Hit play on local music: the 2026 Music on Hold playlist is here

Music from MELO-T x Rise Ashen can be found on the 2026 Music on Hold playlist.

The warmer weather is here, and it’s bringing a whole new soundtrack with it. When you call the City and are placed on hold, get ready for some fresh, local tunes from the #ottmusic 2026 Music on Hold playlist. Discover your new favourite song.

Now in its 11th year, the #ottmusic Music on Hold program continues to spotlight Ottawa’s incredible talent, with 120 submissions from artists across the area. The initiative puts local voices front and centre, offering a unique stage to be heard. Each year, 25 standout tracks are selected to play when callers are placed on hold during calls with the City.

This year’s playlist features songs from the following artists:

• Amyte
• Annie Socoria
• Austin Camp
• Céleste Lévis (FR)
• Finely Tuned Elephant
• Gabrielle Goulet (FR)
• Groomble
• Jai Vinyl
• Jessie Simmons
• Jessy Lindsay (FR)
• Kate Weekes
• Lia Kloud
• Malia Rogers
• Mel Mrabet
• MELO-T x Rise Ashen
• Nancita Kapi
• Pony Girl
• Raphael Weinroth-Browne
• Shirlvin Desir
• Sophie d'Orléans (FR)
• The Groovebug
• The Ottawa Latin Jazz Orchestra
• Vaan Thibz (FR)
• Vince Rimbach
• YardboyK

 

Music from Lia Kloud can be found on the 2026 Music on Hold playlist.

"Lia Kloud's Spidey Sense [...] stood out to me. I always appreciate seeing up and coming hip hop artists from Ottawa," says Godwin Ganza, co-founder of AMASHOWZA, an Ottawa-based platform that produces music-driven events. "The production is laid back and minimalist but repetitive in just the right way to stay memorable and loop in your head."  

Want to find a song you loved hearing while on hold? Head to ottawa.ca/ottmusic to check out the full 2026 Music on Hold playlist. When accessing the playlist on SoundCloud, if you don’t have an account, simply click the X in the top-right corner to exit the sign in pop-up window.

Interested in sharing your own music? Head over to Ottawa.ca/ottmusic and stay tuned for the launch of the 2027 Music on Hold application launch.

Music from Vaan Thibz can be found on the 2026 Music on Hold playlist.