Francos de Montréal unveil 2026 lineup, set to kick off summer festival season
Posted April 28, 2026 8:50 pm.
Last Updated April 28, 2026 10:32 pm.
Les Francos de Montréal have unveiled the programming for their 37th edition, setting the stage for a wide-ranging celebration of francophone music that brings together international headliners, Quebec icons and emerging artists.
Running from June 12 to 20, the festival will once again transform downtown Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles into a major hub of live performances, with roughly two-thirds of shows offered free to the public.
“We invite people to be curious and enjoy music from here and from anywhere in the world, as long as it’s in French,” said director of programming Maurin Auxéméry.
A global stage for francophone music
Founded in 1989, Les Francos has long positioned itself as a key platform for French-language music. This year’s programming continues that tradition, with artists from Quebec and across the francophone world sharing stages throughout the city.
French rapper OrelSan will launch the festivities with a pre-opening concert at the Bell Centre on June 11, part of the festival’s major indoor series.
The outdoor opening night will feature Kassav’, the influential Caribbean group and pioneers of zouk, performing at Place des Festivals.
Other headline performances include Quebec pop star Marie-Mai and singer-songwriter Ariane Roy, alongside acts such as Klô Pelgag, disiz and Julien Clerc. The lineup also includes Dead Obies, Ariane Moffatt and a concert marking the 40th anniversary of Groovy Aardvark.
“It’s a nice and big celebration of francophone music,” Auxéméry said.
Celebrating milestones and musical legacies
A major highlight of this year’s edition is a tribute marking 30 years since the release of Jean Leloup’s landmark album Le Dôme, widely regarded as a defining work in Quebec music.
The show will bring together Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Thierry Larose, Safia Nolin, Klô Pelgag, Rau_Ze, Les Louanges, We Are Wolves and Zach Zoya to reinterpret the album live on the festival’s main stage.
Nostalgia is a broader theme across the programming, with French pop icon Lorie set to perform two nights at MTELUS.
A spotlight on Quebec rap
Hip-hop continues to play a central role in the Francos lineup, culminating in a major event on June 18 marking 10 years since the influential Rapkeb show.
The anniversary performance will be led by Koriass and Loud and is expected to revisit a defining moment in Quebec’s rap scene. Other artists performing that day include Parazar, Rymz and Guessmi.
Festivalgoers will also be able to explore the history of the movement through a photo exhibition revisiting Rapkeb.
Discovery and the sound of today
Alongside established names, the Francos continue to spotlight emerging talent, including Gab Bouchard, Alphonse Bisaillon, Danyl, Luiza and Bamby.
Auxéméry says that the mix is central to the festival’s identity, bringing together artists from different backgrounds and generations.
He describes Francos as a space where francophone cultures meet and interact on stage.
“It’s interesting to see all those bands coming in and meeting with bands and artists from here, sharing that love for the words in French.”
He adds that the programming is intentionally built to mix established and emerging acts across genres.
“The idea of the festival is to bring together very well-established artists…and mix them with up-and-coming artists from here and outside.”
Launching summer in Montreal
As one of the city’s first major festivals of the season, the Francos are widely seen as setting the tone for the summer.
Auxéméry described the event as a “nice and fresh start for the whole summer,” pointing to its accessibility.
“I think that Francos sets the tone for the rest of the summer. Two-thirds of the shows are free, so it’s easy to go to Francos.”
Beyond concerts, the festival will feature nightly after-parties across the Quartier des spectacles, with DJs and artists extending performances into the early morning hours. The official closing after-party on June 20 will include a free rap and hip-hop event highlighting connections between France and Quebec.
The event will also host the KENEKT X FRANCOS creative camp from June 15 to 18.
Partnership and cultural impact
Details of the lineup were presented at Maison Rogers in downtown Montreal. Rogers Communications Inc., the parent company of CityNews, is also the festival’s presenting partner.
For Édith Cloutier, regional president for Quebec at Rogers, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting artists and strengthening cultural connections.
“It’s quite exciting because Rogers is presenting Les Francos de Montréal. I think this is such a great festival. It is part of the community. It’s also a stepping stone for artists, local artists. French music is so important as well. So we feel it’s the perfect match,” she said.
She says the festival’s timing and atmosphere help bring people together.
“Quebec is about festivals. But it also feels like it’s the beginning of the summer, so people are excited about it. Music — French music — rallies people and it launches the summer,” she said.
Rogers also plans to introduce interactive elements on the site.
“We are quite active when it comes to activation. Fans can expect a lot on-site. We’ll be using AI. There will be a lot of surprises. But I mean, watch on our website — you’ll see Rogers everywhere. We’ll be very visible. And what’s important to us is we want to make sure that we link people to experiences. So you will see a lot of activations.”
Beyond the audience experience, she highlights the importance of the Francos for artists.
“French music gets people closer. But also think about the artists, you know, the French community, the people that are singers. It’s such an important festival for them. It’s kind of the first step to get on the international front. And it has so much visibility. And it’s all about the experience as well.”
She adds that its broader cultural role remains significant.
“It gets people together. And it also celebrates French music and French culture. I think for everybody that rallies around that, it makes a big difference — in the community, but also in their careers. So it means a lot to be here.”
She says Rogers intends to continue building on the partnership.
“It’s our second year presenting the Francos. We are extremely proud of that partnership. And we grow with the festival. The organizers are very active, and we just want to surprise people, surprise fans. So it is a long collaboration.”
Auxéméry also spoke about the partnership.
“Rogers has been a great partner last year, and I think we have a great relationship that we should continue in the next years, because it’s a natural fit in terms of culture. And yeah, we’re going in the right direction together.”
Countdown underway
With a mix of large-scale concerts, free programming, and late-night events, the 2026 Francos aim to once again draw audiences from across the city and beyond.
Auxéméry says the festival remains highly relevant after 37 years.
“It’s funny because this festival has been around for 37 years. And I think it’s extremely relevant today — musically, artistically, the vibe, the people we gather, the artists and the audience as well. We’re getting younger. The audience renews every year. It’s a different audience coming to the festival. And it’s great to see how people are still very attached to it. It’s like the beginning of summer for Montreal.”
Cloutier says the message to festivalgoers is simple:
“Come and see the festival. It’ll be beautiful.”
Rogers Communications Inc. is the parent company of CityNews.
