The festival features a variety of shows and interactive activities focused on music and noise. Headlining the festival are Thelonious, a three-piece production honouring jazz giant Thelonious Monk, and Music Under a Midnight Moon, a musical theatre show led by the NAC Orchestra and Platypus Theatre featuring a number of childhood favourites. Advertising encourages visitors to:
“Prepare for a heartwarming symphonic adventure where magic, music, and imagination shine bright!”
In addition to the major shows, the Big Bang Festival will include four Music Rooms that will each present unique experiences. These rooms will include West African rhythm featuring artist Mamadou Koita, the Sounds of Nothing exhibit, a puppet show featuring the bassoon music of Yana Ouellet and a keyboard and percussion-based soundscape by Jesse Stewart and Joel Daze.
Other free programming includes the Polky band with Polish folk music, craft and selfie stations. Activities like “Musical Hopscotch”, and more experiences that will be announced in the lead-up to the event. Local youths will serve as Big Bang Ambassadors throughout the grounds. Music festivals like this often use methods like banner printing and signage to help recognize participating artists, sponsors and volunteers.
The 2026 Big Bang Festival will occur at the National Arts Centre on February 14 and 15.