Residents in Stratford, Ontario, can look forward to a full season of live performances as Stratford Summer Music officially released its lineup for the 2026 festival. The event runs from July 5 through August 2, featuring more than 40 performances across various local venues, including The Avondale, the MusicBarge at the Boathouse, Revival House, and the Stratford Perth Museum.
The festival aims to provide the community with professional-caliber music experiences, with approximately 50 percent of the programming offered free of charge. The season opens on July 5 at The Avondale with a free Side-by-Side concert, which will unite musicians from the National Youth Orchestra of Canada with professional symphony players for a performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
Key performances throughout the summer include the National Youth Orchestra of Canada returning to The Avondale on July 19. On July 23, Juno Award-winning jazz vocalist Holly Cole will perform at the same venue. The festival will also host its annual Jazz Academy showcase on July 31, featuring performances on the MusicBarge and a concluding evening concert at Revival House with the SSM Jazz All-Stars.
Tickets and festival passes are currently available through the official festival website. In 2024, the festival was recognized as one of BBC Music Magazine’s Best Classical Music Festivals in the United States and Canada.
