Bring on the Bands: BreakOut West 2025 is Coming to Winnipeg!

BreakOut West Festival, Conference, and the Western Canadian Music Awards Coming September 2025

At the close of an action-packed five days in Saskatoon, BreakOut West unveiled Winnipeg as the host city in 2025 for Western Canada’s largest music industry event.

Between September 24-28, the city will light up with some of the best in the west as the five-day conference, three-day festival, and Western Canadian Music Awards take over a variety of venues to showcase Canadian talent.

“We’re very excited to host BreakOut West in Manitoba again,” said Lynne Skromeda, CEO and film commissioner at Manitoba Film & Music (MFM). Manitoba hosted the event previously in 2006 and 2014 before holding a virtual edition in 2020.

“Not only is BreakOut West a preeminent platform for Western Canadian artists—including an amazing number of Manitobans—it lets local musicians and the music industry celebrate success in their hometown,” added Skromeda.

“The opportunity to host BreakOut West in Winnipeg is cause for celebration. Our reputation for growing exceptional artists is unmatched on the Prairies and it’s fitting to bring the best and budding artists to the heart of the country for this opportunity. We look forward to welcoming all the guests of BreakOut West next fall,” said Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Glen Simard.

“We are so excited for BreakOut West to return to Winnipeg,” said Michael Dawson, executive director of BreakOut West. “The city’s music, arts and culinary scenes are truly inspiring and we look forward to sharing all that Winnipeg has to offer with artists and industry from around the world.”

It is estimated that BreakOut West 2025 will have a $1.1 million economic impact in the province based on previous events.

The initiative is in partnership with the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg host committee, of which MFM and Manitoba Music are a part. Fairmont Winnipeg will serve as the event’s host hotel and festival venues will be announced in the coming months