The festival will spread across two days of music and memories. Friday will be a tribute to classic rock music from the 1980s and 70s with tribute artists Born in the Eighties, Only Journey Tribute Band, and Early Elton Tribute Band. Saturday will feature two Canadian originals, as rock hitmakers Trooper and Loverboy will play their biggest hits, from “Raise a Little Hell” to “Working for the Weekend”.
The festival will also include food trucks and a licensed bar area for refreshment, in addition to the patios of many downtown Kitchener restaurants. Public transit and parking for vehicles and bicycles will be available routes to get to the festival. The Wayback Festival has been a hit over past summers in Kitchener and featured artists like Tom Cochrane and Kim Mitchell.
The Wayback Festival has released a Spotify playlist to help fans get in the mood for retro rock. Music festivals like this often use flyer printing and radio advertising as other methods to reach a local audience. Advertising for the festival states:
“From nostalgic throwbacks to chart-topping hits, this year’s lineup celebrates the music that defined generations—perfect for singing along with friends, family and fellow fans.”
The 2026 Wayback Festival will take place at Carl Zehr Square in Kitchener on July 24 and 25.