Kelowna, B.C. – From September 10 to 13, 2025, the Canadian Country
Music Association (CCMA) brought its flagship events, including the 2025 CCMA Awards
presented by TD and 2025 Country Music Week to Kelowna, striking all the right chords with
fans, boosting local businesses, and $17.7 million in economic impact for the city.
“Country Music Week in Kelowna was a true celebration of collaboration,” says CCMA
President, Amy Jeninga. “The city wholeheartedly embraced the event, with incredible support
from local partners, volunteers, and fans from across the region helping us create
something uniquely special. From the outdoor concerts at Waterfront Park and premium fan
experiences to the charity golf tournament, Kelowna’s energy and hospitality expanded our
connection with fans, drove meaningful economic impact, and showcased the very best of what
this community has to offer.”
The festivities drew more than 27,500 attendees to experience Kelowna’s dynamic mix of
creativity, natural beauty and warm Okanagan hospitality, resulting in a boost in direct business
sales of $11.7 million and total stimulus of $17.7 million.
Beyond the measurable success, hosting Country Music Week 2025 underscored Kelowna’s
reputation as one of Canada’s most compelling destinations for major cultural and entertainment
events. The city’s walkable waterfront, creative downtown, and signature Okanagan hospitality
offered an unforgettable backdrop for artists and audiences alike.
“Hosting Country Music Week was an incredible opportunity for Kelowna, both economically and
as a community,” says Lisanne Ballantyne, President & CEO of Tourism Kelowna. “Not only did
the event deliver more than $17 million in economic impact, filling our hotels and boosting local
businesses, it also brought people together from across Canada to enjoy all that our destination
has to offer. It showcased Kelowna’s ability to host major national events with professionalism,
creativity, and genuine warmth, strengthening local partnerships and showcasing the city’s
vibrant energy on a national stage.”
Impact Summary:
- Economic Stimulus: Direct business sales of $11.7 million and total (indirect and direct
sales) of $17.7 million during the shoulder season. - Local Job Support: The event directly supported 3,824 jobs in the community with a
total of 5,085 jobs supported. - Community Profile: Significant exposure through visitation, more than 800 national
media articles, reaching more than 249 million people and a highly viewed television
broadcast highlighting the community. - Hosting Capacity: Highlighted Kelowna’s event hosting expertise which will support
future bid opportunities for other marquee events. - Local Business Impact: Hotels saw a 10.5% increase in occupancy over the same time
last year and 54% of businesses overall saw an increase in revenue from the CCMAs. - Community and Visitor Impact: Both community and visitor feedback was extremely
positive with several attendees noting that Kelowna was the most picturesque and
welcoming city to host the event.
Events of this scale are only possible through the commitment of dedicated community partners.
Special thanks to the City of Kelowna, Tourism Kelowna, the Province of British Columbia,
Creative BC, our local Host Committee, our community partners, and the volunteers whose
efforts helped make the event a tremendous success.
