Festival Fact Sheet

The Unison Festival is a quadrennial weekend choral festival featuring Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ choruses. The first festival was in Edmonton in 1998 and festivals have since been held in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Calgary. For more information, see our festival history page.

Friday, May 19 to Monday, May 22, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Visit Discover Halifax to learn about the city and its attractions.

Open Harbour

The festival will bring together around 22 choirs from all over Canada. In addition, there will be invited performers. It is expected the festival will have between 600 and 1,000 participants.

The Women Next Door and the Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus

All festival events will take place at the Halifax Convention Centre. Address: 1650 Argyle Street, Halifax.

Hotel accommodations will be available close to the Halifax Convention Centre. Budget accommodation will also be available at local universities.

Friday, May 19, featuring the host choruses and special guests. A reception is planned before the concert.

There will be four concert blocks for participating choruses:

• • Concert Block 1: Saturday afternoon (12:30 – 2:30 pm)
  • Concert Block 2: Saturday afternoon (3:15 – 5:15 pm)
  • Concert Block 3: Sunday afternoon (12:30 – 2:30 pm)
  • Concert Block 4: Sunday afternoon (3:15 – 5:15 pm)

There will be a program of social activities throughout the weekend to suit everyone.

Sunday, May 21 at the Halifax Convention Centre, followed by a dance party.

Monday, May 22 (afternoon)