Busking in Victoria

The City of Victoria is reviewing its Street Entertainment Bylaw to improve the busking experience downtown. The review is part of the City’s OUR DWTN revitalization program’s vision for a refreshed and improved downtown experience.


The Pilot

This past summer, we piloted new busking locations downtown and invited feedback through an online survey. Public input gathered through the survey (June 25-August 31, 2024), will help inform updates to the Victoria's Street Entertainment Bylaw.

“Elevated” Busking Locations: We scheduled juried buskers to perform at eight “elevated” locations downtown. Juried buskers were paid $50 per scheduled performance to complement their tips at these locations.

The "elevated" busking locations included the Upper Causeway near the Visitor Centre, Ship Point, two spots in Bastion Square (the plaza area near Wharf Street and the southwest corner of Langley and Bastion Streets), Johnson Street plaza and the northwest corner of Broad and Fort Streets, and the northeast corners of Broad and Yates Streets and Douglas and Broughton Streets.

Designated Busking Locations: Five locations along Government Street were piloted for spacing. Any licensed busker could perform at these locations for tips.

All licensed buskers may perform downtown as per the City's Street Entertainment Bylaw.

The pilot ended on September 19, 2024. For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions.


Juried Process for Piloting "Elevated" Busking Locations

This past spring, licensed buskers were invited to sign up for a five-minute audition in a juried process on June 14 and 17 for the opportunity to perform at piloted "elevated" busking locations with scheduled performances. An additional audition/juried process took place on July 19. Licensed buskers received an invitation by email or phone in early July to participate.


Busking Showcase at Ship Point

On Canada Day, a busking showcase was featured at Ship Point from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. along with an information booth for buskers and the public to learn more about the busking pilot and the online survey.


Engagement Process

The online survey is now closed. Thank you to all those who participated. The survey will measure the community’s support for specific types of busking locations, sound-amplification at specific sites, strategies to enhance busking downtown, as well as the types of busking and related amenities buskers and the public would like to see, such as covered spaces with comfortable seating, accessible parking and food trucks nearby to create a dynamic downtown experience.

Best practices research, public feedback and input from a stakeholder working group representing buskers, local businesses, downtown residents and the Downtown Victoria Business Association, will help inform recommendations to Council to update the Busking in Victoria program and associated bylaws.


Next Step

An engagement summary of what we heard from the public in the online survey and the stakeholder working group will be available online and presented with recommendations to amend applicable bylaws. If the recommendations are adopted, the new Busking in Victoria program with amended bylaws will roll out in early 2026.

The City may test additional busking approaches in summer 2025, such as emerging artist busking locations, amplified busking at designated locations, an online calendar for booking key sites and technology for buskers to receive tips electronically.

The City of Victoria is reviewing its Street Entertainment Bylaw to improve the busking experience downtown. The review is part of the City’s OUR DWTN revitalization program’s vision for a refreshed and improved downtown experience.


The Pilot

This past summer, we piloted new busking locations downtown and invited feedback through an online survey. Public input gathered through the survey (June 25-August 31, 2024), will help inform updates to the Victoria's Street Entertainment Bylaw.

“Elevated” Busking Locations: We scheduled juried buskers to perform at eight “elevated” locations downtown. Juried buskers were paid $50 per scheduled performance to complement their tips at these locations.

The "elevated" busking locations included the Upper Causeway near the Visitor Centre, Ship Point, two spots in Bastion Square (the plaza area near Wharf Street and the southwest corner of Langley and Bastion Streets), Johnson Street plaza and the northwest corner of Broad and Fort Streets, and the northeast corners of Broad and Yates Streets and Douglas and Broughton Streets.

Designated Busking Locations: Five locations along Government Street were piloted for spacing. Any licensed busker could perform at these locations for tips.

All licensed buskers may perform downtown as per the City's Street Entertainment Bylaw.

The pilot ended on September 19, 2024. For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions.


Juried Process for Piloting "Elevated" Busking Locations

This past spring, licensed buskers were invited to sign up for a five-minute audition in a juried process on June 14 and 17 for the opportunity to perform at piloted "elevated" busking locations with scheduled performances. An additional audition/juried process took place on July 19. Licensed buskers received an invitation by email or phone in early July to participate.


Busking Showcase at Ship Point

On Canada Day, a busking showcase was featured at Ship Point from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. along with an information booth for buskers and the public to learn more about the busking pilot and the online survey.


Engagement Process

The online survey is now closed. Thank you to all those who participated. The survey will measure the community’s support for specific types of busking locations, sound-amplification at specific sites, strategies to enhance busking downtown, as well as the types of busking and related amenities buskers and the public would like to see, such as covered spaces with comfortable seating, accessible parking and food trucks nearby to create a dynamic downtown experience.

Best practices research, public feedback and input from a stakeholder working group representing buskers, local businesses, downtown residents and the Downtown Victoria Business Association, will help inform recommendations to Council to update the Busking in Victoria program and associated bylaws.


Next Step

An engagement summary of what we heard from the public in the online survey and the stakeholder working group will be available online and presented with recommendations to amend applicable bylaws. If the recommendations are adopted, the new Busking in Victoria program with amended bylaws will roll out in early 2026.

The City may test additional busking approaches in summer 2025, such as emerging artist busking locations, amplified busking at designated locations, an online calendar for booking key sites and technology for buskers to receive tips electronically.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Busking in Victoria Survey

    The City of Victoria is reviewing its Street Entertainment Bylaw to improve the busking experience downtown. The Bylaw was last reviewed in 2012.  


    This summer, we are piloting new busking locations downtown for public feedback in an online survey. We want Victoria’s street entertainment to be vibrant and enjoyable for everyone. 


    “Elevated” Busking Locations: We are scheduling auditioned/juried buskers to perform at eight “elevated” locations downtown. Only juried buskers will be paid to perform at these sites.


    Designated Busking Locations: Five locations along Government Street are being piloted for spacing. Any licensed busker can perform at these locations for tips. 


    All licensed buskers may perform in other areas downtown as per the City's Street Entertainment Bylaw.


    Your feedback, combined with input from a stakeholder working group representing buskers, local businesses, downtown residents and the Downtown Victoria Business Association will help inform recommendations to Council this fall for an interim update to the Street Entertainment Bylaw.


    If the recommendations are adopted, the City will develop an interim update to the Bylaw and test additional busking approaches next summer, such as emerging artist busking locations, sound-amplified busking in designated locations, an online calendar for booking key sites and technology for buskers to receive tips electronically – for further public input, providing a report to Council next year for consideration.   


    For information on the City’s current Street Entertainment Bylaw and what we are piloting this summer for feedback, please read the Frequently Asked Questions.  


    Help us improve the busking experience downtown by completing this short survey by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024. 


    Read our survey privacy statement.

Page last updated: 12 Nov 2024, 10:43 AM