Departure Festival + Conference has announced the first round of guests and artists taking part in its 2026 edition in Toronto, May 4-10, including some of those set to appear at Radiodays North America.
Among the speakers confirmed for Radiodays North America, May 4-6, are CRTC Chairperson Vicky Eatrides; host and podcaster Alan Cross (Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry, Ongoing History of New Music); American broadcaster and investigative journalist Amy Goodman; media personality Ben Mulroney; Australian talent coach and strategist Craig Bruce; and Sounds Profitable partner Tom Webster.
New for this year, the Departure Conference will move from Hotel X to downtown Toronto, with the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and Fairmont Royal York serving as the main stages and hub for keynote sessions. Departure House at Transmission Studios also makes its debut as a pop-up destination for brand activations and other programming.
Comedian Russell Peters, music legend and Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, and Grammy-nominated songwriter Jenna Andrews, who has written hits for BTS and most recently KPop Demon Hunters, are among those confirmed.
Departure Honours also returns, celebrating notable changemakers and groundbreaking achievements within the cultural landscape. Music icon Sarah McLachlan will be awarded the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Award presented by Slaight Music; Golden Globe-winner and the force behind KPop Demon Hunters, Maggie Kang will receive the Cultural Innovator Award; Canadian director, actor and screenwriter Jacob Tierney (Heated Rivalry, Letterkenny) will receive the Creative Impact Award, while literary star Rupi Kaur will receive the Independent Achievement Award. The Live Music Awards, presented in partnership with the Canadian Live Music Association.
“After an incredible inaugural year, we’re excited to build on that momentum with a 2026 edition that’s bigger, bolder, and even more connected to the city,” said Kevin Barton, Executive Producer at Departure Festival + Conference. “Welcoming influential voices to new, vibrant spaces in the heart of downtown Toronto, Departure continues to evolve where music, culture, and emerging creative fields collide. This is just the beginning, with more exciting announcements still to come.”
Programming for this year’s festival is being led by Pat Murphy who moves into a new position as Executive Director.
Additional artist announcements, conference programming, and special events will be revealed in the coming weeks.
