Downtown Winnipeg is getting ready to party! The Burt Block Party is back for 2026, bringing four nights of live music, big-name Canadian and international acts, and a festival atmosphere to the heart of downtown Winnipeg from August 13 – 16, 2026.
Taking place directly outside the Burton Cummings Theatre, Burt Block Party will welcome up to 4,000 fans each night for what has become one of Winnipeg’s biggest summer street parties.
With four completely different lineups spread across four nights, there’s something for rock, metal, alternative and Canadian music fans throughout the weekend. Whether you’re looking for heavy metal, indie rock, classic Canadian hits or alternative favourites, Burt Block Party 2026 has a lineup worth checking out.
Thursday, August 13 – Killswitch Engage, Machine Head, Malevolence and Waster
The acclaimed metal band will bring its high-energy live show to downtown Winnipeg on Thursday, August 13, joining Machine Head, Malevolence and Waster for the opening night of Burt Block Party 2026.
Featuring Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel on guitar, Mike D’Antonio on bass, Justin Foley on drums and Jesse Leach on vocals, Killswitch Engage have built a reputation for combining technically precise metal with explosive live performances.
The band made a major impact with its 2002 album Alive Or Just Breathing, which went on to earn a place on Decibel’s list of the Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time. Since then, Killswitch Engage have amassed more than three billion streams and earned gold and platinum certifications for albums including The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies.
The band has also received three GRAMMY Award nominations for Best Metal Performance and reached the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 with three consecutive releases.
Their 2019 album Atonement was another major career milestone, earning praise from publications including Forbes, Revolver and NME. The band has continued to headline packed venues around the world while sharing stages with legendary acts including Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Slayer, My Chemical Romance, Rise Against and Coheed & Cambria.
Killswitch Engage brings all of that experience to its ninth studio album, This Consequence, released through Metal Blade Records. The album combines the band’s trademark riffs and melodic elements with the aggressive sound that has made Killswitch Engage one of modern metal’s most enduring acts.
Friday, August 14 – The Beaches, Lights, LØLØ and sundayclub
Friday, August 14 is sponsored by Rainbow Stage and will feature a stacked lineup led by Toronto rockers The Beaches, with Lights, LØLØ and sundayclub also taking the stage.
The five-time Juno Award-winning The Beaches have been doing things their own way for more than a decade. The Toronto band features sisters Jordan Miller on lead vocals and bass and Kylie Miller on guitar, alongside Leandra Earl on guitar and keys and Eliza Enman-McDaniel on drums.
The band’s music blends energetic rock with sharp, often humorous songwriting and plenty of attitude. Their album Blame My Ex turned heartbreak and self-discovery into a collection of upbeat, exuberant songs, led by the breakout single Blame Brett.
The track became a major success, surpassing 100 million Spotify streams and 10 million TikTok views. It reached No. 2 on Spotify’s U.S. Viral chart, No. 20 at Alternative Radio in the United States and spent 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Canada’s Alternative Radio chart.
The Beaches have continued that momentum with No Hard Feelings, showcasing the band’s polished alternative-rock sound across songs ranging from the energetic Touch Myself to the more introspective Lesbian of the Year. The album combines grungy guitar tones, catchy hooks and the band’s trademark witty lyrics.
Lights will also bring her genre-bending sound to the Burt Block Party stage. The Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist has built a career that moves freely between alternative, indie and electronic pop.
With hundreds of millions of streams and sold-out tours around the world, Lights has collaborated with artists including Travis Barker, deadmau5, Kaskade, Illenium, Steve Aoki and Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. She has also made appearances at major events ranging from Coachella to Comic-Con.
Lights is currently touring in support of her latest projects, A6 and A6EXTENDED, with her Come Get Your Girl headline tour taking her across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Also joining Friday night’s lineup is LØLØ, who has built a following with her sharp pop-rock songwriting and energetic performances. Following her reimagined take on Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark and a viral reworking of Taylor Swift’s Betty, LØLØ has continued developing her career both as a performer and songwriter, including writing songs for other artists such as Ashley Kutcher.
With The Beaches, Lights and LØLØ all on the bill, Friday night is shaping up to be one of the biggest nights of Burt Block Party 2026.
