Francos 2026 lineup heavy on new French talent

The 37th Francos de Montréal kicks off this weekend with a noticeably fresh roster of French and Francophone artists—a deliberate shift in programming that reflects both the festival's ambition and the city's listening habits.

Festival programmers invited a record number of new European talents this year, a move that mirrors what Montreal audiences are actually tuning into. Around 20 emerging French artists will perform on outdoor stages—names like Danyl, St Graal, Myra, Luiza, Zélie, Georgio, and LinLin. That's roughly 10 percent more Francophone artists outside Quebec than last year.

Maurin Auxéméry, the festival's programming director, credits Montreal's cultural mix for shaping the lineup. "The Francos reflect a bit of what's happening here in Montreal," he said. "We benefit from an incredible blend of different cultures, and that's been true for a long time. All these cultural influences feed Montreal, and I think the Francos programming is a reflection of that."

The shift started with the festival's success revealing emerging talent in recent years—Zaho de Sagazan two years ago, Theodora last year. This year's bet on new names represents the festival's confidence that Montreal crowds will discover the next big thing.

Established acts remain: Julien Clerc, Laurent Voulzy, rappers Orelsan and Disiz, plus legendary zouk band Kassav' and Réunion-based shatta stars P.L.L. The festival also aims to fill a quarter of the full lineup with international talent, recognizing that excellent French-language music is made everywhere.

The outdoor programming runs through the weekend, with performances across multiple stages throughout the festival grounds.