A major Canadian country music festival is planting its boots firmly in Alberta soil for the first time. The acclaimed Boots and Hearts festival, a staple of the Ontario summer scene, is launching a western edition in Edmonton in late August 2026.
Star-Studded Inaugural Lineup for Alberta
The brand-new Boots and Hearts West will take over Fan Park, located east of Rogers Place in the downtown Ice District, on August 28 and 29, 2026. The event promises to deliver a significant country music experience right within Edmonton's city limits, following the popular Edmonton Folk Music Festival and Fringe.
Topping the bill are two of the genre's most dynamic current acts. Headliner Russell Dickerson, the 38-year-old Platinum-selling artist from Tennessee, is known for chart-topping hits like Yours, Blue Tacoma, and Love You Like I Used To. He is also featured on Thomas Rhett's song Death Row.
Joining him is the genre-defying Shaboozey, the Virginia-born rapper and singer who gained massive recognition on Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album and scored a No. 1 Billboard hit with his own viral track, A Bar Song (Tipsy).
A Festival Grows Westward
The expansion marks a significant national growth for the festival, which has built a strong reputation over 15 years in Oro-Medonte, Ontario. Eva Dunford, co-founder of Boots and Hearts, cited Alberta's deep cultural connection to country music as a perfect fit.
"Alberta's deep country roots and honest, grounded culture feel naturally aligned with the spirit our festival has cultivated over the past fifteen years," Dunford stated regarding the move into what she calls "music-friendly territory."
While the original Ontario event is known for its camping and RV village, similar to Alberta's own Big Valley Jamboree, the Edmonton iteration will adapt to its urban core location at Fan Park, offering a different structural experience for festival-goers.
How to Secure Your Tickets
The initial artist announcement is just the beginning, with many more acts expected to be revealed in the coming months. For fans eager to be part of this inaugural western event, the ticket on-sale date is fast approaching.
General public tickets for Boots and Hearts West will become available online at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 5, through the official festival website at bootsandhearts.com. This gives country music enthusiasts in Alberta and across Western Canada the chance to secure their spot for this landmark summer weekend.
The arrival of Boots and Hearts West solidifies Edmonton's position as a premier destination for major music festivals and offers a fresh, high-profile country music option for fans in the region.
