Summerland’s Ryga Arts Festival – Celebrating great Canadian Arts!
Chris Dodd in Deafy
Words. Music. Performing Arts. Community.
Summerland’s Ryga Arts Festival
2026
September 15 to September 20, 2026
Every year, our small town of 12,000 transforms. From September 15–20, Summerland becomes more than a scenic Interior BC municipality—it becomes a vibrant hub for national artistic and social dialogue.
Since 2016, Summerland’s Ryga Arts Festival has operated on a simple but radical premise: that world-class art and deep, meaningful community connection don’t belong solely to major urban centres. Founded by community members who knew playwright and activist George Ryga personally, our festival was born from a commitment to social justice, equity, and human rights. Today, we continue to carry that torch, reimagining the rural arts sector as an essential heartbeat of Canada’s cultural future.
This year, we are proud to present a season defined by its intersectional commitment to cultural sovereignty and creative access. Our 2026 lineup is anchored by nationally acclaimed artists whose work bridges ancestral knowledge with contemporary artistic practice. We are thrilled to feature the powerful voice of Haida singer Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, the literary depth of Robert Davidson, and the groundbreaking theatre of Chris Dodd.
Our 2026 programming is about more than just presentation. Whether we are advancing the new Indigenous-led work Wings by Isobel Rondeau or hosting public forums, our goal is to foster a space where diverse voices are not just invited—they are central to the creative process and the future of Rural Arts.
This festival is for you. It’s for the artists who push boundaries, the community members who show up with curiosity, and the visitors who recognize that the most powerful conversations often happen in the most unexpected places.
We invite you to join us this September. Come for the theatre, stay for the dialogue, and witness what happens when a community truly commits to equitable, transformative art.
Join us at the 2026 Summerland Ryga Arts Festival.
For tickets, programming details, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.rygafest.ca.
