In the late '90s, when men ruled the radio waves, Lilith Fair parted the congested ocean of the music industry to make way for women singing to and for one another, into the spotlight together. It changed more than charts; it changed industry standards, allowing female musicians to appear not as anomalies but as festival headliners. The festival gave voice to Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Erykah Badu, Paula Cole, and countless others, etching a record of sisterhood and rebellion. And its powerful legacy stretches today in the documentary Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery — The Untold Story, making headlines with its bold moves. 

The Lilith Fair documentary is less nostalgia and more like a required anthem for today's political climate, standing up for one's rights because great music cannot be silenced.

Staying on brand, standing in solidarity with Jimmy Kimmel following the abrupt suspension of his late-night talk show due to controversial jokes made against conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the creator of the iconic Canadian music festival Lilith Fair, Sarah McLachlan has indeed cancelled the documentary's premiere performance. During the US red carpet premiere in Los Angeles, a performance in conjunction with the documentary was suddenly canceled. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, McLachlan stated, "We have collectively decided not to perform but instead to stand in solidarity in support of free speech." The outlet reported that the performances included the likes of McLachlan, Jewel, and Olivia Rodrigo. McLachlan delivered a statement on free speech, women's rights, and how music has never been just entertainment, as it is a symbol of resistance and free speech. Subsequently, ABC News Studios cancelled the red carpet; however, the documentary is still available on streaming.

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With a promise to make women's songs reverberate across the world, Lilith Fair challenged the music industry, and its 2025 documentary is still making similar statements; all the more reason to stream the film. 

For anyone asking whether Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery is available on Netflix, no, it is not. The documentary streams in the United States on Hulu and in most other international markets through Disney+, combined with Hulu. It is released by ABC News Studios along with CBC in Canada. Under the direction of Ally Pankiw and produced by Dan Levy and others, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2025. The movie was broadcast on CBC on September 17, 2025, and later became available on CBC Gem in Canada.

The film reveals Sarah McLachlan's creation of Lilith Fair as a reaction to sexism within the music scene. It includes parts of the never-before-seen 600 hours of footage from the archives and interviews with women artists, looking back on its power and legacy. It looks at the struggles of the festival, initial backlash, and its resurgence of spirit. Though Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery is not on Netflix, it is a socio-politically charged and culturally significant documentary suitable for every watchlist, particularly when its premiere cancellation in solidarity with Jimmy Kimmel has caused a stir. 

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Will you be streaming the Lilith Fair documentary? Let us know in the comments below.