Kelowna’s economy hits a high note thanks to Canadian Country Music Awards

Kelowna shone brightly on the national stage as the host city for the 2025 Canadian Country Music Week & Awards Show (CCMA Week), held Sept. 10–13. The event brought Canada’s biggest country music stars and thousands of fans to Kelowna, delivering a multi-million-dollar economic boost that struck a major chord with residents and industry leaders alike. 

“CCMA Week delivered more than just music; it brought in $11.7 million in direct spending and thousands of jobs,” said Chris Babcock, Event Development Manager. “It’s a clear example of the significant impact major events have on the local economy.”  

The event increased hotel occupancy by 10.5 per cent compared to last year, and the Kelowna Visitor Centre saw a 58 per cent spike in traffic as visitors explored the city. By the time of the final encore, the ripple effect was felt across industries, including restaurants, shops, and local services.

Bringing CCMA Week to Kelowna was a true community effort. The City, Tourism Kelowna, and local businesses came together with a shared vision: to host Canada’s biggest country music celebration. An effort that started several years ago with the City identifying the event as a good fit and initiating conversations with the host organization. From there, the City focused on building relationships and understanding the host’s priorities to align its approach. This included ongoing negotiations, learning best practices, and leveraging past experiences to strengthen the bid. 

The City of Kelowna, in collaboration with Tourism Kelowna,  played a key role to secure the bid and  laying the groundwork for all the events that took place throughout the week. A host committee was established to oversee logistics such as transportation and parking, enhance the city’s appearance with banners and art, and engage local businesses to create a welcoming experience.  

That collaboration paid off, creating spaces for people to gather, celebrate, and share experiences, strengthening community pride and the local economy while showcasing Kelowna’s hospitality on a national stage.  

The CCMA Awards Show, broadcast live on CTV, drew over 400,000 viewers, with another 100,000 streaming online. National coverage was extensive: between July and September, more than 800 media articles featuring Kelowna and CCMA Week were published, reaching an audience of 249 million and generating an estimated media value of $2.3 million. 

Kelowna embraced the country music theme wholeheartedly. Downtown streets were lined with CCMA banners and local art, giving the city a festival feel. Businesses joined in by decorating storefronts and offering country-themed specials, while pop-up performances and interactive displays added surprise and excitement for visitors. Residents and fans packed sold-out concerts and fully booked industry workshops, with overall attendance reaching 27,571, nearly half from outside the Okanagan. 

“Hosting CCMA Week was a milestone for Kelowna,” said Chris Babcock, Event Development Manager. “It united the community and generated millions in lasting impacts.”