Penticton ready to rock with long-running Elvis Presley tribute festival
Published 11:22 am Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Canada’s largest and longest-running Elvis Presley tribute festival is set to make its annual return to B.C.
The 24th Penticton Elvis Festival honours the King of Rock and Roll from June 26 to 28, both inside Okanagan Lake Park and the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre (PTCC).
“We have 36 Elvis tribute artists coming from all over the world,” festival president Mike Schell said.
The winner of the competition will head to the Ultimate Elvis Championships in August in Memphis, Tenn.
Come on over to Okanagan Lake Park on Friday, June 26, as the festival holds its opening ceremony at 1 p.m. It will feature Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield and Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee, Schell said.
Round No. 1 of the competition kicks off at 1:30 p.m., with performers vying for gold in three different divisions: Little Kings (ages four to 14), non-professional, and professional.
The second round of competition starts Saturday, June 27, also inside Okanagan Lake Park. Gates open at 8 a.m. before the tribute artists take the stage at 9 a.m.
Entry to the park for the competition is $35 per day, or $50 for both Friday and Saturday. Cash and card is accepted at the front gate of the venue.
Also on deck for the weekend is a headliner show featuring Moses Snow, Emilio Santoro, Bruno Nesci and Schell’s 12-piece band, the Cadillac Kings & Queens Show Band, inside the PTCC on Saturday at 8 p.m.
The final day of the festival, Sunday, June 28, will kick off with the event’s annual Gospel Show & Pancake Breakfast at Okanagan Lake Park.
Breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m., with the show set for 9 a.m. This year, the Sunday morning event is being held in honour of Penticton Elvis Festival co-founder Terry Michaels, who died in October 2025.
“$3 from every ticket will be donated to Moog’s and Friends Hospice House in Terry Michaels’ memory,” Schell said, adding that local favourite Corny Rempel will host the gospel show.
The competition’s finals will start at 2 p.m. inside the PTCC on Sunday.
“The seven pros will perform two songs live with my band,” Schell explained. “The seven non-pros and the three Little Kings will sing two songs to track, and then we will crown our 2026 grand champion.”
An after-party is also scheduled at PTCC that night, with festivities starting at 6 p.m.
For a full schedule of happenings, people are asked to visit pentictonelvisfestival.ca.