Jazz on the Plaza is BPAC’s beloved free summer concert series, transforming our Outdoor Plaza into a lively gathering place for music, community, and warm summer afternoons and evenings in downtown Burlington. Each year, the series showcases outstanding Canadian jazz artists – from rising local talents to internationally celebrated performers – inviting audiences to relax, connect, and experience live music under the open sky. A long-standing tradition at BPAC, Jazz on the Plaza celebrates the power of music to bring people together and animate the heart of our city.

Friday August 7 2026

6pm

Irene Torres opens the 2026 Jazz on the Plaza with a vibrant blend of jazz, soul, and Afro-Peruvian influences. Born in Lima, Peru and raised in Canada after arriving as a refugee, Torres has become a celebrated voice in Toronto’s diverse music scene. Known for her powerful stage presence and genre-spanning collaborations – from blues and soul with Irene Torres & The Sugar Devils to her latest project Travesía – her music is a soulful journey shaped by culture, storytelling, and rhythm.

https://www.irenetorres.com/

7:15pm

Empanadas Ilegales is a six-piece tropical psychedelic ensemble from Vancouver formed by Latin American and Canadian musicians exploring the space between diaspora and homeland. Blending cumbia, salsa and Afro-Caribbean rhythms with surf rock, psychedelia and free-form improvisation, the band creates hypnotic, dance-driven music rooted in tradition and experimentation. Known for their electrifying live shows, Empanadas Ilegales have performed at major festivals including Montreal Jazz Festival, Sled Island, JUNOFest and Calgary Folk Fest, earning a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting genre-bending Latin ensembles.

https://empanadasilegales.com/