Big Screen – Big Sound – Big Celebration of the Music of The Hip

Reserve your seats today for only $10 with 100% of proceeds directed to The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Ten years ago, The Tragically Hip took the stage for the final time in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario. That extraordinary night has since become woven into Canada’s cultural fabric, and now, the band is set to honour its legacy with the release of a landmark live album (August 21) and exclusive CBC rebroadcast/global live stream of A National Celebration (August 22 at 7 p.m. local time) – the band’s last show. 

The Kingston finale marked the closing chapter of the Man Machine Poem Tour, a 15-date, coast-to-coast farewell that reached millions. One third of Canadians tuned in, at a fever pitch they filled arenas, gathered in public squares, and watched from living rooms and on phones. As CBC’s historic 2016 broadcast unfolded, the nation stood still. It was more than a concert; it was a shared heartbeat. Billed as A National Celebration, the final Kingston show had Canadians and fans worldwide come together to honour a band whose songs are stitched into the collective subconscious of this country.

Theatre Aquarius will be showing the CBC rebroadcast of the concert commercial-free as it originally aired on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in our Main Stage Theatre.

“It is hard to put into words how meaningful it was for CBC to broadcast The Tragically Hip concert to an audience of millions 10 years ago,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment. “For three hours on a summer night, all of Canada paused to celebrate and pay tribute together through the power of music. The Hip will always have a unique, special relationship with their fans and we’re honoured to relive this historic concert again this summer.” 

A National Celebration in every sense, the performance became a defining cultural moment honouring a band whose music has long been that heartbeat of Canada.