Seven highlights of Ottawa's first Nuit Blanche in a decade

Ottawa actor Pierre Brault is portraying Col. John By during the Ottawa 200 and Nuit Blanche events. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

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Organizers of Ottawa’s first Nuit Blanche in a decade say they’re reviving the overnight event on a modest scale to leave room to grow.

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Most Nuit Blanche events elsewhere take over an entire city, explained executive producer Jose Bertrand, but in Ottawa the installations and shows are limited to the downtown area, specifically the ByWard Market and Confederation Park.

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“Being the first year, we wanted to make a smaller footprint to have better control of what we’re doing and how we can expand gradually across the years,” Bertrand said in an interview.

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“Eventually we’ll grow bigger and get all over the city. But we’re not at the level of a Toronto or Montreal Nuit Blanche. We’re a little sister basically looking up and making sure we evolve in that direction over the next five years.”

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Nuit Blanche executive producer Jose Bertrand, seen at an October 2025 news conference, says the event will eventually grow bigger and “get all over the city”. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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However, Ottawa’s Nuit Blanche lands on a busy day. Also happening on Saturday, Sept. 26, is a celebration of Ottawa’s 200th anniversary, plus a Pique party thrown by the folks at Debaser, the finale in the series of SoundScape shows, and a gathering of animators from around the world for the Ottawa International Animation Festival.

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In other words, although Nuit Blanche officially runs from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the downtown area, combined with everything else going on, it means there are things to do pretty much around the clock. What’s more, most of them are free.

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In case you don’t know, Nuit Blanche is translated as “sleepless night.” Popular in Montreal, Toronto and other major cities around the world, Nuit Blanche programs feature installations, performances, parties and contemporary art exhibitions that run through the night.

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People walk through archways on George Street during a Nuit Blanche event in Ottawa in September 2014. Photo by Cole Burston /Postmedia

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Here are some highlights of the various events on Saturday:

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Teknosauna

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The sauna-rave culture that’s trending in Nordic countries lands in Ottawa during Pique, thanks in part to the Embassy of Finland. Don’t miss the chance to sit in a sauna, take a cold plunge and let the endorphins carry you onto the dance floor. Spinning the tunes will be DJ Hulluella, a Sámi DJ, artist and producer from Finnish Arctic Circle.

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With Daly Avenue closed to vehicles, teknosauna will be set up on the street, and kept hot from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Bring your own bathing suit, towel and flip flops. While a changing area is available on site, it’s recommended you arrive with your bathing suit under your clothes.

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Soundscape

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The final show in the inaugural SoundScape series is a free celebration of Ottawa’s 200th anniversary, taking place in the cave-like setting under the Plaza Bridge. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., the music starts at 6:45 p.m. and Indigenous performers strut their stuff at 8 p.m. At the top of the bill is the return of Manotick’s celebrated indie rockers, Hollerado, with an opening set by singalong crowd favourites wherever they go, the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective. Tickets are free, but you’re asked to register in advance at tickettailor.com.