Saturday, August 15 – Colin James, Streetheart, Toque and Kelly Bado
Saturday, August 15 will bring a night of legendary Canadian rock and blues to downtown Winnipeg, with acclaimed Winnipeg-born musician Colin James kicking off the evening at Burt Block Party.
With an incredible career spanning more than 35 years, Colin James has released 21 studio albums, earned 8 Juno Awards and collected an impressive 31 Maple Blues Awards, along with multiple platinum records.
James continues to push himself creatively, most recently with Chasing the Sun, an electrifying blues-rock release that showcases his signature guitar work and songwriting alongside an impressive collection of musical guests.
His 2021 album Open Road earned James the 2022 Juno Award for Blues Album of the Year and marked his first nomination for the Blues Foundation’s Blues Rock Album award in 2023. The album explores personal connections through original songs written with longtime collaborators, alongside fresh interpretations of songs from a diverse group of writers.
James also earned international attention with his 2018 album Miles to Go. The record debuted on the Billboard Blues chart and remained on the RMR Blues chart for 24 weeks, including 14 weeks in the Top 10.
After decades on the road, James remains one of Canada’s most respected guitarists and performers. His experience and confidence are evident both in his powerful vocals and electrifying live performances, making him a favourite among musicians and fans alike.
Now celebrating more than three decades in music, James continues to tour and record with the same passion that has defined his career. For him, making music remains second nature—and Winnipeg fans will get to experience that passion live when he takes the stage.
Sunday, August 16 – Collective Soul, 54.40, Paul Langlois and Attica Riots
The final night of Burt Block Party 2026 is set to go out with a bang as American rock favourites Collective Soul headline Sunday, August 16, joined by Canadian rock legends 54.40 and Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip.
Collective Soul celebrated 30 years as a band in 2024 and marked the milestone with the release of their 12th studio album, Here to Eternity. Led by frontman and longtime songwriter Ed Roland, the band has built an impressive catalogue spanning more than three decades.
With 11 studio albums and eight No. 1 hits to their name, Collective Soul have sold millions of records worldwide. Their 1995 self-titled album was certified triple platinum and helped establish the band as one of the defining rock acts of the era.
Winnipeg fans can expect to hear newer material alongside some of Collective Soul’s biggest hits, including Shine, December, The World I Know, Heavy and Where the River Flows.
54.40 will also take the stage, bringing more than 40 years of Canadian rock history to Burt Block Party. Led by founding member and principal songwriter Neil Osborne, the Vancouver band has built an enduring legacy with gold and platinum albums, memorable songs and a reputation for delivering powerful live performances.
Throughout their career, 54.40 have continually evolved their sound while maintaining the songwriting and musical chemistry that have kept the band relevant for generations of Canadian music fans.
Also appearing Sunday is Paul Langlois, guitarist and longtime member of The Tragically Hip. Langlois will showcase material from his solo career, including his latest album, Smooth Rock Falls.
The album represents some of Langlois’ most personal songwriting to date, exploring themes of grief, reflection and the small details that remain after experiencing loss. It also marks another step in his evolution as a solo artist following decades with one of Canada’s most beloved bands and the loss of Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie.
With Collective Soul, 54.40 and Paul Langlois all sharing the bill, Sunday night promises to be a memorable finale to four nights of live music in downtown Winnipeg.
Burt Block Party 2026 Lineup
| Date | Headliners & Performers |
|---|---|
| Thursday, August 13 | Killswitch Engage, Machine Head, Malevolence and Waster |
| Friday, August 14 | The Beaches, Lights, LØLØ and sundayclub |
| Saturday, August 15 | Colin James, Streetheart, Toque and Kelly Bado |
| Sunday, August 16 | Collective Soul, 54.40, Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip and Attica Riots |
Tickets for Burt Block Party 2026
-
- Single Day Pass: $89.50 per ticket, plus a $23.50 service fee and CA$5 order processing fee.
- Saturday & Sunday Two-Day Pass: $149.50 per ticket, plus a $34.50 service fee and CA$5 order processing fee. Purchase on Ticketmaster
- Four-Day Pass: $249.50 per ticket, plus a $39.50 service fee and $5 order processing fee. Purchase on Ticketmaster
