You can catch free live piano performances in parks and public spaces around Calgary

Calgary is getting a new way to experience live music this summer with Piano Project YYC, a series of three interactive concerts taking place in public spaces across the city. The goal of the project is to take live music out of traditional concert halls and place it right into everyday places like parks and plazas.

So if you’ve already spent your festival budget this summer but you’re still looking for a way to catch some live music around the city, this free series is definitely one you’ll want to keep on your radar.

Now let’s take a further look at what the Piano Project YYC is all about.

Live music in the middle of the city

Piano Project YYC is a free public music initiative created by Honens, an organization based in Calgary known for supporting piano music and emerging arts. According to Honens, the idea behind the project is to bring live performances out of traditional concert spaces and into the city itself, making them something anyone can encounter in their everyday routine.

Rather than a single event at one venue, the project comprises three interactive summer concerts held in different parks and public spaces throughout Calgary. The series kicks off on Friday, July 17, with a live outdoor set by Calgary-based jazz pianist Timothonius at Tomkins Park. From there, the project continues on Wednesday, Aug. 12, with a performance at RiverWalk Plaza featuring Laureate Elisabeth Pion, joined by Sarah Hanh-Scinocco and Calgary Philharmonic bassoonist Antoine St-Onge.

And you don’t need to know anything about classical music to enjoy it; even if you’re just passing through, the goal is to make familiar parts of the city feel a little different and give you a reason to slow down in the middle of your day.

The Piano Project YYC is proof that not every experience in Calgary needs to come with a price tag or a big night out. So if you hear piano music floating through parks or plazas this summer, it’s worth following the sound, as it’s likely the Piano Project YYC in action.

Piano Project YYC

When: Friday, July 17, 2026 and Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026
Time: July 17: 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Aug. 12: 4 p.m.
Where: Tomkins Park – 820 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, Alta., and The Riverwalk Plaza – 623 Confluence Way SE, Calgary, Alta.
Cost: Free

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