Battle for the Barge - 2026

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2026 BATTLE FOR THE BARGE - the 67th Season

FIRST PLACE Performs Sunday July 19th at 730pm

SECOND & THIRD PLACE Perform on Sunday August 9th at 7pm

Want to know where we are currently in the battle? Look for this symbol!

The first year of the Battle for the Barge! Winner Nights - - - YOU chose 5 bands that would take the stage in addition to our regular, Music on the Barge concert season. The second year, we whittled down the talent, elimination style! where YOU chose 1 band to play a show in our regular concert lineup. This year, YOU will choose a FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE winner, who will be added to our 2026 Music on the Barge concert season.

Here is how the “Battle for the Barge works

Call for Artists, Band Registration Period

Registration Window Closed April 3, 2026. Missed it? Submit your interest for 2027 by sending an email to holly.carney@gravenhurst.ca including a band photo, a link to a performance of yours, performance fee for a 1.5 hour show (we provide sound system and sound tech, light refreshments & non-alcoholic beverages) and we will reach out to you when the window re-opens for next season.

Round 1: Let The Battle Begin - 31 Bands Expressed An Interest In Playing Music on the Barge This Year, YOU Pick ONLY 8 Of These Bands To Move On To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 13 Starting at 8am to Friday April 17 at noon

  • We have announced the 31 bands who registered for 'Battle for the Barge' over on our Facebook page. If you don't currently LIKE / FOLLOW, please pop over now so you don't miss a thing!

  • Voting happens over here on ENGAGE GRAVENHURST! Voters (you, the public! people who attend Music on the Barge each Sunday from June 28 to September 6) will review each video link and choose a minimum and a maximum of 8 bands (out of the 31) that you feel should make it to the next round. Please make your selections only ONCE. Multiple submissions from the same person will not count and will be deleted.

  • The votes will be tallied at noon on Friday and announced over on Facebook before the end of that day.

Round 2: Time To Vote for 4 Bands To Move To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 20 Starting at 8am to Friday April 24 at noon.

  • 31 bands went down to 8 bands! CHOOSE 4 BANDS that you feel should make it to the next round. It's getting exciting isn't it?!

  • Same rules as above - only one set of selections per person - multiple submissions from the same person will be deleted. The winners from this round will be announced by end of day on the Friday over on Facebook.

Semi-Finals : Vote for 2 Bands To Move To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 27 Starting at 8am to Friday May 1 at noon.

  • 31 bands went down to 8 bands down to 4 bands ... and now you need to pick a minimum and a maximum of 2 bands to move forward to the final round.

  • A reminder, only one set of selections per voter, multiples will be deleted. The winners from this round will be announced by end of day on the Friday over on Facebook! Today we will know who places THIRD!

Finals : Vote for the First Place Winner

Voting Period: Monday May 4 Starting at 8am to Friday May 8 at noon.

  • 31 bands went down to 8 bands down to 4 bands down to 2 bands ... and now you need to pick the first place winner! Who will it be? Don't worry - the one you don't pick for first will still play on the barge this season - just on a different night!



The Winners Will Be Announced

Monday May 11th, 2026 at 8am

First Place Plays Sunday July 20, 2026 at 730pm

Third Place Plays First Set on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 7pm

Second Place Plays Second Set on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 7:45pm


Gravenhurst Mayor Wanda Miller, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip watching a show at the barge. Photo courtesy of Fred Schulz

The FULL Music on the Barge 2026 Lineup will be revealed to the public on Victoria Day! Monday May 18, 2025. Want it earlier? Sign up for our newsletter and get it before everyone else.



FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How Do We Vote for the Winner of the Battle for the Barge?

Voting takes place right here, so bookmark this page! LIKE or FOLLOW our social channels to stay up to date with how the battle is going!

How Do We Register Our Band?

2026 intake is complete. If you're interested in 2027 please send holly.carney@gravenhurst.ca an email.

If my band is chosen, will it be a paid gig?

Yes of course however we hope you will keep in mind when filling out that line in the application that this is a free will offering style of concert, we don't charge admission.

Voting runs from April 13 to May 8

Let the battle begin!



About Music On The Barge:

Join this annual summer tradition at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst. Admission is by free will offering! Money collected goes to helping offset the cost of keeping this great tradition alive! Please give generously if you are able to.

Music on the Barge is an annual summer tradition at Gull Lake Rotary Park. Check out the entire Music on the Barge lineup at www.MusicOnTheBarge.com and follow us on social for event updates!

Interested in the history of the barge? Learn more here.


