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Music & Events

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Live Music & Céilidhs

Cape Breton Island is alive with music, from the lively fiddle to the rhythm of traditional dance. Join a céilidh (kay-lee) for an evening of Celtic tunes, song and joyful square dancing. From cozy pubs to community halls, live music is at the heart of Island life.

59 Results

image with text

Mar

04

Unplugged Open Mic at the Diamond with Shane O’Handley

Sydney & Area

Apr 2 – May 27

a man playing guitar

Mar

05

Daniel Leblanc at The Island Nest

Isle Madame

Jan 22 – May 28

a group of people playing fiddles gathered around a piano

Mar

05

Traditional Thursday Session at the Blue Mist

Bras d'Or & Boularderie Area

Jan 9 – Jun 25

man on stage playing guitar and singing

Mar

05

Open Mic with Brian Cathcart at Daniels

Sydney & Area

Oct 2 – May 28

stylized text

Mar

06

Jazz Showcase at Daniels Alehouse

Sydney & Area

Oct 3 – May 29

image of a ski hill lit up at night plus logos

Mar

06

Live Music at the Broken Buckle – Ski Ben Eoin

Ben Eoin & East Bay Area

Jan 2 – Mar 28

text

Mar

06

The Snug Pub in Mabou

Mabou & Area

Jan 23 – Mar 27

two men posed, one with a saxophone, the other at a piano

Mar

06

Friday Night Jazz at Kiju’s with Carl Getto and Matt Nicholson

Membertou

Jan 2 – May 29

text on a wintery background

Mar

06

Happy Hour at the Creig Pub & Patio

Judique

Jan 2 – Apr 24

painting of two men on a sailboat

Mar

07

Saturday Afternoon Fiddle Matinee at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 16 – May 30

illustration of a dragon and a crystal ball

Mar

07

from
$5

3rd or 4th Annual Sparkle Ball in Margaree

Margarees

Mar 7

fiddler and piano player plauing to a crowd in a pub setting

Mar

07

from
$5

Céilidh Matinee at the Frolic’n Folk

Iona & Area

Feb 8 – Dec 19

image of a cabin in the snowy woods with text

Mar

07

from
$20

Cabin Fever Concert Series 2026

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Jan 24 – Mar 7

3 headshots arranged against a celtic background with text describing an event

Mar

07

Jimmy Rankin’s Kitchen Party at Bear Head Conference Room

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Mar 7

two men posed with a saxophone and piano

Mar

08

Jazz for Brunch with Carl Getto and Matthew Nicholson at Kiju’s

Membertou

Jan 25 – Apr 26

a group of people playing musical instruments

Mar

08

Trad Sessions at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 17 – May 31

