Francos de Montréal opens with Marie-Mai, ambitious 2026 lineup
Festival kicks off Friday with free outdoor shows. Marie-Mai delivers nostalgia-heavy set; Kassav', Émile Bilodeau also featured.
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The Francos de Montréal opened Friday with downtown crowds, free performances, and a lineup organizers are calling one of the festival's most ambitious yet.
Quebec pop star Marie-Mai headlined the opening night, delivering a set blending fan favourites from her 20-plus-year career with new material. She performed in front of a large outdoor crowd near Place des Arts, moving through the audience as she sang.
"It's going to be like 24 years since I started, and I mean, it's always special," Marie-Mai said about returning to the festival. "You have to perform at Francofolies every cycle if you can, if you have that privilege."
Festival programming director Maurin Auxéméry described the 2026 edition as reflecting both the scale and diversity of Francophone music today. The programming balances accessibility with artistic development, he said, with a strong focus on nostalgia, rap culture, and international Francophone talent.
The festival runs through the weekend with over 150 free shows across downtown venues. Other performers include Antillean zouk group Kassav' and Madelinot songwriter Émile Bilodeau. The festival continues to draw artists and audiences from across Quebec and beyond.