The Symphony in the Summer Festival is the new name for the Symphony Splash event which features live music with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.
In 2026 Symphony in the Summer events run on select dates between July 30th and August 9th.
This article contains the following information about the festival:
Symphony in the Summer Schedule | Tips and Advice | About the Orchestra and Festival | Other Information
Symphony in the Summer Festival
Symphony in the Summer is one of Victoria’s premier summer festivals. Formerly known as Symphony Splash, the one-day event has now turned into a multiday series of performances.
The highlight and primary focus of the series used to be the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. There used to be food trucks, a beer garden, market vendors and fireworks in previous years. Now, however, there are multiple concerts at different venues to enjoy when the event takes place again this summer between July and August.
2026 Schedule
Symphony in the Summer features four events in 2026. Tickets are on sale as of June 2nd. The full festival schedule for this year is listed below.
- July 30th, 2026 – Beethoven Symphony No. 8 at 930 Burdett Avenue at 7:30 pm.
- August 1st, 2026 – Mozart Violin Concerto No. 1 & Dvořák Czech Suite kicks off at 7:30 pm at 930 Burdett Avenue.
- August 6th, 2026 – an outdoor concert at the beautiful Butchart Gardens starting at 8:00 pm.
- August 9th, 2026 – Symphony in the Summer at Qualicum Beach begins at 2:30 pm.
Tips & Advice
Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of your Symphony in the Summer Festival experience.
TIP #1: When the free shows happen, take your own chair or blanket to sit on, plus something warm to put on after the sun goes down.
TIP #2: If it’s a hot day, be sure to take a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and lots of water. There’s not a lot of shade at some of the locations.
TIP #3: If going early to claim a spot with your chairs and/or blanket, take a good book to read, friends to talk to and even a game to play (especially if you have children) while you wait.
About the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Splash
The Victoria Symphony Orchestra is, as the name suggests, a symphony orchestra based in Victoria, BC. Founded in 1941, it’s an impressive orchestra for a city of Victoria’s size.
Symphony Splash, now known as Symphony in the Summer, is a fundraising festival for the Symphony. As a result, expect to see lots of volunteers with donation boxes and cans wandering around the site asking for donations most years. Funds raised usually benefit the Orchestra and its various programs.
Other Information
To learn more about the event, see the Symphony in the Summer website.
For a list of other concerts performed by the symphony see the Victoria Symphony Orchestra website.
To learn more about the organization behind the event, see our article about the Victoria Symphony.
For a list of events at other times of the year, see our Victoria Events Calendar.
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