Churchill Park Music Festival 2026 – Night 1 Review: A Night of Nostalgia, Energy & Pure Pop Magic

The 2026 Churchill Park Music Festival officially got underway last weekend and what a way to kick off four incredible days of live music.

The opening night was packed with nostalgia, high-energy performances, and a headlining set that left me completely speechless. From local talent to Canadian hip-hop, early-2000s party anthems, and finally Kesha taking over the stage, Night 1 was one I’ll be talking about for a long time.

With Violet

Kicking off the evening was with Violet, who did a great job opening the festival. They brought plenty of energy to the stage and helped get the crowd excited as Churchill Park began to fill up for an unforgettable night of music!

Classified

Next up was Classified, and this set was a huge highlight for me.His music was such a big part of my childhood. Growing up, I listened to so many of his songs, so getting the chance to finally see him perform live felt like a full-circle moment.

The biggest highlight? Hearing “Inner Ninja.” That song came out when I was 10 years old, and it instantly brought back so many memories. The entire crowd was singing along, and it reminded me just how timeless that song has become.

Classified delivered a fantastic set full of nostalgia, incredible crowd interaction, and hit after hit.

3OH!3

I honestly wasn’t prepared for how much fun 3OH!3 would be.

These guys absolutely blew me away.

From the second they walked on stage, the energy completely shifted. The crowd was dancing, singing, and having an absolute blast. They know exactly how to put on a show, and every song kept the momentum going.

I walked away from their set after that night thinking, “Wow… these guys were so good!” It ended up being one of my favourite performances of the night!

Kesha

Finally, it was time for the artist everyone had been waiting for.

Kesha. The moment she stepped onto the stage, Churchill Park erupted.

I was completely speechless.

Her performance had everything—amazing visuals, incredible vocals, nonstop energy, and a stage presence that was impossible to take your eyes off. Whether she was performing her biggest hits or connecting with the audience between songs, she had the entire crowd with her every step of the way.

It was one of those performances that reminds you exactly why live music is so special.

Final Thoughts

Opening night of the Churchill Park Music Festival was everything I hoped it would be and more.Classified gave me a wave of childhood nostalgia, 3OH!3 completely exceeded my expectations with one of the most energetic sets of the night, and Kesha delivered a headlining performance that genuinely left me speechless.

If this was only Night 1, I couldn’t wait to see what the rest of the festival had in store.