“If music be the food of love, play on.”  -William Shakespeare (from the comedy Twelfth Night.)

Music is universal and can be of any language (even for those deaf and hard of hearing). Different abilities can mean different interpretations when it comes to music.

For those with physical disabilities, barriers are common in performance venues. To address this, Voice of Albertans With Disabilities Society (VAD) is presenting Voices Without Barriers, Alberta’s first fully accessible indoor music festival.

It takes place Saturday, September 26th, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Westin Downtown Edmonton. From VAD’s website:

This inaugural festival is being built from the ground up with accessibility as its foundation. It will bring together music, community, connection, and belonging in a welcoming indoor environment where Albertans with disabilities, families, artists, advocates, and supporters can gather and celebrate together.

About the Festival

Voices Without Barriers is more than a music festival. It is a first of its kind initiative in Alberta that is redefining what accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement can look like in live events. The festival will prioritize Albertans with disabilities and intentionally uplift Indigenous artists with disabilities, while ensuring fair and equitable compensation for performers.

The event will feature accessibility focused supports and inclusive design elements, including:

• Silent market
• Sensory friendly space
• Tactile features for attendees who are hearing or visually impaired
• Accessible venue design
• Inclusive music and arts experiences

Festival planning also includes supports such as tactile transducers, live captioning, sensory friendly spaces, and other accessibility features that help remove barriers to participation.

For more information, including ticket prices (and how to purchase them) and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://vadsociety.ca.

Ian Young is a columnist and Block Carrier with the paper. He lives in the area.