2026 SHOWCASE OPPORTUNITIES
SUBMISSIONS FOR 2026 PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CHECK BACK THIS FALL FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 5:00PM OCTOBER 14, 2025
CMAOntario is proud to announce our 2026 Showcase Opportunities - exclusively for members for the following events.
- CMAOntario Bonfire May 30, 2026
- CMAOntario Beach Bash, Sharbot Lake, ON July 25, 2026
- Kempenfest, Barrie, July 31 - Aug 3, 2026
- HarmoniaFest, Newmarket, ON August 23, 2026
SUBMIT TODAY FOR YOUR CHANCE TO PLAY!
Submission Deadline: October 14, 2025
All submissions must be completed by 5:00pm on October 14, 2025.
Application Submission Procedure
- Read the official rules and regulations.
- To be eligible for consideration, you need to submit one link to a video of a live performance, one MP3, your social media links, a photo and a bio.
How To Submit for this Opportunity:
You will need your CMAOntario Membership User Name and Password to apply for this performance opportunity. Please complete the form below to submit your application.
Contact info@cmaontario.ca if you have a question regarding your submission.
A confirmation email will be sent from CMAOntario upon the receipt of your submission.
To be eligible as a potential showcase participant, the Artist must:
- Currently reside in Ontario (In the case of a band, at least 50% of the members must reside in Ontario)An Ontario resident is defined as a person who was either born in Ontario, or a person who has lived in Ontario for no less than two years by March 31, 2026.
- The artist must be a current active member of the CMAOntario
- The artist must have performed at least three (3) shows in the last year;
- The artist must have at least one (1) commercially released album or EP at the time of application.
Selection Criteria may include any or all of the following (depending on specific requirements of each festival):
- Recent commercial release
- Quality of submitted material (including music and press kit)
- Originality and overall potential
- Live performance preparedness/readiness (ability to present an engaging performance)
- Performance history
- Professionalism
- Genre appropriateness
- Industry recommendation
Selection Committee
The Selection Committee is comprised of at least 12 industry experts (up to 16), plus 2 CMAOntario directors or staff. The selection committee evaluates the submissions based on selection criteria. The CMAOntario uses the selection committee recommendations to compile a list of selected artists and alternates.
Once the CMAOntario has received the list of 5 ranked choices from each committee member, we then assign scores as follows: A number one choice receives a score of 5, the second choice receives a score of 4, and so on. The table below illustrates an example of the scoring system.
If there are 5 performance spots available, those acts with the top five scores would then be offered the performance spots and the next two are reserved as alternates.
Notification
Successful applicants are notified by CMAOntario staff via email.
Once the selected artist(s) are confirmed, they are provided with performance details. If any of the selected artists are unable to confirm their participation, an artist from the alternate list is invited. Those artists that are not selected for a performance spot are notified via email once the selected artist is confirmed.
Upon selection, the artist grants CMAOntario permission the use of all publicity materials to be used for promotional purposes.
Acts selected for these performance opportunities will receive a $500.00 performance honourarium, per act for each event.
Acts selected for these performance opportunities will be announced by November 30, 2025.
**Please note there is a submission fee for these performance opportunities at the end of the form.
Submissions for the 2026 Performance Opportunities are now closed. Please check back in October for new opportunities.