Chan Centre: Come Toward the Fire Festival 2026

Celebrate Indigenous Music, Storytelling, and Two-Spirit Excellence at the 5th Annual ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl – Come Toward the Fire Festival

The fifth annual ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl – Come Toward the Fire Festival returns to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and participating venues across the UBC campus on unceded Musqueam territory. Presented in partnership with Musqueam, this year's festival expands to three full days, bringing together powerful Indigenous music, film, storytelling, and dance.

2SLGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit artistry take center stage throughout the weekend, featuring high-profile queer Indigenous voices from across Turtle Island.

Event Highlights & Lineup

• Day 1: Day of Knowledge Sharing (Friday, September 18)

  • Time: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM

  • Admission: Free

  • Details: Opening welcome from Musqueam, performances by Coastal Wolf Pack and Cree/Métis folk trio Burnstick, cultural tours, film screenings, and workshops.

• Day 2: Main Festival Day (Saturday, September 19)

  • Time: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

  • Admission: Pay what you can / admission by donation with wristband

  • Details: Outdoor and indoor musical performances, film screenings, hands-on workshops, storytellers, and an Indigenous artisan market.

  • Featured Artists: Vancouver debuts from Cree neosoul/R&B artist LOV and Cherokee/Muscogee folk artist Kayln Fay. Performance lineup includes Two-Spirit artist G̱a̱mksimoon, along with Burnstick, Francis Baptiste, Caley Watts, Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz, Joey Stylez, Semiah, and Eagle Ex Machina.

• Day 3: Mainstage Festival Finale Concert (Sunday, September 20)

  • Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

  • Admission: Ticketed ($79 Premium / $49 Regular / $29 Indigenous & Student)

  • Details: Mainstage finale hosted by Dakota/Diné actor, comedian, and activist Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs). Headlined by two-time JUNO Award-winning Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee.

  • Featured Performances: The Vancouver debut of Two-Spirit Cree pop artist Siibii, alongside performances by Boslen, Logan Staats, Miss Christie Lee, and Coastal Wolf Pack.

TICKETS & INFO

Event Details

• Dates: September 18–20, 2026

• Location: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Museum of Anthropology, Belkin Gallery, UBC First Nations House of Learning, and the UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (Unceded Musqueam Territory)

• Ticketing & Access: Free on Friday; Pay-what-you-can donation wristband on Saturday; Ticketed closing concert on Sunday.

This gathering provides a space to center Indigenous creativity and uplift Two-Spirit and 2SLGBTQIA+ voices within the community.

PHOTO CREDITS:
1. Coastal Wolf Pack. Photo by Jan Gates.
2. Eagle Ex Machina. Photo by Timothy Nguyen