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NAC and Ontario Festival of Small Halls announce ‘The Chef's Table’ program for 2026

A spectacular setting alongside the Rideau Canal, featuring great food and the beauty of a summer evening filled with live music


Billed as 'The CHEF'S TABLE a farm to table feast', this perennially popular multi-weekend event will once again showcase world-class chefs and great live music. The festivities take place on the patio of the National Arts Centre's 1 Elgin Restaurant, next to Ottawa’s magnificent Rideau Canal. The 2026 Chef’s Table lineup will include some of the region's most celebrated musical acts, and the respective menus will be curated by Chef Kenton Leier (of the NAC), along with several of Canada's finest chefs.


Thanks to this dynamic partnership between the NAC and the Ontario Festival of Small Halls, ‘The CHEF'S TABLE’ offers an opportunity for food lovers and music fans alike to celebrate a special occasion with a three-course meal from world-class chefs—or simply reconnect with friends over food, music, and the beauty of a summer night by the Rideau Canal.  


“It’s an excellent way to enjoy a great dining experience next to the Rideau Canal, in the heart of downtown Ottawa, while listening to some great live music,” says Mark Monahan, the event’s executive director.


Event Schedule:

Week 1: June 3–5: Chef Chris Irving / music by Minuscule

Week 2: August 14–16*: Chef Ian Carswell / music by Kristine St-Pierre

*Note: August 16 is a matinee; Doors: 12:00 PM

Week 3: August 27–29: Chef Lizardo Becerra / music by Irene Torres

Week 4: September 17 & 19: Chef Ginger Auger / music by Gwenifer Raymond


When asked what patrons can look forward to on the menu, Nelson Borges, General Manager | Food and Beverage at the NAC said: "Much like the past few years, guests will enjoy an exceptional dining experience created by some of Canada’s top chefs.”


The ‘Team Behind Bluesfest’ first launched the Ontario Festival of Small Halls (F.O.S.H.) in August 2014 with small steps—staging music events in historically important venues in a few small towns and villages near Ottawa, in Ontario, and featuring some notable Canadian talent. Then, F.O.S.H. organizers introduced the Chef’s Table to their programming to highlight world-class chefs utilizing local farm products to create a 'farm-to-table’ experience.


TICKETS:

Presale for NAC/FOSH lists runs from Friday, April 10, 10 a.m. to Tuesday, April 14, 11:59 p.m.

Early Access code: FOSH-26

Tickets on sale to the public Wednesday, April 15 at 10 a.m.

Small group bookings accepted; tables of 2, 4, 6, and 8 available (must book entire table)


For more on ‘The Chef's Table’ lineup go to: ontariosmallhalls.com/the-chefs-table-2026/



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