VegOttawa Fest 2026 expected to welcome thousands as interest in sustainable, compassionate and healthy living continues to grow
OTTAWA, July 13, 2026 – Thousands of Ottawans are expected to gather on Saturday, July 25, as VegOttawa Fest 2026 returns to the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre for what organizers expect to be the city’s largest celebration of plant-based food, sustainability and compassionate living.
Admission is completely free, making VegOttawa Fest one of Ottawa’s largest free indoor summer festivals and one of Canada’s most accessible celebrations of plant-based living. Organizers expect more than 3,000 attendees throughout the day.
Following the successful revival of the festival in 2025, this year’s event is even bigger, featuring a dozen speakers, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and more than 60 exhibitors, including several of the region’s most exciting veg-friendly vendors. New this year is a fitness competition, an art exhibit (with 25% of proceeds being donated to organizations that help animals), and a collaboration with The Vegan Fashion Show.
“We’re really excited to bring this event back to Ottawa this year,” said Alan Wong, VegOttawa President. “Whether attendees are vegan, vegetarian, or just curious about trying something new, the festival offers something for everyone.”
“With more and more people making choices with compassion in mind—from their food and their clothing, to their personal care products and their entertainment—there’s a growing demand for vegan-friendly food, products and businesses,” said Riana Topan, Festival Director. “Ottawa has built an amazing community around kinder, healthier, and more sustainable living, and VegOttawa Fest brings it all together under one roof.”
Visitors can:
- Hear from inspiring leaders and experts as part of the festival’s speaker program
- Connect with dozens of veg-friendly businesses and brands
- Engage with non-profit community organizations
- Sample a wide variety of delicious plant-based foods
As part of this year’s festival, The Vegan Fashion Show will partner with VegOttawa Fest to host its official Ottawa model casting. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to watch aspiring models audition live following an educational presentation on vegan and sustainable fashion, which all aspiring models are required to attend as part of the casting process. Those auditioning will also have a chance to win vegan and cruelty-free prizes. Selected models will earn the opportunity to walk the runway in The Vegan Fashion Show on October 17–18 in Ottawa. Aspiring models must apply in advance to audition at TheVeganFashionShow.org/Apply.
“Our partnership with VegOttawa Fest is about thinking differently,” said Vikki Lenola, Producer/Director of The Vegan Fashion Show and Speaker at this year’s VegOttawa Fest. “Rather than separating fashion from education, we’re bringing them together to show that innovation, creativity, and compassion can share the same stage. Our Co-Producer Jessica Embro and I hope to inspire both future models and future changemakers.”
VegOttawa Fest highlights the importance of re-evaluating our relationship with animals and the natural world—for animal welfare and affordability, for planetary and personal health, and more.
As a volunteer-run, non-profit event, the festival remains free thanks to community sponsors (including our title sponsor, VEGANLY Vitamins), exhibitors and many dedicated volunteers.
Event Details
What: VegOttawa Fest 2026
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (The Vegan Fashion Show casting call runs from 4:00 to 6:00 pm).
Where: Ottawa Conference and Event Centre, 200 Coventry Road, Ottawa
Admission: Free (donations appreciated)
For event details, exhibitor information and the latest updates, visit vegottawa.org/fest.
