The Magnetic World Music Festival is giving local artists a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform alongside global stars like Dom Dolla and The Kid LAROI as part of its 2025 edition, set to take place from Sept. 26 to 28 in Halifax.
For the first time in the festival’s history, organizers are hosting an open contest to select local performers who will earn a slot on the main stage. The contest, which has now been extended, will accept submissions until July 31.
To enter, artists must create an original post showcasing their music and performance skills, tagging @MagneticWorldMF in the first line and using the hashtag #OpenMagnetic. The caption must include the artist’s city and province to highlight regional pride, and all entries must be shared to the artist’s story with tags included.
“We wanted to give local and Canadian talent a platform to showcase their talent, and have their talent on display for the global audience,” said Benjamin Edwards, PR and media manager for Magnetic World. “We had seen that there was a ton of local talent coming. We wanted to give them the chance to perform and open for global superstars.”
This opportunity is open to all musical styles, from DJs and vocalists to rappers and live bands. “A panel of judges will choose the winner based on a combination of engagement and artistic merit. The grand prize includes a performance slot on the main stage and potential exposure opportunities through the festival’s promotional channels,” said Edwards.
The festival, which first launched in Moncton, N.B., expanded to Halifax in 2023 and has since grown rapidly. This year marks its first three-day edition, with each day tailored to a different genre: electronic dance music, pop, and hip hop.
“If a hip hop artist wins the contest, they will open for that day; if a DJ wins then they will open at the EDM night,” said Edwards. “But as of now, we are accepting all submissions.”
The contest has drawn a high volume of entries, prompting the extension.
“We had not anticipated such a huge response and we have heard from a lot of talent that they needed more time to submit, so we are giving the people what they want,” said Edwards, who has deep roots in Halifax’s music scene, beginning his career doing videography for Music Nova Scotia. “Helping artists to promote themselves, and their art is something that I am passionate about.”
One of the hopefuls is Halifax-based pop artist and musical influencer Quoia States, whose contest submission has already drawn more than 19,000 views online.
“I have been performing since I was 12,” said States, who has been active in the industry for the past two years. “I had dreams to go to Juilliard Music School. I am a huge Rihanna and Billie Eilish fan, but I want to be an artist in my own lane.”
States hopes to bring a new sound to Halifax’s evolving music scene, which she says is still missing strong representation in pop.
“There are rappers, there are country artists. I do not see that many pop acts and I wanted to be a pop star,” she said. “A lot of the youth here are used to seeing violence, and think that is the way to be cool. I want to prove that if you have a dream, you should chase it.”
She calls the contest a “dope” opportunity for up-and-coming talent.
“A lot of talent gets slept on. This is so cool that people from Halifax or across Canada can be seen and heard. We are hungry to be seen and build that fanbase. I am very appreciative to them to be given that platform,” she said. “I would be stoked to open for Kid LAROI.”
Magnetic World 2025 will feature some of the biggest names in global music. Dom Dolla and Kid LAROI are confirmed headliners, with the third — a major hip hop act — expected to be announced soon.
The festival, led by a team of Maritimers with backgrounds in community work and event management, continues to reshape the East Coast music scene.
“Halifax, say 10 years ago, did not have festivals of this size,” said Edwards. “This is a door opening for a lot of artists to perform here. This festival is a great way to introduce new people to Halifax and Atlantic Canada. People come here for the festival, and they fall in love with the city.
My hope for the future is that Magnetic World becomes one of the big names for music festivals in Canada, and not just Atlantic Canada. Something on the lines of Lollapalooza or Coachella.”
This article appears in Jul 1-31, 2025.