2026 BATTLE FOR THE BARGE - the 67th Season

FIRST PLACE Performs Sunday July 19th at 730pm

SECOND & THIRD PLACE Perform on Sunday August 9th at 7pm

Want to know where we are currently in the battle? Look for this symbol!

The first year of the Battle for the Barge! Winner Nights - - - YOU chose 5 bands that would take the stage in addition to our regular, Music on the Barge concert season. The second year, we whittled down the talent, elimination style! where YOU chose 1 band to play a show in our regular concert lineup. This year, YOU will choose a FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE winner, who will be added to our 2026 Music on the Barge concert season.

Here is how the “Battle for the Barge works

Call for Artists, Band Registration Period

Registration Window Closed April 3, 2026. Missed it? Submit your interest for 2027 by sending an email to holly.carney@gravenhurst.ca including a band photo, a link to a performance of yours, performance fee for a 1.5 hour show (we provide sound system and sound tech, light refreshments & non-alcoholic beverages) and we will reach out to you when the window re-opens for next season.

Round 1: Let The Battle Begin - 31 Bands Expressed An Interest In Playing Music on the Barge This Year, YOU Pick ONLY 8 Of These Bands To Move On To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 13 Starting at 8am to Friday April 17 at noon

  • We have announced the 31 bands who registered for 'Battle for the Barge' over on our Facebook page. If you don't currently LIKE / FOLLOW, please pop over now so you don't miss a thing!

  • Voting happens over here on ENGAGE GRAVENHURST! Voters (you, the public! people who attend Music on the Barge each Sunday from June 28 to September 6) will review each video link and choose a minimum and a maximum of 8 bands (out of the 31) that you feel should make it to the next round. Please make your selections only ONCE. Multiple submissions from the same person will not count and will be deleted.

  • The votes will be tallied at noon on Friday and announced over on Facebook before the end of that day.

Round 2: Time To Vote for 4 Bands To Move To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 20 Starting at 8am to Friday April 24 at noon.

  • 31 bands went down to 8 bands! CHOOSE 4 BANDS that you feel should make it to the next round. It's getting exciting isn't it?!

  • Same rules as above - only one set of selections per person - multiple submissions from the same person will be deleted. The winners from this round will be announced by end of day on the Friday over on Facebook.

Semi-Finals : Vote for 2 Bands To Move To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 27 Starting at 8am to Friday May 1 at noon.

  • 31 bands went down to 8 bands down to 4 bands ... and now you need to pick a minimum and a maximum of 2 bands to move forward to the final round.

  • A reminder, only one set of selections per voter, multiples will be deleted. The winners from this round will be announced by end of day on the Friday over on Facebook! Today we will know who places THIRD!

Finals : Vote for the First Place Winner

Voting Period: Monday May 4 Starting at 8am to Friday May 8 at noon.

  • 31 bands went down to 8 bands down to 4 bands down to 2 bands ... and now you need to pick the first place winner! Who will it be? Don't worry - the one you don't pick for first will still play on the barge this season - just on a different night!



The Winners Will Be Announced

Monday May 11th, 2026 at 8am

First Place Plays Sunday July 20, 2026 at 730pm

Third Place Plays First Set on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 7pm

Second Place Plays Second Set on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 7:45pm


Gravenhurst Mayor Wanda Miller, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip watching a show at the barge. Photo courtesy of Fred Schulz

The FULL Music on the Barge 2026 Lineup will be revealed to the public on Victoria Day! Monday May 18, 2025. Want it earlier? Sign up for our newsletter and get it before everyone else.



FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How Do We Vote for the Winner of the Battle for the Barge?

Voting takes place right here, so bookmark this page! LIKE or FOLLOW our social channels to stay up to date with how the battle is going!

How Do We Register Our Band?

2026 intake is complete. If you're interested in 2027 please send holly.carney@gravenhurst.ca an email.

If my band is chosen, will it be a paid gig?

Yes of course however we hope you will keep in mind when filling out that line in the application that this is a free will offering style of concert, we don't charge admission.

Voting runs from April 13 to May 8

Let the battle begin!



About Music On The Barge:

Join this annual summer tradition at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst. Admission is by free will offering! Money collected goes to helping offset the cost of keeping this great tradition alive! Please give generously if you are able to.

Music on the Barge is an annual summer tradition at Gull Lake Rotary Park. Check out the entire Music on the Barge lineup at www.MusicOnTheBarge.com and follow us on social for event updates!

Interested in the history of the barge? Learn more here.

Page last updated: 08 May 2026, 05:48 PM