The Festival

The Unison Festival is a quadrennial weekend choral festival featuring Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ choruses. The first festival was in Edmonton in 1998 and festivals have since been held in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Calgary. For more information, see our festival history page.

Dates & Location (new dates)

Friday, May 19 to Monday, May 22, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Visit Discover Halifax to learn about the city and its attractions.

Theme

Open Harbour

Performers

The festival will bring together around 22 choirs from all over Canada. In addition, there will be invited performers. It is expected the festival will have between 600 and 1,000 participants.

Host Choruses

The Women Next Door and the Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus

Opening Concert

Friday, May 19, featuring the host choruses and special guests. A reception is planned before the concert.

Concert Blocks

There will be four concert blocks for participating choruses:

• • Concert Block 1: Saturday afternoon (12:30 – 2:30 pm)
  • Concert Block 2: Saturday afternoon (3:15 – 5:15 pm)
  • Concert Block 3: Sunday afternoon (12:30 – 2:30 pm)
  • Concert Block 4: Sunday afternoon (3:15 – 5:15 pm)

Festival Choruses

There will be three festival choruses: SSAA, SATB, and TTBB. The festival choruses will be open both to festival delegates and to the general public. More information

Social Activities

There will be a program of social activities throughout the weekend to suit everyone.

Banquet

Sunday, May 21 at the Halifax Convention Centre, followed by a dance party.

Closing Concert

Monday, May 22 (afternoon)

Event Website