‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Heated Rivalry’ Creators, Sarah McLachlan Set for Departure 2026 Tributes

Singer-songwriting icon Sarah McLachlan, KPop Demon Hunters creator and co-director Maggie Kang, Heated Rivalry creator and director Jacob Tierney and poet Rupi Kaur are set to be honored at the second annual Departure Festival + Conference in May 2026, organizers said Wednesday.

In a showcase of Canadian media and entertainment talent shining on the global stage, comedy superstar Russell Peters, Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman and Grammy-nominated songwriter Jenna Andrews also join the lineup for the second annual Departure event in Toronto to run from May 4-10.

McLachlan will receive the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Award; KPop Demon Hunters’ Kang will receive the Cultural Innovator Award; Heated Rivalry’s Tierney will pick up the Creative Impact Award; and literary star Kaur will receive the Independent Achievement Award.

“Being recognized by my hometown, where my work and community are rooted, makes this honor especially meaningful,” Kang, the creative force behind the Sony-produced musical for Netflix about a superstar girl group battling an evil boy band, said in a statement. The Departure event launched in 2025 to take the place of the 42-year-old Canadian Music Week talent showcase.  

“After an incredible inaugural year, we’re excited to build on that momentum with a 2026 edition that’s bigger, bolder, and even more connected to the city. Welcoming influential voices to new, vibrant spaces in the heart of downtown Toronto, Departure continues to evolve where music, culture, and emerging creative fields collide. This is just the beginning, with more exciting announcements still to come.” Kevin Barton, executive producer at Departure Festival + Conference, said in a statement.

Departure will host the Live Music Awards, presented in partnership with the Canadian Live Music Association.