5th annual ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl – Come Toward the Fire Festival

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and Musqueam, with support from the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, present the 5th annual ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl – Come Toward the Fire Festival, a soul-stirring celebration of Indigenous cultures, creativity, and community, from September 18–20, 2026 at the Chan Centre and venues across the UBC campus, on unceded Musqueam territory. The festival opens on Friday, September 18 with a Day of Knowledge Sharing — featuring workshops, cultural tours, film screenings, and an Indigenous artisan market. Saturday, September 19 brings a full day of family-friendly programming with live music — featuring the Vancouver debuts of LOV and Kalyn Fay — workshops, dance, authors, live mural painting, film screenings including Gord Downie’s The Secret Path, and food trucks. The festival closes on Sunday, September 20 with a ticketed mainstage concert hosted by Reservation Dogs star Dallas Goldtooth and headlined by two-time JUNO Award-winner Aysanabee, alongside Boslen and Logan Staats. The evening also features the Vancouver debut of JUNO-nominated singer Siibii.

Friday and Saturday admission is free — a wristband is required for entry. Full festival details, wristbands, and tickets to the September 20 closing concert at cometowardthefire.com.

Who is it for?

All ages

Tickets : $0-$79

Sept. 18: Free; a wristband is required for entry
Sept. 19: Free; a wristband is required for entry
Sept. 20: $79 Premium / $49 Regular / $30
Indigenous/Student
Accessible pricing available by request

How to get tickets?

Buy online

 

Date: Friday September 18, 2026 to Sunday September 20, 2026

Friday, September 18 – Day of Knowledge Sharing
12:30-4:30pm | Chan Centre and venues across the UBC campus
Admission is free — a wristband is required for entry

Learn and experience Indigenous cultures, languages, and histories on this Day of Knowledge Sharing. Free, open and accessible programming will be held at the Chan Centre and nearby venues on the UBC campus. Musqueam host and welcome from Councillor Alec Guerin.

Participating Artists: Burnstick (Plains Cree/Métis, Manitoba), Coastal Wolf Pack (Coast Salish, Vancouver, BC), LOV (Poundmaker Cree Nation, SK), G̱a̱mksimoon (Gitga’at First Nation, BC), Kalyn Fay (Cherokee/Muscogee, Oklahoma), Francis Baptiste (Syilx, Osoyoos Indian Band, Vancouver, BC), Miss Christie Lee (Musqueam, Vancouver BC)

Saturday, September 19 – Festival Day
12-6pm | Chan Centre and venues across the UBC campus
Admission is free — a wristband is required for entry

Come Toward the Fire’s main indoor and outdoor festival day, celebrating Indigenous cultures and voices from across the continent. Experience live music, dance, DJs, film screenings, hands-on workshops, storytellers and authors, food trucks, Indigenous artisan market, skateboarding, live mural painting, and more. Musqueam welcome from Councillor Alec Guerin.

Musqueam Hosts: Manuel Strain and Quelemia Sparrow.

Performing Artists: Burnstick (Plains Cree/Métis, Manitoba), LOV (Poundmaker Cree Nation, SK), Francis Baptiste (Syilx, Osoyoos Indian Band, Vancouver, BC), Caley Watts (Saddle Lae Cree Nation, based in BC), G̱a̱mksimoon (Gitga’at First Nation, BC), Kalyn Fay (Cherokee/Muscogee, Oklahoma), Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz (Vancouver, BC), Joey Stylez (Plains Cree, based in Haida Gwaii), Semiah (Mohawk, Six Nations, ON), Eagle Ex Machina (Misipawistik Cree Nation, based in Vancouver, BC), Coastal Wolf Pack (Coast Salish, Vancouver, BC)

Sunday, September 20 – Closing Concert
Doors + Indigenous Artisan Market 5pm | Show 6-9pm | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Tickets: $79 Premium / $49 Regular / $29 Indigenous/Student

A finale concert to celebrate the closing of this year’s festival with an epic evening of Indigenous song and stories — hosted by acclaimed Indigenous actor and comedian Dallas Goldtooth. Featuring a pre-show Indigenous artisan market and Indigenous food trucks. Musqueam welcome from Councillor Alec Guerin.

Performing Artists: Aysanabee (Oji-Cree, ON), Boslen (Haisla Nation, Vancouver, BC), Logan Staats (Mohawk, Six Nations, ON), Siibii (Cree, Quebec), Miss Christie Lee (Musqueam, BC), Coastal Wolf Pack (Coast Salish, BC)

Venue & Address

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver

Wheelchair accessible