VOTE

2026 Live Music Award voting is open to all industry professionals. Please select one nominee per category. You are welcome to skip any categories that do not apply to your expertise.

Step 1 of 2

50%

Do you currently work in the Canadian Live Music Industry?(Required)

Yes

Not eligible to nominate.

You must work in the Canadian Live Music Industry in order to nominate and vote in all categories. Please consider supporting Departure 2026 in other ways.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Company Name/Organization(Required)

Job Title/Role(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Are you currently a Canadian Live Music Association member?(Required)

Yes

Would you like to receive more information about becoming a member?(Required)

Yes

CAPTCHA

Categories

Agent of the Year

Nick Storch, Independent Artist Group

Ben Buchanan, Creative Artists Agency

Vinny Cinquemani, Paquin Artist Agency

Steven Himmelfarb, The Feldman Agency

Todd Jordan, Paquin Artist Agency

Grant Paley, Midnight Agency

Vesna Pejkovic, Paquin Artist Agency

Kathleen Reid, The Feldman Agency

Nicole Rochefort, AIM Booking Agency

Nick Storch, Independent Artist Group

Music agent whose outstanding work has created success for their artists.

Concert/Club Talent Buyer of the Year

Jamal Ali, The Arrowhead

Mary Ditta, Live Nation

Rodrigo Fritz, Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

Amy Hersenhoren, We Are In The Future

Samantha O’Connor, The MRG Group

Ben Pearlman, Embrace Presents

Dave Prowse, The Rickshaw Theatre

Buyer whose work on behalf of the venue has led to outstanding programming.

Festival Talent Buyer of the Year

Louis Bellavance, BLEUFEU

Brooke Dunford, Republic Live

Talal Farisi, INK Entertainment

Chris Frayer, Winnipeg Folk Festival

Patrick Guay, evenko

Alex Simpson, Live Nation

Buyer whose work on behalf of the festival has led to outstanding programming.

Manager of the Year

Joel Carriere, Dine Alone Records

Laurie Chouinard, Cult Nation

Jude Coombe, Starfish Entertainment

Adam Gill, 2+2 Management

Darren Gilmore & Sarah Fenton, Watchdog Management

Sheri Jones, Jones & Co. Artist Management

Tracy Martin, The Core Entertainment

Ashley Poitevin, New Work Management

Tricia Ricciuto, Bedlam Music Management

Artist manager whose outstanding work has created success for their artists.

Promoting Team of the Year

BLEUFEU

Live Nation Canada

Modo Live

MRG

Night Shift Entertainment

Sonic Unyon

This is Blueprint

We Are In The Future

Whitecap Entertainment

Acknowledges a promoting organization or team whose collaborative execution, operational excellence, and commitment to artists and audiences elevated live music within their market or region.

Your Future Boss

Krista Benson, Live Nation

Coburn Blair, Live Nation

Emma Francis, Ottawa Bluesfest

Keeghan Gillis, Whitecap Entertainment

Aven Hoffarth, Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

Teresa Horosko, Folk on the Rocks

Amy Lloyd, The Feldman Agency

Riah Sethna, Live Nation

Rebecca Windjack, Birthday Cake Records

Outstanding young leader (under the age of 35) demonstrating promising talent for the future of the live music industry.

Music City of the Year

Calgary

Hamilton

Kelowna

Oshawa

Ottawa

Quebec City

Toronto

Recognizes a city whose venues, promoters, artists, audiences, and cultural infrastructure collectively contributed to an exceptional live music ecosystem over the past year.

Live Performance of the Year

Annie-Claude Deschenes: Winterruption YEG

Arkells: The Rally

Blue Rodeo: 40th Anniversary Tour

Lou-Adriane Cassidy: Polaris Music Prize

Mustafa: Meridian Hall

Shawn Mendes with Tia Wood

Sum 41: Final Show

The Beaches: No Hard Feelings Tour

Honours a live performance or tour that stood out for its artistic impact, audience connection, and execution—focusing on the live moment rather than overall commercial success.

Tour Manager of the Year

Brendan Kennedy

Mack Long

Sho Murray

Jen Ochej

Niki Prekop

Jackie Sakaguchi

Justin Schell

Adam Shoji

Karen "Keeks" Weigold

Tour manager whose outstanding work on tour has supported artists and tour staff.

A/V Supplier of the Year

Christie Lites

DL Sound & Lighting Ltd.

FM Systems

Metalworks Production Group

PA Shop AV Solutions

Stageline

Wall Sound

Recognizes a technical production or audiovisual supplier whose work consistently delivered high-quality sound, visuals, and reliability across tours, festivals, or venues, supporting the success of live performances.

