Things to Do in Ottawa

As Canada's capital, Ottawa blends national cultural institutions with a surprisingly vibrant live entertainment scene that draws on both its English and French heritage. The Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata is home to the Ottawa Senators of the NHL and doubles as the city's largest concert venue, welcoming touring arena acts to its 18,652 seats throughout the year. Downtown, the National Arts Centre sits along the Rideau Canal and presents a year-round program of orchestra, theatre, dance, and popular music across four performance spaces including the recently renovated Kipnes Lantern. The RBC Bluesfest is Ottawa's flagship music festival, taking place every July at LeBreton Flats with over 300,000 attendees enjoying headliners spanning rock, hip-hop, blues, electronic, and folk genres. TD Place Stadium in the Glebe neighbourhood hosts the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL and Atletico Ottawa of the Canadian Premier League, creating a lively game-day atmosphere in one of the city's most walkable districts. Winter transforms Ottawa into a celebration of ice and snow, with Winterlude each February featuring outdoor concerts, ice sculptures, and skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway. The Ottawa Jazz Festival, CityFolk festival, and Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill add further depth to a calendar that peaks in the warmer months but never truly goes quiet. Whether attending a Senators game, catching a world premiere at the NAC, or joining hundreds of thousands on the Hill for Canada Day fireworks, Ottawa offers live experiences steeped in both national pride and genuine local passion.