The Country Music Association of Ontario Festival & Awards, presented by Cowbell Brewing Co. is coming to Hamilton this weekend, and I don’t know about you but we plan to make the most of it. From Thursday, May 29 to Sunday, June 1 you can find live shows and events all culminating in the 13th Annual Awards Show Sunday evening.
CMAOntario is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ignite the creativity and support the development of emerging country artists in Ontario. They work to grow public appreciation for country music by providing affordable, high-quality events that benefit communities at large. CMAOntario is dedicated to supporting communities in need by providing financial support to local charities and food banks.
2025 Festival & Awards Nominees
The 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards Show celebrates the best of Ontario country music across 17 categories with additional special awards. Notable nominees this year include:
- Owen Reigling with six nominations
- Andrew Hyatt with four nominations
- Elyse Saunders with four nominations
- Tebey with four nominations
The Awards Show itself is on Sunday, June 1 at The Music Hall. Event starts at 7pm and there are still a few tickets available.
A Weekend of Hamilton Events
CMAOntario isn’t only hosting the Awards Show on Sunday. The festival will start on Thursday and is packed with events around Hamilton.
For those looking to further their music career, the R2i Conference is the event for you. The conference has industry panels, workshops and opportunities for one-on-one conversations with industry professionals.
Check out a full list of CMAOntario R2i Conference events here.
The weekend is also full of open mic nights, songwriter series and even a Saturday night Bonfire with an incredible lineup of Canadian Country Artists.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your cowboy boots and head out to enjoy some good old Canadian country music, right here in our own city!
Looking for exciting things to do in Hamilton? Check out the Steel City Magazine Events Calendar and discover what Hamilton really has going on.