Production Manager of the Year

Todd Bower, Live Nation

Brad Ferguson, Live Nation

Chad Guy

Arwen Helene, Winnipeg Folk Festival

Brad Hicks, Projects by 91

Eleni McKinnon, Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

Megan Paquette, Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

Scott Pollard, Ottawa Bluesfest

Karen Rajamohan, Harbourfront Centre

Chris Slorach

Production manager whose work on behalf of the concert or festival led to outstanding achievement and excellence.

Best Teamwork in a Small Club

Broom Factory

Fox Cabaret

Hugh's Room Live

King Eddy

Mills Hardware

Red Bird Live

Sidestage

The Drake Hotel

The Majestic Theatre

Small live music venue whose teamwork has produced outstanding live music programming.

Best Teamwork in a Medium Club

Biltmore Theatre

Bronson Centre Theatre

Exchange Event Centre

Impérial Bell

Starlite Room

TD Music Hall

The Mod Club

The Drake Hotel

Medium live music venue whose teamwork has produced outstanding live music programming.

Best Teamwork in a Major Club

Commodore Ballroom

Kee to Bala

Lighthouse Art Centre

London Music Hall

MTelus

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Rebel

The Music Hall

Major live music venue whose teamwork has produced outstanding live music programming.

Best Teamwork in a Small Arena

Bonnetts Energy Centre

Canada Life Place

Mary Brown's Centre

Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

Scotiabank Centre

Tribute Communities Centre

Arena venue whose teamwork has produced outstanding live music programming. 1,000-14,500 capacity.

Best Teamwork in a Large Arena or Stadium

BC Place

Canadian Tire Centre

Commonwealth Stadium

Rogers Place

Rogers Stadium

Scotiabank Arena

TD Coliseum

Arena venue whose teamwork has produced outstanding live music programming. 15,000+ capacity

Best Teamwork in a Soft Seat Theatre/Performing Arts Centre

Burton Cummings Theatre

First Ontario Concert Hall

Imperial Theatre

Massey Hall

National Arts Centre

National Music Centre

Rebecca Cohn Auditorium

The Chan Centre

West End Cultural Centre

Wolf Performance Hall

Soft-seat/PAC whose teamwork has produced outstanding live music programming.

Small Festival of the Year

Cicada Music & Arts Festival

Festival of Small Halls

Folk on the Rocks

Minoshkite Indigenous Music Festival

Paris Drinks Festival

Pouzza Fest

Wavelength Festival

Festival that has presented outstanding programming. Below 6000 capacity.

Medium Festival of the Year

City Folk Festival

Electric Island

Fvded in the Park

Mariposa Folk Festival

Sled Island Music & Arts Festival

Sommo Festival

TD Halifax Jazz Festival

Toronto Jazz Festival

Festival that has presented outstanding programming. 6001 - 15,000 capacity

Major Festival of the Year

Calgary Stampede

Cavendish Beach Music Festival

Festival d'Été de Québec

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Osheaga Music & Arts Festival

Ottawa Bluesfest

Sunfest

Supercrawl

Veld Music Festival

Winnipeg Folk Festival

Festival that has presented outstanding programming. 15,001+ capacity

Innovation in Live Music

FEMINAE NOX

Hugh’s Room Live

London Girls Rock Camp+

Modern Biology: Mushroom Church

Not Dead Yet

The Listening Room

Recognizes an individual, company, or initiative advancing live music through innovation—whether in technology, ticketing, fan engagement, production, touring models, or new ways of delivering live experiences.

Sustainability in Live

Calgary Folk Music Festival

Festival d'été de Québec

Hillside Festival

Ottawa Bluesfest

Redwood Theatre

Rifflandia Festival

Werklund Centre

Recognizes leadership in environmental and operational sustainability within live music, including touring practices, venue operations, waste reduction, energy use, and long-term ecosystem responsibility.

Philanthropic Live Event of the Year

Dream Serenade

Four Chords and the Truth: Fire Relief Benefit Concert for Canadian Music Workers In L.A.

JIM CUDDY AND FRIENDS: A Night of Country Classics Benefitting The Daily Bread Food Bank

Keithmas XVI - A Foodbank Fundrager

NY80: A Celebration of Neil Young and His Music

Ottawa Bluesfest Programs: Blues in the Schools, Be in the Band, CHEO partnership, Green Team Fundraiser

Unison Schmoozefest

Honours a live music event that demonstrated exceptional social impact through charitable fundraising, community support, advocacy, or meaningful alignment with a cause beyond the performance itself.

Brand x Music Program of the Year

Boston Pizza: Live & Local

CBC Music Presents: Live at Massey Hall

EQ Live: Women in Music Canada with SiriusXM

Front of the Line by American Express

National Music Centre OHSOTO'KINO Indigenous Programming Initiative sponsored by TD

TD Music at Union Station

Celebrates a best-in-class partnership between a brand and the live music community where commercial collaboration enhanced the fan experience, supported artists, or meaningfully contributed to the live ecosystem.