Federal government unveils performer lineup and programming for annual national celebration
Artists, astronauts, athletes and Order of Canada recipients to take part in Ottawa ceremony
The federal government has unveiled the official program for the Canada Day 2026 National Noon Ceremony, featuring a nationally broadcast celebration that will combine music, cultural performances and tributes to Canadians who have made significant contributions to the country.
The announcement was made Tuesday in Ottawa by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, as preparations continue for one of the country’s largest annual public celebrations.
Set to take place at LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa, the Noon Ceremony will officially launch Canada Day festivities on July 1 and will be broadcast across the country through television, streaming and radio platforms.
According to the federal government, the event is intended to highlight major achievements from the past year while recognizing historical moments and cultural traditions that continue to shape Canada’s identity.
“This national ceremony will kick off the Canada Day celebrations,” the release stated. “The unifying, family-friendly event will highlight the major achievements of the past year, as well as the important moments that have shaped our history and continue to define our cultures, our languages and our identity.”
The ceremony will be available free of charge through a Canada-wide broadcast, allowing audiences across the country and internationally to participate in the celebrations.
Canadian music talent featured prominently in national lineup
Alessia Cara among performers scheduled for Noon Ceremony and evening concert
The Noon Ceremony will feature performances from a diverse group of Canadian artists spanning pop, Indigenous music, francophone music and contemporary genres.
Scheduled performers include Alessia Cara, Loud, TOBi, Adrian Sutherland, Naomi, Éléonore Lagacé, Alicia Blore, Alexandre (Douzie) Tétrault, Deantha Edmunds and Julianna Labelle.
The event will also feature appearances by several high-profile Canadian figures, including astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who is set to become the first Canadian to travel around the Moon as part of the Artemis II mission.
Rick Hansen will also participate as the country marks the 40th anniversary of his Man in Motion tour, widely recognized as a symbol of perseverance, inclusion and accessibility awareness in Canada.
Olympic and Paralympic athletes who represented Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, along with recipients of the Order of Canada, are also scheduled to appear during the ceremony.
Hosting duties for the national broadcast will be shared by Julie St-Pierre and Melissa O’Neil.
Ceremony to include military flyover and Order of Canada investiture
Broadcast planned across television, streaming and public viewing sites
Organizers said the program will combine live music, dance performances and personal stories with several traditional Canada Day elements.
Audiences attending in person or watching remotely will see an Order of Canada Investiture Ceremony recognizing outstanding Canadian contributions, performances of the national anthem and a flyover by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
The Noon Ceremony will begin at noon Eastern Time at LeBreton Flats Park. Large outdoor screens will also broadcast the event at official sites on Parliament Hill and near the Supreme Court of Canada.
The government said Canadians worldwide will be able to watch through live broadcasts on CBC and Radio-Canada television, streaming and radio services, including CBC Gem, CBC News Network, ICI Télé, ICI TOU.TV and official YouTube channels.
Evening concert to feature coast-to-coast performances
National bilingual broadcast to include ASL and LSQ interpretation
Canada Day celebrations will continue into the evening with a separate two-hour national concert titled Celebrating Our Canada, scheduled from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
The evening program will originate from Ottawa while incorporating segments from Moncton, New Brunswick, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, highlighting regional participation from across the country.
Performers announced for the evening event include Adam Baldwin, Alessia Cara, Andrina Turenne, Barenaked Ladies, Beatrice Deer, Begonia, Diane Dufresne, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Gab Bouchard, Isabelle Boulay, Lisa LeBlanc, MICO, Noeline Hofmann, Paul Langlois, Pierre Lapointe, P’tit Belliveau and Sylvia Cloutier.
The evening broadcast will be hosted by Isabelle Racicot.
Officials said the bilingual national program will be simultaneously interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ), with live streaming available through CBC Gem, ICI TOU.TV and official CBC and Radio-Canada YouTube platforms.
“Through music and dance, this evening will highlight diversity, vitality and the spirit of celebration that unites Canadians,” the release stated.
The federal government is also encouraging Canadians to engage with Canada Day programming and updates through official social media platforms and online channels ahead of the July 1 celebrations.