North by Northeast (NXNE)

North by Northeast (NXNE) is an annual music and arts festival and conference held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1995, it was modeled after the South by Southwest festival (SXSW) that takes place in Austin, Texas, United States.

North by Northeast started as a three-day music festival featuring independent artists from Ontario. Over the years, it has expanded to become a 10-day multidisciplinary summer event that brings together music, visual art, film, comedy, gaming, technology, and interactive media. The festival is the premier destination for musicians, comedians, filmmakers, innovators and fans of all forms of contemporary art.

North by Northeast is first and foremost a music festival featuring hundreds of performers and bands from North America and around the world. Concerts are held each night at around 50 indoor and outdoor venues across Toronto. Most venues host six bands each night.

NXNE features both up-and-coming and renowned performers. It provides a platform for emerging artists, giving them a chance to get noticed, as well as allows fans to see famous musicians perform at small, intimate club venues. In recent years the festival also features international headline acts. Past headliners include Iggy and the Stooges, Ludacris, Bad Religion, Digable Planets, The Flaming Lips, and others.

The NXNE Interactive Conference (NXNEi) is an important part of the festival program. Originally a music industry event, it has expanded to become a multidisciplinary conference focused on exploring how music and emerging technologies connect. The programming includes a series of panels, presentations, keynotes, seminars, workshops, screenings, showcases, and other events designed to explore the integration of technology with creativity in art forms.

Alongside the NXNE Music Festival and Interactive Conference, North by Northeast features several programs dedicated to different forms of art. NXNE Film is a series of film screenings designed to showcase the latest world and Canadian premieres. NXNE Comedy presents popular and emerging comedians from around the world. NXNE Art features exhibitions, installations and art programs, combining daytime activities and nighttime visual art projects. In 2016, the festival also added a video gaming component.