The National Arts Centre brings Canadian performing artists to Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan
Jill Barber, Jeremy Dutcher, Pierre Lapointe, Lisa LeBlanc, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Elisapie, Mary Ancheta Quartet, the NAC Orchestra and others will represent Canada on the world stage
November 6, 2024 – OTTAWA (Canada) – The National Arts Centre (NAC) is proud to present a powerful line-up of performing artists at World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai in Japan, through a partnership with Global Affairs Canada and its Canada Pavilion experience. The official announcement and program preview took place today during an event hosted by the Embassy of Canada, in the Oscar Peterson Theatre, in Tokyo.
With an anticipated 28 million visitors over six months (opening April 13 and closing October 13, 2025), Expo 2025 Osaka will be a unique opportunity for Canadian performing artists to showcase our country’s breadth of talent and creativity to Japanese and international audiences.
Expo 2025 Osaka will explore the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” intended to drive co-creation by the international community in designing a sustainable society.
Canada’s cultural programme in music, dance and theatre at Expo 2025 Osaka is curated by the NAC’s Executive Producer for Popular Music and Variety, Heather Gibson, as an integral part of Canada’s overall participation.
“The arts play a unifying role between cultures and people, and what better place to present the breadth and diversity of our performing arts than this global gathering of nations. On behalf of the National Arts Centre, I’m happy to present on the world stage exciting new artists and seasoned award-winners representing Canada and its dynamic performing arts scene.”
Heather Gibson
Executive Producer, Popular Music and Variety
National Arts Centre
“I am delighted to share the stage today with the National Arts Centre, to showcase our creative programing, which weaves an exciting tapestry of talent, highlighting our creative spirit from coast to coast to coast. We celebrate the contributions of our exceptional artists, who embody the essence of Canadian originality, diversity, and vibrancy.”
Laurie Peters
Commissioner General for Canada’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka
CANADIAN ARTISTS PERFORMING AT EXPO 2025
Some of the artists to be featured during Expo include (with more to be announced):
Performers Tanya Davis, Diyet and the Love Soldiers, and Shakura S’Aida will kick off Canada’s lineup in Osaka the week of April 22.
In June, the Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet (OPCQ) and Oscar Peterson’s youngest daughter, Céline Peterson, join forces to celebrate the life and music of one of the most important musical figures in Canadian history.
Canadian West Coast artists Mary Ancheta Quartet and Jill Barber, as well as Francophone artists Pierre Lapointe, Dominique Fils-Aimé and Lisa Leblanc will be part of the late June programming leading up to Canada Day on July 1.
East Coast performers Irish Mythen, Old Man Luedecke, The East Pointers and Kellie Loder will take the stage throughout Expo.
Creative Boost Canada, a street dance performance created by Montreal’s 100Lux organization, will showcase the incredible talent of Canadian and Japanese street dancers who will come together for an unforgettable show.
Indigenous artists Jeremy Dutcher, Elisapie, Amanda Rheaume, Shoshona Kish and Digging Roots, Sechile Sedare, and the NAC Indigenous Theatre Artistic Director Kevin Loring will participate in an international Indigenous symposium in August.
Also in August, Open Pit Theatre will share northern Canadian culture with the world with Radio Silence, a funny, heartwarming story for all ages.
NAC French Theatre Artistic Director Mani Soleymanlou will present the French-language play Zamân with multi-disciplinary artist Valaire.
In addition, the NAC Orchestra and its musicians, under the baton of Music Director Alexander Shelley, will perform at Expo 2025 Osaka during their upcoming international tour next May-June that will bring them to famous concert halls in the Republic of Korea and Japan, with details to be announced in January.
ABOUT THE NAC
The National Arts Centre (NAC) is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety — and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation.
ABOUT CANADA’S PARTICIPATION AT EXPO 2025 OSAKA
Building on our nation’s strong showing at past World Expos–particularly those hosted by Japan, Canada will develop and deliver an outstanding pavilion and program in Osaka that is distinctly Canadian and aligns with Japan’s themes and concept for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mireille Allaire
Director of Communications, Programming
National Arts Centre
343-998-4244
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700