The Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards

June 18-20, 2026

Place des Arts, Sudbury

Join artists and industry professionals from across the region for the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards (NOMFA) conference and ceremony at Place des Arts du Grand Sudbury on June 18-20, 2026.

Promising a multi-day display of the marvelous mélange of regional talent that advance our creative sectors, the NOMFAs aim to fascinate and commemorate. Guests can attend industry sessions, artist showcases, and networking activities, before reserving a seat at the official award show - shoulder to shoulder with the best of the best in music and film.

More NOMFA details - like conference events and ticket options - will be shared soon. 

NOMFA: Award Ceremony

The ceremony is a 250+ person party that sees Northern Ontario artists take center stage. It's the place to be, where hardware is handed between musical sets and live vignettes (while everyone's dressed to the nines, no less!) 

 

Fourteen (14) awards will be bestowed to deserving artists, with some performing for the full crowd. But don't be fooled by the itinerary: This award ceremony is a tight ship that docks right on time.

NOMFA 2026 Submission Details

NOMFA 2026 submissions are now closed. Musicians, filmmakers, and production companies had until January 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM (ET), to officially submit their Northern Ontario-based music or film projects for award consideration, with a chance to compete in up to fourteen (14) distinct categories.

CION will announce the official NOMFA 2026 nominees in April 2026 (and are excited to report that the total number of award submissions this year set a new NOMFA record!)

  • OUTSTANDING ALBUM
  • OUTSTANDING FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP
  • OUTSTANDING INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP
  • OUTSTANDING ENGINEER
  • OUTSTANDING SONGWRITER
  • OUTSTANDING VOCAL PERFORMANCE
  • OUTSTANDING MUSIC VIDEO
Check out the winners from NOMFA 2024 here!
  • OUTSTANDING FEATURE FILM
  • OUTSTANDING TELEVISION SERIES
  • OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR - FEATURE-LENGTH
  • OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR - SHORT FORMAT
  • OUTSTANDING SCREENWRITER
  • OUTSTANDING ACTOR - FEATURE-LENGTH OR TELEVISION
  • OUTSTANDING ACTOR - SHORT FORMAT
Check out the winners from NOMFA 2024 here!

The entrant must be one of the following:

  1. A person who has lived in Northern Ontario for the consecutive twenty-four (24) month period between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.
  2. A person who was a resident of Northern Ontario for a period of at least ten (10) consecutive years.

For bands or collaborations, at least 50% of the individuals must meet the above residency requirements, unless the category they are entering indicates otherwise. Record producers, music video directors and actors are exempt from residency requirements.

 

Northern Ontario, as defined for the purposes of the Awards Program, comprises the territorial districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Temiskaming and the District Municipality of Muskoka.

MUSIC: Unless otherwise stated in the category description, all music category entries must have been released to commercial radio and/or retail during the period from January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025, inclusively (the “Eligibility Period”). Retail includes anywhere music is available for sale, i.e. live performances, mail order, retail stores, online, etc.

FILM/TV: All projects in each category submitted must have been premiered or screened to a public audience (minimum of 1 screening) or on a recognized broadcaster during the period from January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025, inclusively (the “Eligibility Period”).

NOMFA GUIDELINES 2025-2026 (PDF - 583.7kb)

NOMFA: Conference

If the ceremony is the crescendo, the conference is the overture.

 

This multi-day series of panel discussions, round circles, networking sessions, and one-to-ones illustrates the magic of Northern Ontario’s music and screen-based sectors - and shows how each are enchanted by artistic distinction and regional harmony.

 

Conference activities will be anchored in Place des Arts du Grand Sudbury's iconic spaces and expand into performances venues across the city's downtown core, combining to leave a lasting sense of togetherness that stays well past closing time.

NOMFA: Live Music

Did you know the NOMFAs have been around for over two decades? Right in the heart of Sudbury (every two years or so), producing a touchstone soundtrack of regional excellence every time they come around.

 

You can catch live music acts either amped up or unplugged around just about every corner, courtesy of current nominees, past winners, and Northern Ontario mainstays.

 

Walk around NOMFA-town to discover something new or flock to your favourite band; either way, you’re supporting local & regional talent (and we love you for it).

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All photos depict NOMFA 2024 activities and were captured by the talented Juan Echavarria.