Celebrating Ottawa’s 200th Anniversary

September 26th 2026 is Ottawa’s 200th anniversary! All throughout September the city will be hosting events to celebrate. There are multiple ways that you can celebrate with the rest of Ottawa on September 26th right here in Ottawa’s Original Downtown!

Ottawa 200 Block Party

The main event being hosted by the city of Ottawa is the Ottawa 200 Block Party, being held at the Marion Dewar Plaza! It is a free event that runs from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm with performances and games happening all throughout the day!

There will be food and beverages available for purchase throughout the day starting at 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.

For the full day schedule please visit the website below:

SoundScape Festival

Another event happening on September 26th is the final signature showcase of the SoundScape Festival. This is a festival that has been running since August 27th and goes until September 26th underneath the Plaza Bridge. The immersive music and art festival is a way to transform the historic landmark into a upbeat atmosphere that brings people together through music and community.

While the signature events are not happening, take a walk underneath the Plaza Bridge to see it still lit up with ambient installations. With bright colours, gentle music and sounds, this festival is one you don’t want to miss all month long.

Pique

This year, Pique is happening on the 26th of September at the Arts Court and is a free event.

This festival is a forward thinking artist driven event that brings together artistic communities to explore, experiment and connect. Through adventurous music, immersive art and performances the Arts Court is transformed into a place of bright lights and positive energy.

The lineup this year consists of artists across Canada and beyond. The program includes electronics, contemporary composition, ballroom cultures and more!

For more information about the lineup and artists:

Bytown Together

On September 26th the Bytown Museum is hosting a free event from the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Bytown Together is a full day event that will have events and programming throughout the day. With free admission to the museum, everyone is abler to come and learn more about the history of Ottawa and Bytown.

There will be lots of fun and a live performance by the Paul Weber Band, as they carry into the evening with a live folk performance. Afterwards the events will continue at the historic Plaza Bridge and offer free admission to this festival.

For more details about this event please visit their website.

Nuit Blanche

For one night only on September 26th Nuit Blanche takes over the city of Ottawa and transforms it into a vibrant nighttime experience of art, light and discovery.

Explore the city and different destinations from the ByWard Market to downtown streets and iconic landmarks to view the colourful and bright activations that this night has to offer.

With a packed lineup Nuit Blanche is full of outstanding installations from 7:00pm to 7:00am!

To see the full lineup and more details, visit the Nuit Blanche website.