Pembroke residents will have an opportunity to hear directly from candidates in the 2026 municipal election as Festival Hall @ L’Équinoxe hosts two public debates in September. The events will bring candidates to the Festival Hall stage to discuss issues facing the city and their priorities for Pembroke’s future. Festival Hall director Dorian Pearce says hosting the debates is part of an effort to make the performing arts venue a broader gathering place for the community. “These debates are exactly the kind of event Festival Hall should be hosting,” Pearce said in a news release. The debates are scheduled for Sept. 22 and Sept. 29 at Festival Hall in Pembroke.