Canada’s capital Ottawa celebrates in 2026 its 200th anniversary with a range of activities and exceptional events.
Communities across the world are invited to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of Bytown on September 26, 1826. What began as a humble logging town along the Ottawa River has grown into a vibrant metropolis that visitors can experience. Canada’s capital welcomes an estimated 10 million visitors annually who spend C$2.6 billion in the community.
Under the theme Celebrate Together, the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism and many local partners will welcome residents and visitors to join in a year filled with special moments. Signature festivals, Indigenous- , community- and artist-led initiatives, a block party in the heart of downtown, and more will showcase Ottawa’s creative energy, its cultural vibrancy and diversity as well as its unique blend of history and modern spirit.
Ottawa Tourism has highlighted several must-see events taking place across the capital.
A monthly music series showcasing the diversity of Francophone music. Nine concerts feature established French-speaking headliners alongside local opening acts, celebrating the cultural richness of Ottawa’s Francophone community.
A new three-week spring festival at Saunders Farm featuring nearly half a million tulips, immersive art installations, live performances, and storytelling activities in both French and English.
A major retrospective dedicated to Métis artist Jim Logan. The exhibition brings together more than 40 works from across Canada, including a large-scale installation covering the façade of the National Arts Centre, alongside free public programming.
An immersive outdoor gallery curated by the Bytown Museum. Shop windows and public spaces along Rideau Street and the ByWard Market will transform into an exhibition of large-scale archival photos, animated projections, and bilingual stories celebrating Ottawa’s communities.
Presented during the Festival Franco-Ontarien, this 360-degree immersive experience uses virtual reality to bring two centuries of local history to life through four musical voices: an Algonquin descendant, a French-Canadian canal worker, an Irish immigrant, and a contemporary performer.
Five classical concerts exploring key periods in Ottawa’s history through performances, bilingual narration, archival imagery, and newly commissioned works.
Presented by Qamaniq Records, this concert series brings together Inuit musicians, storytellers, and multidisciplinary artists from Nunavut, Alaska, Greenland, and Toronto, celebrating Inuit musical culture and its influence in Ottawa.
The Ottawa International Animation Festival will present a public art trail featuring three animated short films created from historic Bytown photographs. Projected on the FX columns along Rideau Street, the free experience connects cultural venues through animation and digital storytelling in both English and French.
In addition to these special events, Canada capital invites visitors to explore the city through guided tours.
A dedicated section of Ottawa Tourism website brings together options for a hop-on hop-off bus, walking tours through historic neighborhoods, themes tours around food art or social history; bike rides along the waterfront or even a scenic cruise on the Rideau Canal
These tours are perfect for travelers who want a more personal connection to the city and plenty of time to snap photos along the way.
Ottawa is easy to reach by air. The city has non-stop or direct flights from 10 cities in the USA as well as direct services from London, Paris, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and 18 domestic destinations.
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