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Music & The Arts

How do we capture the essence of our Island? In low steady drum beats and flying fiddle reels. In soulful performances in three mother tongues. Through the fluid movements of centuries-old dances. By paintbrush stroke and needle-woven threads.

See our culture and heritage unfold through music, dance, theatre and art on your next journey to Cape Breton Island.

  • Live Music

    With more fiddlers per capita than anywhere else in the world, you can bet music will be on tap wherever you go on our Island. It’s the heart and soul of Cape Breton Island—so be sure to hear it live at our many community concert series and world-renowned festivals.

  • Theatre

    Our finest exports? Music, storytelling and dance. See our culture and heritage unfold onstage between acts. Live our stories from the Island’s collection of theatres and historic mainstages with each soulful performance.

  • Artisans, Studios & Gift Shops

    Meet dynamic artisans as you travel through our communities. From clay potters on the North Shore to downtown art galleries and Highland rug hookers, you’ll find artful surprises tucked everywhere around Cape Breton Island.

  • Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design

    Explore works by over 90 local artisans. Find the perfect souvenir out of hundreds of unique and one-of-a-kind items. Learn how to blow glass or take a fabric dyeing workshop. Discover creative hands-on experiences sure to inspire at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design

Illustrated map of Cape Breton Island

Easy to Find. Hard to Leave.

There are direct flights to Sydney from Toronto and Montreal and from other North American and European cities via those cities. If traveling by ground, the Trans-Canada Highway 104 leads to Cape Breton Island.

Getting Here and Around