning entertainer Lilly Singh. Tickets start at $59.50
