A Winnipeg venue is receiving international recognition for a successful 2025.
The Burton Cummings Theatre cracked the top 100 list of ticket sales among 200 theatres in the world, was ranked fifth among Canadian theatres and 75th in North America, according to year-end data from live entertainment publication Pollstar.
“It’s a great honour to be included in the top 200 theaters,” said Ruben Ramalheiro, director of live entertainment with True North Sports and Entertainment, which owns the venue. “It’s up amongst the ranks with great venues like Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as Radio City Music Hall in New York. So, to keep Winnipeg in the conversation is a great feat, and we’re really proud of it.”
The venue played host to 115 performances in 2025, including 27 sellouts. Notable concerts include one from its namesake, Burton Cummings, as well as shows from The Beaches, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Blue Rodeo, Descendents, The Buzzcocks and Colter Wall. Comedians Gerry Dee, Louis C.K. and David Cross took the stage for comedy shows, and the theatre also played host to Winnipeg Professional Wrestling’s third edition of Rumble in the Burt.
“We really try to program as much stuff here in the theatre as possible,” Ramalheiro said. “We work with different acts and different promoters. Luckily, we were able to do multiple night events.”
October had seven sold-out shows and 20,000 tickets sold across 17 different events, while November had nine sell-out performances and 21,977 people attending shows throughout the month.
Ramalheiro said the ranking could help the theatre continue to attract more performers to Winnipeg.
“Being included in that top 200 list keeps the conversation alive with agents and managers, as well as different artists, making sure that they see a place like Winnipeg and go, ‘Oh, why haven’t we played there? Why don’t we go there?’” he said.
Artists scheduled for 2026 include Rise Against for two nights, The Trews, Matt Berninger of The National, George Thorogood, Tom Green and The Sheepdogs.
