Do it For The Culture Festivals reveals complete 2026 lineup ahead of Vancouver debut

Do It For The Culture (DI4TC) has unveiled the complete performance lineup for its fifth annual festival, marking the event's highly anticipated move to Vancouver after four successful years in Kelowna. Taking over Fortune Sound Club from August 27–29, 2026, Western Canada's leading platform celebrating Black music, culture, and community will showcase three nights of hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats, house, and genre-defying talent from across Canada.

Headlining this year's festival are SadBoi, whose infectious fusion of dancehall, R&B, and hip-hop has established her as one of Canada's most exciting breakout artists; Toronto R&B standout RAAHiiM, known for his smooth vocals and emotionally resonant songwriting; and boundary-pushing artist ARDN, whose atmospheric sound continues to garner national acclaim.

The complete lineup also features an exciting mix of emerging and established artists, including Drezus, Divine Lightbody, Sekawnee, Adewolf, Terrance Richmond, Simora, Mikey Jose, Ahsia, Dacey, 40K & Cameron James, Tommyphyll, and HUSH Music Party, creating one of the festival's strongest and most diverse programs to date.

Festival performances will take place over three nights at Fortune Sound Club, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and music beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 27

• ARDN

• Sekawnee

• Adewolf

• Terrance Richmond

• Simora

Friday, August 28

• RAAHiiM

• Divine Lightbody

• Mikey Jose

• Ahsia

• Drezus

Saturday, August 29

• SadBoi

• HUSH Music Party

• Dacey

• 40K & Cameron James

• Tommyphyll

Founded by Vancouver-based, Botswana-born artist Teon Gibbs, Do It For The Culture was created to address longstanding barriers facing Black artists within Canada's music industry. What began as a showcase series in Kelowna has evolved into one of Western Canada's most important platforms for Black artists, providing meaningful performance opportunities while connecting musicians with audiences, industry professionals, and career-building resources.

"We're excited to see our community grow, we're excited to see more opportunities, and we can't wait to host our event in Vancouver this year," says Gibbs. "The response has already been overwhelmingly positive—we've seen artist applications increase by more than 400%. This is our fifth year, but it feels like a brand new chapter. Moving to Vancouver feels like the natural next step," he adds. "Do It For The Culture continues to be an event the Canadian music industry needs. Every year the calibre of artists and music professionals continues to grow, and we're proud to create a space where artists can build meaningful connections, develop their careers, and celebrate Black music and culture together."

Over the past four years, DI4TC has welcomed acclaimed artists including TOBi, Nonso Amadi, DijahSB, Shad, Jon Vinyl, and KALLITECHNIS, while also helping launch the careers of emerging artists through exposure, networking opportunities, and direct connections with industry leaders. Previous editions have attracted delegates from SiriusXM, CBC, record labels, management companies, festivals, and agencies from across Canada. Beyond the live performances, DI4TC has become a proven launchpad for artists pursuing sustainable careers in music. Alumni have gone on to secure festival bookings, national media coverage, sync placements, and long-term professional partnerships following their participation in the festival. Conference programming and industry delegate announcements will be revealed shortly, adding another layer of professional development and networking opportunities to this year's event.

Single-day tickets are available now for 25 plus fees, with three-day festival passes also on sale.

Click HERE for more information and ticket purchases.

About Do It For The Culture:

Do It For The Culture (DI4TC) is a music and industry platform dedicated to supporting Black artists across Canada through performance opportunities, professional development, and direct industry engagement. Founded by Teon Gibbs, DI4TC bridges artistry and industry while creating pathways for underrepresented voices to thrive within Canada's music ecosystem.