Amidst the thunderous applause and electric atmosphere of Kendrick Lamar's ongoing Grand National Tour, co-headlined by SZA, Drake, aka Aubrey Drake Graham, made a bombshell announcement that sent shockwaves through the rap community. During his guest spot at Central Cee's sold-out concert in Toronto, held on Saturday, May 24th, at the iconic History venue, the rap sensation revealed from the balcony overlooking the sea of eager fans that OVO Fest would make a triumphant return in the summer of 2025.
"Mark your calendars for this summer, folks," Drake declared, his voice echoing through the venue as he unveiled the surprise news. The "Laugh Now Cry Later" hitmaker announced the revival of his star-studded hometown festival after a three-year hiatus, much to the delight of the ecstatic crowd.
"OVO Fest is back, and it's happening this year," the "God's Plan" rapper exclaimed, congratulating the 33-year-old British rapper, Central Cee, on his burgeoning success. With a playful gesture towards Central Cee, whose real name is Oakley Neil Caesar-Su, Drake hinted at his potential appearance at the festival, teasing, "We'll definitely need you there for that."
Interestingly, the 2025 edition of OVO Fest marks the first time the "Rich Baby Daddy" crooner will be hosting the festival since his high-profile feud with Lamar, whose concert series kicked off on April 19th, 2025. During Lamar's recent Los Angeles concerts, an array of guest stars, including Justin Bieber, Lizzo, and more, joined the "Not Like Us" singer and SZA, 35, on stage.
While no further details about OVO Fest have been disclosed as of yet, it is traditionally held in August. It is plausible that the festival might take place after the conclusion of Lamar's tour, which is slated to wrap up on August 9th, 2025, in Stockholm.
It's worth noting that the rivalry between Drake and Lamar in the hip-hop sphere has been fueled by a complex blend of subtle jabs and overt diss tracks since 2013. This announcement not only sets the stage for an exhilarating summer of music but also adds another layer of intrigue to their long-standing rivalry.
