North by Northeast (or NXNE) is an annual music and arts festival held each June in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The festival's main focus is live music, but it also includes an eSports gaming tournament, comedy, a conversations series, a flea market and more. The festival events happen in a variety venues with free events on Canada's largest street, Yonge Street with events on the Street and in Yonge Dundas Square. In addition to full-time staff, the festival also has about 1,000 volunteers in festival operations. The alternative weekly newspaper Now was a major sponsor, and Now co-founder Michael Hollett owns NXNE in partnership with SXSW.