A long-running B.C. music festival is taking a slightly longer intermission than planned due in part to what organizers describe as a fast-changing landscape for events like theirs.
Five Acre Co. announced on its social media that, “after a lot of thought and real heart-to-heart conversations, it would be cancelling the 2026 edition of the Five Acre Shaker held in Port Alberni.
“We know this might be disappointing news, and it wasn’t an easy call to make,” said the Vancouver Island-based events production company.
“The truth is, between limited funding availability this year and a rapidly changing festival landscape, pushing through right now just wouldn’t do the event or our community justice.”
Five Acre Co./Facebook
The inaugural Five Acre Shaker in Port Alberni was held in 2014 as a memorial event to honour a local musician.
The fan-favourite Shaker has hosted over 120 musical acts during its run, and currently calls the Alberni District Fall Fair Grounds home.
Five Acre confirmed in its post that while it is cancelling the 2026 event, it is planning on returning bigger and better next year.
Five Acre Co./Facebook
“Shaker isn’t dead in the water,” added organizers. “Consider this a slightly longer intermission before the encore. The team at Five Acre are looking at this pause as an exciting opportunity rather than a setback.
“We’re taking this time to focus on our internal team structure, really solidifying who’s doing what, building our capacity, and making sure our foundation is stronger than ever so we can make an even bigger impact in Port Alberni and beyond all year round.”
Fans expressed their support for the B.C. music festival online.
“Can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeves,” shared one supporter. ”
“Sometimes you gotta circle back stronger. Wishing all the best,” added another.
Five Acre Co./Facebook
Five Acre also thanked their fans for all of their support over the years.
“Thank you for sticking with us as we reset, rebuild, and prepare for what’s next.
Five Acre Shaker’s hiatus for 2026 comes just weeks after Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival announced on its social media that it had made the “difficult decision” to close its doors after 25 years.
Pentastic Jazz Festival Society (PJFS) announced in April that it is cancelling the annual Pentastic Hot Jazz & Music Festival due to a “combination of insurmountable challenges.”
“Significant issues related to U.S. band travel across the border, a decline in grant funding, rising operational costs, and an aging demographic were all major factors considered in reaching this conclusion,” said PJFS in an announcement on its social media channels.
Victoria Jazz Society (VJS) also posted on its website and social media earlier this spring that it had made the “difficult decision” to cancel the 2026 edition of the Harbour Blues’ n Roots Festival, formerly known as the Vancouver Island Blues Bash.