City of Kitchener receives 2026 Municipality of the Year and Top 100 Events in Ontario awards from Festival & Events Ontario

Kitchener, ON - The City of Kitchener is the proud recipient of the 2026 Municipality of the Year award from Festivals & Events Ontario (FEO), along with two Top 100 Events in Ontario awards for KidsPark and Christkindl Market.  The awards recognize municipalities, towns, or cities who have worked to provide an atmosphere beneficial to successful festivals and events.  

Presented at FEO’s annual Awards Gala and Dinner on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 these honours recognize the City’s growing slate of signature festivals, commitment to community partnerships and its ability to create memorable shared experiences. 

“Every year, our special events calendar brings joy and puts smiles on the faces of more than 350,000 residents and visitors to Downtown Kitchener,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “This success is shaped by our history of strong partnerships with local community organizations and cultural groups, the passion and drive to support great events from both our city council and Kitchener events teams, and of course, our commitment to “Support Local” with great Canadian talent. We’re grateful to Festival & Events Ontario for recognizing this work with these awards.”  

The City of Kitchener hosts some of the region’s most beloved traditions and premiere events, at no cost to attendees, including: 

The City also partners with the area’s new and signature third-party event organizers. Oktoberfest, the Kitchener Blues Festival, Kitchener Ribfest and Craft Beer Show, the Multicultural Festival and Caribana Ignite are led by community organizations, with on-the-ground support from City staff who oversee logistics and provide planning support. This partnership model allows local festivals to grow and deliver exceptional experiences for residents, while leveraging the expertise of City staff. Oktoberfest, the Multicultural Festival and the Kitchener Ribfest and Craft Beer Show were all recognized as Top 100 Events in Ontario at the awards ceremony.  

"There’s no better feeling than seeing thousands of our friends and neighbours creating shared memories together,” said Steve Roth, Manager of Special Events. “Our small but mighty team is proud to bring our community together through these events. We’re excited for what lies ahead for 2026.” 

Learn more about our upcoming event season at KitchenerEvents.ca