Battle of the Bands is a live music competition celebrating talented young bands ages 10–19 across Ontario.
Selected bands will perform live at one of our 2026 Ribfest events in a high-energy, family-friendly festival environment. Bands will perform a 25-minute live set, and every band member will receive a $25 goodie bag, sponsored by Media 21/Music 21.
The 1st place winner at each event will take home a Denver acoustic guitar, sponsored by Epiphone, and advance to the October 2026 Finals for a chance to win:
• $2,500 cash prize
• Official Champion title recognition
• A performance contract to play at RibfestX 2027
This program is made possible thanks to the support of our partners and sponsors, including Media 21/Music 21, Epiphone, and Yamaha. All music genres are welcome. Bands must include a minimum of 2–3 performers and be available to perform live if selected.
Think your band has what it takes? Apply below and show us what you’ve got.
BOOK YOUR BAND FOR
We are excited to invite young musicians to apply for our Battle of the Bands competition, celebrating youth talent and a wide range of musical genres in a live, family-friendly festival environment. If any member of the band is under the age of 18, a Parent/Guardian Consent Waiver form must be filled out & signed and then emailed back to us. A waiver form will be sent to you if you’ve been selected to take part in our Battle of the Bands.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Open to youth ages 10–19
Bands only — no solo performers
Minimum of 2-3 performers per band
No heavy metal, grunge or punk music.
Options: Rock, Country, Pop, Indie, Blues & Soul. Must play one Cover song.
Applicants must be available to perform live if selected
Only those selected will be contacted
Battle of the Bands
We provide a full backline. Musicians only need to bring their own instruments or pedal boards.
We use a professional Stageline stage paired with a dedicated sound company to ensure all performers look and sound their best.
Judging is based on the following criteria: Stage Presence, Musicianship, Sound.
The final battle location is currently TBD. Stay tuned to our socials for all of our updates!
Ribfest X is a family-friendly event run by the Ontario Festival Group. We pride ourselves on maintaining a professional, clean, and comfortable environment for all guests and performers.
Bands should prepare for a 30-minute time slot, which includes their set and changeover. We recommend a setlist of approximately three songs to keep the schedule focused and running smoothly.
Bands will get recorded and content will be used in our marketing material, such as social media.
UPCOMING RIBFESTS
