Before the barrettes, the diss tracks, and the never-ending back-and-forth with Kendrick, Drake actually used to throw a pretty epic party. And not just any party — OVO Fest, his yearly homecoming celebration in the 6ix. The first one kicked off in 2010, conveniently during Caribbean Carnival season, and quickly became the place to see hometown talent and rap royalty all in one sweaty, screaming Toronto venue. Outkast even came out of hiding for a reunion show. That’s right. Outkast. Drake had that kind of pull.
Just like one of his old flings, though, OVO Fest eventually ghosted. The last time we saw it was 2022, when Drake reunited with his Young Money fam (Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and several metric tons of nostalgia). And then… silence. Until now.
OVO Fest is back, baby
On May 24, Drake surprised fans at Central Cee’s show at History in Toronto (AKA the venue that he serves as a partner for) with a performance of “NOKIA” and let them know what to expect next from him.
“I’ll see you this summer, by the way… OVO Fest will be back this year,” he told the crowd, casually recruiting Central Cee for the lineup like he was handing out party invites at lunch.
So far, that’s all we’ve got — no dates, no poster, no lineup. Just vibes and a very public promise. Still, it’s enough to get fans (and probably some former friends-turned-ops) watching closely. Drizzy’s got some reputation rehab to do. Between the Kendrick situation and those cryptic “ICEMAN” breadcrumbs, he’s clearly cooking something. Whether OVO Fest is part redemption arc, part rollout, or just a distraction while he plots his next move, we’ll take it.
