The City of Kingston wants to recapture a magical night in Canada’s cultural history – that night in Kingston – with a “months-long” celebration.
The City and local tourism officials are gearing up to mark the 10th anniversary of The Tragically Hip’s final concert on August 20, 2016, with a series of events planned for this year that could draw thousands of visitors to the Limestone City to celebrate the hometown band’s music and its many other accomplishments.
Some details of the extended anniversary celebrations have now been made public, including a request for the City to spend up to $350,000 towards a total Hip celebration budget that could reach $600,000.
“Staff are seeking Council’s approval for up to $350,000 in one-time funding from the Working Fund Reserve in 2026 to support the planning underway, and to advance on various opportunities,” according to a report from Jennifer Campbell, the City’s Commissioner of Community Services.
City councillors will consider the spending request at their Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, meeting.
The staff report came just days after Tourism Kingston first revealed plans in their annual City Hall budget presentation to mark the memorable and bittersweet concert in Kingston, culminating the Hip’s epic Man Machine Poem Tour following the brain cancer diagnosis of the band’s late front man, Gord Downie.
City staff and partners with Tourism Kingston and the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area (BIA) are currently in “conversations on several potential programming opportunities that would occur throughout 2026, and that would require a one-time municipal budget contribution in support of these programs and activations,” according to Campbell’s report.
For now, municipal officials remain coy about exact details of the anniversary events being planned.
“Staff cannot discuss specific activation details as negotiations are ongoing but will share more information on these opportunities with Council and the public as programming is confirmed in the coming months,” the report states.
The Hip’s historic 2016 concert at the then-K-Rock Centre (now Slush Puppie Place) was broadcast live on CBC to an audience of millions, while an estimated 25,000 people crowded into Springer Market Square to watch the concert broadcast on a giant screen, which became a “defining cultural moment for Kingston and for millions of fans across the country,” Campbell wrote.
Ten years later, the City wants to recapture some of the magic and emotional tributes of that night by giving residents and visitors the opportunity to “engage, reflect and celebrate the band’s deep connection to Kingston and their profound impact on music and culture globally.”
Campbell’s report said there are several potential opportunities being discussed that require “an understanding of a municipal contribution to the total programming budget.”
In addition to spending $350,000 to support programming, events and activations, and associated production needs, the staff recommendation also seeks Council approval to delegate authority to the City’s Director of Arts and Culture, Danika Lochead, to waive an estimated $25,000 in fees related to special event permits, City venue and public space rentals and other in-kind services, and to award non-standard procurement contracts.
Council is expected to get a follow-up report by the end of the second quarter (sometime between April and June 2026) with further details of how, when, and where the community can celebrate the anniversary.
Campbell’s report also noted that the City and its partners are actively applying for grants, seeking sponsorships, and considering additional funding sources to support the celebration.
“City staff and partners, including Tourism Kingston and the Downtown Kingston BIA, are anticipating significant community interest to mark and celebrate this major anniversary through music programming, events and activations, anticipated to start in the spring of 2026 and carry on until the end of year.”