Unison Choruses Canada is a national not-for-profit organization serving as a hub for Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ choruses, fostering connections and providing essential resources for administration, fundraising, and programming. Your donation helps us support these vibrant communities and ensure their voices continue to be heard.
Festival Planning Update – June 2025
June 24, 2025
Unison Festival Vancouver 2026: Music Healing Spirit
Bringing Canada’s queer choirs together in song and celebration
We’re less than a year out from Unison 2026 – and things are coming together! From venue bookings to artistic ideas to early registrations, the planning committee is hard at work to make this a joyful, positive, and unforgettable long weekend in Vancouver. Read on for recent highlights:
Early-Bird Registration is Open!
Early-bird registration for Unison delegates is now live! Signing up before January 15, 2026 locks in your discounted rate and helps us plan for all the singers, choirs, and guests who will be coming together for the festival.
Why register early?
Save money with early pricing
Complete your delegate profile and questionnaire in advance
Get it off your to-do list — no need to scramble at the deadline
Receive updates and reminders on key dates and travel tips
Help organizers plan more accurately for scheduling, logistics, and space
Registration is open to all performers, delegates, and choir directors attending the Unison Festival in Vancouver from May 15–18, 2026.
Register now at: https://www.unisonchoruses.ca/festival/registration
We’re Hiring!
The Unison 2026 Festival Planning Committee is building the team that will help bring the festival to life. We’re currently hiring for three paid, part-time contract positions that run through June 2026. Hours are flexible and ramp up as the festival approaches.
Current openings:
General Manager – Leads planning and logistics, working closely with Co-chairs, Festival Artistic Directors, and volunteers.
Application deadline: July 2, 2025
Fundraising Coordinator – Builds community and corporate support by managing grants, sponsorships, and donor engagement.
Application deadline: July 15, 2025
Social Events Coordinator – Designs and delivers vibrant, welcoming events that capture the spirit of Unison and reflect the local flavour of Vancouver.
Application deadline: July 15, 2025
We’re looking for team players with energy, creativity, and experience in event or arts administration.
Full job descriptions and application info:https://www.unisonchoruses.ca/festival/positions
Getting Ready
Unison 2026 will take place in the heart of downtown Vancouver, a city known for its spectacular natural beauty and vibrant cultural life. Here are some key details for delegates planning their visit:
Venue: The Queen Elizabeth Theatre will host concerts, rehearsals, and mass choir performances. Centrally located and professionally equipped, it’s a venue worthy of our performers.
Learn more: https://vancouvercivictheatres.com/venues/queen-elizabeth-theatre/
Closing Banquet: The Westin Bayshore will be home to our Sunday evening banquet – a spacious, elegant waterfront venue with stunning views and easy access to city attractions.
Accommodations: Hotels and lodging options are being confirmed and details will follow. The registration form now includes an accommodation intent question to help us support your planning needs.
We’re also reviewing rehearsal spaces, technical requirements, and schedule design to ensure things run smoothly – and with flexibility for all participating choirs.
Local Love
Welcome to Vancouver – a city with deep 2SLGBTQIA+ roots, a thriving choral scene, and a whole lot of queer history to celebrate.
Did you know?
Vancouver’s Davie Village, centered around Davie and Bute Streets, is home to the city’s most visible gay district, with inclusive bars, restaurants, shops, and community spaces.
Vancouver was the birthplace of the Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium, a trailblazing queer bookstore that fought (and won) a Supreme Court case against censorship in the 1990s.
Vancouver has North America’s largest urban rainforest. Stanley Park is bigger than New York’s Central Park and features a dense network of trails, beaches, totem poles, and even a hidden mermaid statue.
The city banned doorknobs. In 2013, Vancouver became the first city to require lever-style door handles in all new buildings – for accessibility reasons. It caused a minor international stir among doorknob purists.
For Unison 2026, we’ll be planning a variety of social events and community outings that showcase the best of the city – including some fun, collaborative, and music-themed activities. Ideas currently in discussion include:
An informal city-wide singalong
Local food and art experiences
After-hours socials hosted by local choirs or community partners
More to come, but rest assured: there will be plenty of opportunities to connect, unwind, and enjoy all that Vancouver has to offer.
Unison Voices
Aurora Chorealis, based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, will join us for the first time in Vancouver! Part of the Yellowknife Choral Society, Aurora Chorealis brings rich northern harmonies and fresh energy to the Unison community.
More about Aurora Chorealis: https://ykchoralsociety.org/about/aurora-chorealis/
Unison now includes 29 member choirs — and we look forward to welcoming 28 choirs to the stage next May.
Cheers!
Thank you for reading this Festival Planning Update. We’ll be back with more details as plans continue to take shape over the coming months. In the meantime, early registration is open, hiring is underway, and the foundation for a memorable Unison 2026 is well in progress. We look forward to sharing more as we move closer to Vancouver next May.