Shawarma, Bluesfest and history: How Ottawa will celebrate its 200th birthday

The nation’s capital is celebrating its bicentennial this year in the most Ottawa way ever.

Throughout 2026, there will be festivals, events, activities, movies and many opportunities to learn about 200 years of history. Municipal officials, businesses and stakeholders gathered at city hall on Tuesday to showcase the specific details on what people can look forward to.

“We live in a wonderful city, we are so fortunate to call Ottawa home,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said to the dignitaries and media. “There are so many big moments in our city’s history; Grey Cup parades, Stanley Cup matches, royal visits, state dinners and nation-building events.”

Ottawa Tourism is spearheading over 14 projects starting in March through the 200th Tourism Animation Fund. The recipients are getting grants up to $20,000 per project to support 50 per cent of expenses for the initiatives.

It prioritizes ideas that celebrate Ottawa — or ByTown’s— culture and history.

One of those is Shawarma Fest 2026, which aims to host a Guinness World Records attempt to build a 160-metre shawarma in the ByWard Market.

At Saunders Farm, the Cider TulipFest will begin May 1, featuring almost half a million flowers with photo installations, entertainment and culinary experiences.

A Capital Pride drag talent show will feature all six Ottawa queens from Canada’s Drag Race, and a festival main stage show will tell the history of trans artistic expression in both official languages.

Digging into the roots of the city, Indigenous Experiences will operate a cultural installation and share stories about Algonquin life, past and present.

For several months in the fall, the Ottawa International Animation Festival will have original movies created from archival photos displayed on Rideau Street.

Bluesfest is celebrating ByTown’s 200th on July 19 with The Guess Who and The Sheepdogs. To make the event accessible to as many people as possible, the organization is selling a limited number of general admission tickets on Jan. 23 for $25.

The rest of the Bluesfest 2026 lineup will be announced in February.

The ‘city’ was founded in 1826 by Colonel John By, when he spearheaded the construction of the Rideau Canal. First called ByTown, it wasn’t incorporated until 1855 as Ottawa, and a few years later Queen Victoria chose it as Canada’s capital, paving the way for Confederation in 1867.