The Cranium Showcase brings you tomorrow’s stars today. The 2026 showcase will feature eight live music acts from Ottawa, Canada and around the world. Dive into the musical flavours of afrobeat, R&B, hip-hop, soul and more, as these budding stars provide a peek into the future of live music.
Proving once again that Ottawa is a vibrant city with a rich music and cultural landscape, the Cranium Showcase will present emerging talents who are poised for promising music careers. Known as a tastemaker and key professional development showcase, Cranium curates the best new artists for you to keep on your radar.
The 2026 showcase will feature:
Mely Walide (Gatineau/Ottawa) Kozyeli (Glasgow, Scotland) Indigenous (Toronto) Simora (Ottawa) Aiona Santana (Ottawa) Rooky Kamiz (Saskatoon) Rachelle Show (Toronto) DJ: CircaBeatz (Ottawa) Host: Vladamir Jean-Gilles
Information may change. If you spot anything outdated or incorrect, let us know.
Information may change. Please verify details on the official website before attending.
Event Details
National Arts Centre
Canada's bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts, featuring four performance venues, the NAC Orchestra, and the 1 Elgin restaurant with Rideau Canal views. A National Historic Site with Brutalist architecture and a striking 2017 glass addition by Diamond Schmitt Architects.
Upcoming Events
musicMay 7Morgan Toney
National Arts Centre — Fourth Stage
The Mi’kmaw were likely the first people that European explorer John Cabot met in 1497 on the East Coast of what would come to be Atlantic Canada. That legacy of welcome, of bridging two worlds, li...
musicMay 8Cranium Conference & Showcase 2026: Friday events
National Arts Centre — Fourth Stage
Cranium Arts Project is excited to announce the Cranium Conference and Showcase 2026. The music event will connect active industry professionals with musicians, artists and people making moves in t...
musicMay 14Andrea Lindsay: D’or et d’argent – The Show
National Arts Centre — Fourth Stage
For singer–songwriter Andrea Lindsay, the past decade has been a time of vibrant creativity and memorable moments on stage. Her 2016 album Entre le jazz et la java, featuring covers of jazz classic...
musicMay 15Just Prince: and Friends
National Arts Centre — Fourth Stage
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Just Prince is known for seamlessly blending Western and Eastern sounds into a harmonious tapestry. With a captivating style that defies genre constraints, his music...
musicMay 16Ottawa Jazz Orchestra: Supremely Shorter
National Arts Centre — Fourth Stage
Experience the enduring legacy of Wayne Shorter, a 12-time Grammy winner whose colossal talent as a jazz saxophonist and composer left an indelible mark on music. From his pivotal roles in Art Blak...
musicMay 21Auguste Quartet
National Arts Centre — Fourth Stage
For over twenty years, Alain Bédard has enjoyed a prolific career with his Auguste Quartet, touring the four corners of the globe. Remaining faithful to his original compositions, the ensemble has ...
Want to add your event to 613today? It’s free!
Contact Us→