The Festival
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.
Dates & Location
Friday, May 19 to Monday, May 22, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Visit Discover Halifax to learn about the city and its attractions.
Theme
Open Harbour
Performers
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.
Host Choruses
The Women Next Door and the Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus
Venue
All festival events will take place at the Halifax Convention Centre. Address: 1650 Argyle Street, Halifax.
Accommodation
Hotel accommodations are available close to the Halifax Convention Centre. Budget accommodation is also available at Dalhousie University. More information
Opening Concert
Friday, May 19, featuring the host choruses and special guests. A reception is planned before the concert.
Festival Schedule Buy concert tickets (Eventbrite)
Concert Blocks
There will be four concert blocks for participating choruses:
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- Concert Block 1: Saturday afternoon (12:30 – 2:30 pm)
- Concert Block 2: Saturday afternoon (3:30 – 5:30 pm)
- Concert Block 3: Sunday afternoon (12:30 – 2:30 pm)
- Concert Block 4: Sunday afternoon (3:30 – 5:30 pm)
Festival Choruses
There will be three festival choruses: SSAA, SATB, and TTBB. The festival choruses will be open both to festival delegates and to the general public. More information
Social Activities
There will be a program of social activities throughout the weekend to suit everyone. More information
Banquet
Sunday, May 21 at the Halifax Convention Centre, followed by a dance party.
Closing Concert
Monday, May 22 (11:00 am – 12:30 pm)
Festival Schedule Buy concert tickets (Eventbrite)
Updated November 2021