ByWard Market recorded 25.6 million visits in 2025, up 16 per cent from previous year
The district exceeded pre-pandemic benchmarks in seven of 12 months as event programming and a new safety initiative drew visitors throughout the year.
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The ByWard Market recorded 25.6 million visits in 2025, a 16 per cent increase over 2024, marking what the ByWard Market District Authority called "the strongest single-year recovery the district has recorded."
The district exceeded pre-pandemic benchmarks in seven of 12 months, with June 2025 surpassing 2019 levels and the second quarter finishing nearly one million visits higher than the same quarter in 2019, before the COVID-19 crisis.
The increase in attendance tracked with a spike in programming. The Market recorded 271 events, festivals and markets in 2025, up 36 per cent from 200 in 2024, spanning 181 days of programming. Events ranged from pop-up markets and single busker activations to multiday festivals drawing tens of thousands.
In partnership with the City of Ottawa's Nightlife Office, the BMDA debuted a night ambassador program on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. from June 27 until Oct. 31. Over the course of its first year, the program resulted in 735 interactions supporting 1,519 individuals through wayfinding, hospitality and connections to services. Ambassadors de-escalated 40 aggression or conflict situations with the support of Ottawa Police Services, and one in 10 interactions involved connections to harm reduction services.
The city announced $35,000 in funding for the program, which was delivered for $32,833. The BMDA has secured a year two funding agreement—the final year of the city's dedicated program funding—with plans to expand the program in 2026 supported by additional city investment.
