OFN Talks: Working with Influencers in 2026

Ottawa Festival Network
6 hours ago
2 min read

On Tuesday, February 17 Ottawa Festivals will be hosting an interactive workshop on the subject of Working with Influencers in 2026. This high-demand topic will tackle the often overwhelming nature of establishing and building successful relationships with digital creators.

About the Session

From small celebrations to multi-day, multi-stage festivals, influencer marketing has become a powerful tool for reaching audiences—but only when it’s done thoughtfully. In 2026, successful influencer partnerships are no longer defined by scale or celebrity. They’re built on authentic connections, shared values, and community relevance.

This interactive workshop is designed for festivals of all genres, budgets, and audience sizes. Marketing and social media managers will not want to miss this event!

The session will share experienced insights from both sides of the festival-influencer partnership - a festival organization who has refined a brand ambassador program, and an experienced local content creator who has worked with a number of festival and event organizations!

Through practical examples, group discussion, and adaptable frameworks, attendees will gain skills in identifying and approaching influencers with the right fit, developing relationships and contracts that align with your goals, and curating shareable experiences that resonate.

While the session is tailored specifically for event marketing professionals, anyone who is engaging with digital creators and building online communities can participate and benefit from this session.

Speakers :

Kirstin Collins, Marketing Manager at Saunders Farm

Kirstin Collins is the Marketing Manager at Saunders Farm, where she leads digital marketing, social media, and communications with a strong focus on connection and community. With degrees in Psychology and Education, she brings a people-first, relationship-building approach to creating engaging social media strategies.

Lynn, @LynnsPOV, Digital Creator, Lifestyle Blogger, and Brand Ambassador at Centretown BIA

@lynnspov, also known as hungry hypewoman, is an eccentric digital creator, host, and community builder with over 16 years of experience in marketing communications and event planning.

Lynn highlights the best of Ottawa through her various creative projects, with her platform serving as a lifestyle space focused on food, wellness, music, and local culture (brand partnerships and UGC). Appointed as the Centretown BIA ambassador in 2025 and continuing into 2026, her work is driven by a mission to promote Ottawa’s vibrant culture and support local businesses. Lynn has worked with major festivals, including Latin Sparks Festival, Festival Parasol, Ottawa Asian Festival, Cranium Festival and an EDM music festival, Force Fields, in the United States. She’s also a core contributor to @shareyourpiece, a platform uplifting Ottawa’s art community, and @613rnb, an interactive party series celebrating R&B culture.

Her community work includes leading on video production for charitable campaigns such as cold plunging to raise funds for the unhoused, as well as a recent collaboration with the Ottawa Police to support women’s shelters.