A long-running B.C. music festival is taking an unplanned intermission this year, and fans are sharing their disappointment online.
Victoria Jazz Society (VJS) announced on its website and social media that it had made the “difficult decision” to cancel the 2026 edition of the Harbour Blues’ n Roots Festival, formerly known as the Vancouver Island Blues Bash.
“The loss of vital corporate sponsorships and increasing logistics, supplier and labour costs since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have created a concerning financial situation for many BC festivals, and sadly, the Harbour Blues’ n Roots Festival is among them,” said the society in its post.
Victoria Jazz Society
VJS is a registered charity and not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1981 to present live jazz, blues, and world music in Victoria.
The inaugural Vancouver Island Blues Bash was held in 1994, and it would change its name to Harbour Blues’ n Roots Festival in 2022 to represent the wide variety of genres at the summertime music festival.
“We will take this hiatus year to reassess the Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival, seek new sponsors and other sources of funding, and plan to bring the festival back better than ever next year,” added the society.
Fans expressed their disappointment with the B.C. music festival going on hiatus online.
“Bummer of the summer,” shared one supporter. “Thank you for all the fun times.”
“This truly saddens me to the core,” added another, who asked VJS if a public fundraiser could help in any way.
Victoria Jazz Society
“It’s not off the table for 2027 as an idea, but we want to secure more multi-year sponsors and public or private funding before we turn to crowdfunding,” replied the society, which also produces the annual TD Victoria International JazzFest.
“The donations the VJS receives, both through our website and onsite at the festivals, are vital to continuing our presentations, but providing free-to-attend performances for the public year after year is an integral part of our mandate to lower financial barriers and introduce these genres to new audiences. We need this year to reassess ways to not only bring back Harbour Blues ‘n Roots, but make it sustainable for many more years to come.”
Harbour Blues’ n Roots Festival’s hiatus for 2026 comes just months after it was confirmed in November that the Honda Celebration of Light has been officially cancelled for 2026.
Car Free Vancouver Society also announced earlier in March that this year’s Car Free Days were cancelled before public outcry and a wave of support revived the festival’s two events this September.