text

Mar

08

Open Mic at The Club

Sydney & Area

Jan 4 – May 31

two men posed in front of a bar, one with a guitar

Mar

10

Evans & Doherty at the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse

Sydney & Area

Mar 10

a man playing guitar next to a christmnas tree in a pub setting

Mar

10

Open Mikey at Governors Pub & Eatery

Sydney & Area

Mar 4 – May 26

blurry photo of man playing guitar outside

Mar

13

from
$49

Dave Gunning “Field Notes” record release at Shannon Studio

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Mar 13

three men on stage playing guitar, fiddle, and mandolin

Mar

13

St. Patrick’s Day Dance with The Ceilidhmen at The Creig

Judique

Mar 13

six people posed behind a keyboard

Mar

13

Coastline at the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse

Sydney & Area

Mar 13 – Mar 14

man singing into old-fashioned microphone

Mar

14

from
$69

An Evening of Jazz with Chris Tsujiuchi at Sacred Heart

Iona & Area

Mar 14 – Mar 21

blurry photo of man playing guitar outside

Mar

14

from
$37

Dave Gunning “Field Notes” record release at The Island Nest

Isle Madame

Mar 14

exterior shot of Irish themed pub

Mar

17

St. Patrick’s Day at the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse

Sydney & Area

Mar 17 – Mar 18

blurry photo of man playing guitar outside

Mar

19

from
$46

Dave Gunning “Field Notes” record release at the HAT

Sydney & Area

Mar 19

3 men posed with musical instruments

Mar

20

3 Way Stop at the Ashby Legion

Sydney & Area

Jan 17 – Dec 4

blurry photo of man playing guitar outside

Mar

20

from
$43

Dave Gunning “Field Notes” record release at the Frolic ‘n Folk

Iona & Area

Mar 20

blurry photo of man playing guitar outside

Mar

21

from
$37

Dave Gunning “Field Notes” record release at East Margaree Hall

Margarees

Mar 21

closeups of a singer and a guitar player

Mar

21

from
$50

Cash & King at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre

Membertou

Mar 21

blurry photo of man playing guitar outside

Mar

22

from
$43

Dave Gunning “Field Notes” record release at Friends United

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Mar 22

text with an image of a dog

Mar

25

from
$9

Legally Blonde The Musical Jr. at the HAT

Sydney & Area

Mar 25 – Mar 29

The Cape Breton Home Show

Mar

28

from
$8

The Cape Breton Home Show

Membertou

Mar 28 – Mar 29

closeup shots of people playing bass, guitar and drums

Apr

04

3 Way Stop at Carriage House

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Jan 24 – Jan 1

headshots of four men set against a plains/badlands backdrop

Apr

05

from
$66

The Megastars of Country Music at the HAT

Sydney & Area

Apr 5

closeup shots of people playing bass, guitar and drums

Apr

11

3 Way Stop at the Main Event

Glace Bay & Area

Jan 10 – Dec 27

a group of five people playing music on stage

Apr

18

from
$35

“Where Did You Sleep Last Night”: A Tribute to Nirvana Unplugged in New York at The HAT

Sydney & Area

Apr 18

headshot of a man with long grey hair in a hat

Apr

20

from
$49

Steve Poltz at the Frolic ‘n Folk

Iona & Area

Apr 20

burlesque and drag images

Apr

23

from
$28

BABES, BABES, BABES! Burlesque and Drag Show at The HAT

Sydney & Area

Apr 23

text with a stylized illustration of cape breton island

May

20

2026 East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference

Sydney & Area, Membertou

May 20 – May 25

The Red Shoe Pub – Live Music Daily

Jun

05

The Red Shoe Pub – Live Music Daily

Mabou & Area

Jun 6 – Oct 19

text superimposed on a choir singing

Jun

10

Men of the Deeps at the Miners Museum

Glace Bay & Area

Jun 10 – Sep 16

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Jun

13

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Baddeck & Area

Jun 13 – Oct 18

a group of people playing musical instruments

Jun

14

Cape Breton Celtic Trad Sessions at the Frolic

Iona & Area

Jun 22 – Dec 27

KitchenFest! | Feis a Chidsin!

Jun

26

KitchenFest! | Feis a Chidsin!

Port Hood, St Peter's & Area, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Judique, Sydney & Area, North Highlands, Port Hawkesbury & Area, Mabou & Area, Baddeck & Area, Margarees, Bras d'Or & Boularderie Area, Whycocomagh & Area, North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area, Louisbourg & Area, St. Ann's Bay & North Shore, Chéticamp & Area, Inverness, Glace Bay & Area

Jun 27 – Jul 5

West Mabou Family Square Dances

Jun

27

West Mabou Family Square Dances

Mabou & Area

Jun 14 – Oct 11

Mabou Tuesday Night Ceilidhs

Jun

30

Mabou Tuesday Night Ceilidhs

Mabou & Area

Jul 1 – Aug 18

text

Jun

30

Port Hawkesbury Ceilidh at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Jun 30 – Oct 6

text and pictures of three bands

Jun

30

KitchenFest! – The Big Bash: Signal Hill / Beech Hill / Coastline

St. Ann's Bay & North Shore

Jun 30 – Jul 1

text

Jul

01

Summer Concert Series at The Frolic and Folk Pub

Iona & Area

Jul 1 – Aug 26

illustration of a an acoustic guitar headstock plus text

Jul

04

Summer Concert Series at Two Rivers Wildlife Park

Louisbourg & Area

Jul 4 – Aug 29

an audience looks toward an outdoor stage at dusk

Jul

05

Granville Green in Port Hawkesbury

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Jul 5 – Aug 9

Central Park Ceilidhs in Port Hood

Jul

06

Central Park Ceilidhs in Port Hood

Port Hood

Jul 7 – Aug 31

audience in lawn chairs watching musicians on bandshell stage

Jul

09

Makin’ Waves at Wentworth Park Bandshell

Sydney & Area

Jul 9 – Aug 6

crowd gathered in front of outdoor stage

Jul

26

70th Broad Cove Scottish Concert

Jul 26

five people gathered around an upright piano playing musical instruments

Aug

11

from
$50

Barra MacNeils 40th Anniversary Tour at The HAT

Sydney & Area

Aug 11

illustration of carnival rides with text

Aug

19

The Cape Breton Exhibition

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Aug 19 – Aug 22

text

Sep

04

13th Acoustic Roots Festival at Two Rivers Wildlife Park

Louisbourg & Area

Sep 4 – Sep 6

blue and green logo on white background

Oct

09

Celtic Colours International Festival

St. Ann's Bay & North Shore

Oct 9 – Oct 18

Locals Know Blog

Mabou

Mabou is known for its music, scenery, and hospitality. Whether you come for the culture of music and dance, to hike or bike the trails, or just to relax, you’ll have an experience you won’t soon...

5 Minute Read

Sydney

While there are countless places on Cape Breton Island to get away from it all, Sydney and area offers a different experience—urban amenities and downtown vibes with a waterfront feel.

4 Minute Read

6 Things to do in Downtown Sydney

The unofficial capital of Cape Breton is filled with plenty of fun activities for everyone. With the world’s largest fiddle as a crown jewel, you’ll be surprised by what you find here.

3 Minute Read
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