Kelowna will welcome visitors from across Canada and beyond as BreakOut West returns to our region for the third time, with the 2023 event taking place at venues throughout the city from October 11 to 15. This means that downtown Kelowna will be full of musicians and industry delegates, as well as excited fans, some of whom may be visiting Kelowna for the first time.

As the number of people in the city, and particularly in the downtown core, will be much higher than normal for this time of year, we want to make sure your team is ready to join us in extending a warm Kelowna welcome to these visitors!


Quick Facts

  • The three-night festival is anticipated to have an attendance of 1,200 festival goers each day, with wristbands already over 65% sold out.
  • Seven venues are hosts for the festival shows: Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort, The Black Box at the Kelowna Community Theatre, BNA Brewing, Metro Hub, Red Bird Brewing (inside and outside stage), Kettle River Brewing, and the Kelowna Curling Club.
  • The Festival features 60+ artists from Western Canada and the Northern Territories, along with select artists from Eastern Canada, Wales, Hong Kong, Ireland, and Sweden.
  • More than 250 delegates from around the world are expected for the industry conference, with confirmed speakers and delegates from countries including Japan, Norway, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, France, Netherlands, UK, Estonia, and across Canada and the US.


How to Prepare

  • Let your team members know the event is taking place, informing them of the potential influx of customers, including international visitors.
  • Consider adjusting your staffing levels in relation to the event schedule and the number of visitors that will be in Kelowna. 
  • Welcome visitors through your social media channels and/or share event-related content using #exploreKelowna and #BreakOutWest (the event's official hashtag).

In addition to providing services at the Kelowna Visitor Centre and our Airport Kiosk, our Community & Visitor Engagement team will be onsite at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort to answer questions and provide recommendations to visitors. Together, we can make sure everyone visiting for BreakOut West 2023 has a remarkable experience, not only at the event but also while they #exploreKelowna. 

Click here for more information about BreakOut West. For more information about Tourism Kelowna's support of the event, please contact Sara Correa at (250) 861-1515 ext. 218 or sara@tourismkelowna.com.

 

About Western Canadian Music Alliance/BreakOut West

The Western Canadian Music Alliance (WCMA) is a pan western organization created by the Alliance Member Music Industry Associations (MIAs) of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, The Northwest Territories, the Yukon Territory, and in partnership with Nunavut, to promote and celebrate western Canadian music. With the financial support of each provincial and territorial government partner, FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada's private radio broadcasters, WCMA annually hosts its core artist and industry development event, BreakOut West. The event is held in a different western Canadian city on a rotational basis and is the prime music industry event in western Canada. BreakOut West 2023 will be held October 11 – 15 in Kelowna, BC, and includes a five-day music conference, three-night multi-genre music festival, and special events. The 2023 Western Canadian Music Artistic Awards and Industry Awards will be announced in October 2023.

 
About Tourism Kelowna's Major Events Strategy

BreakOut West is a signature event that will generate significant economic impact for Kelowna. The event was secured in part through Tourism Kelowna's Major Events Strategy in partnership with the City of Kelowna. This collaboration positioned Kelowna as the perfect host for the 2023 event, with our team assisting to prepare the bid document, to secure funding, and to nurture key relationships with Western Canadian Music Alliance/BreakOut West.