(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
Spanning 11 days with over 150 acts and shockingly affordable passes, Festival D’été de Québec is the Quebecois music scene’s crown jewel. This year was another massively successful rendition of the festival, bringing tens of thousands of fans to stages around the city each evening to witness a wide variety of stars.
The one-of-a-kind fest continued last week, with a fascinating lineup of local and international stars. Wednesday night brought out the big guns, with a headlining performance from Kesha, who performed #1 hits and heartfelt ballads alike, preceded by Jamaican music superstar Shaggy and emo-pop standard-bearers All-American Rejects, while Americana all-stars Lord Huron performed on the Loto-Québec Stage. Thursday night was similarly star-studded, with a bill topped by Gwen Stefani, who stunned with her career-spanning set that ranged from No Doubt classics to Neptunes-produced bangers. Acclaimed American country star Nate Smithand rising Canadian pop sensation Jessie Reyez also made their presences felt.
FEQ always attracts international names, but one of the things that makes the festival so special is its focus on Canadian and Quebecois acts to appeal to music fans from Québec City and the surrounding region. The French-speaking province is home to a vibrant community of rock, folk, and other musicians, and the fans revere their favorite local artists just as much as any international hitmaker. On Monday, the headliner was Souldia, a popular rapper from the Limoilou neighborhood in Québec City, and his joy playing for tens of thousands of fans in his hometown was palpable. Tuesday brought Polaris Prize-winning folk rocker Patrick Watson, known for his haunting falsetto, who moved the crowd to tears with his emotional ballads.
The Festival saved some of its biggest acts for the weekend. On Friday night, the crowd at the Plains of Abraham witnessed a supermassive performance by UK rockers Muse, who performed at the festival for the first time. Muse led a guitar-heavy night that also featured Aussie indie poppers Royel Otis, popular Canadian indie band Mother Mother, and acclaimed avant-pop act No Joy. Saturday night was the festival’s famed EDM night, headlined by Martin Garrix, who capped off a night of nonstop dancing and dazzling lights. Those looking for counter-programming, and perhaps reminisce about their days playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater, could witness ska veterans Goldfinger on the Loto-Québec Stage. On the final night, Jelly Roll took the stage, the country crossover superstar expressing his gratitude for the sold out crowd as he played his radio-conquering hits.
Since 1968, FEQ has bucked trends, selling out within minutes and providing fans with a bespoke experience, featuring music that can please fans of all stripes. The affordable, neighborhood-friendly festival delivers an event suitable for all ages, with transferrable tickets offered at a reasonable price, and a festive atmosphere that pervades beautiful Québec City for 11 days. Stay tuned for next year, as the festival nears its 60th anniversary.
Check out FEQ’s Instagram for additional highlights from the festival.
View photos of FEQ 2026 at this link (please credit photographers “FEQ/photographer name”): https://festivaldetedequebec.pixieset.com/festivaldetedequebec2026/
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Dylan Page)
(Credit: FEQ / Sam Billington)
(Credit: FEQ / Sam Billington)
(Credit: FEQ / Marion Desjardins)
(Credit: FEQ / Dylan Page)
(Credit: FEQ / Dylan Page)
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastien Dion)
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastien Dion)
(Credit: FEQ / Sam Billington)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Marion Desjardins)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastien Dion)
(Credit: FEQ / Marion Desjardins)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastien Dion)
(Credit: FEQ / Marion Desjardins)
(Credit: FEQ / Dylan Page)
“I put it up there with Coachella, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands – it’s in the conversation as a top five festival in North America, for sure.” – Pollstar
“With their passion for their city and music at the centre of their plans, it’s safe to say the festival won’t be a hidden gem for long.” – NME
“Beyond the lineup, FEQ stands above other Canadian festivals of the same capacity when it comes to accessibility thanks to easy walkability from different stages, as well as access to and from the city. It’s situated amongst various parks and greenery, creating a perfect balance of modern stage design and outdoors beauty. ” – Consequence
“FEQ in Quebec will be your new favorite music festival…With the proliferation of music festivals here in North America and throughout the world, the choice of where to spend one’s money and time to see the artists you love is not an easy one. Based on the brief experience I had at the fest, I daresay that FEQ might be your best bet.” – Paste
“The result was a festival that remained impressive—in terms of both the fashion and the music—for the entire duration of its 12-day run. We can’t wait to see who graces the stage, and the audience, next year.” – Forbes
“Nested in the pure and bliss city of Quebec, the famed Festival d’été de Québec, stands as the apex of Canadian festival culture, dominating its industry since its beginning in 1968.” – Clash Magazine
“Surmise to say that Festival d’été de Québec is a gorgeously grassroots affair: created for the enjoyment of the province’s population, curated with a well-conceptualised human touch, and consummated by the wonderfully joyous people of the city.” – The Line of Best Fit
“Held annually in the provincial capital of la belle province since 1968, Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) is one of Canada’s largest live music events: a world class experience that plays host to a genre-diverse collection of emerging artists and international stars alike.” – Exclaim!
About FEQ
In the heart of Quebec City, the Festival d’été de Québec welcomes international icons, rising stars and emerging artists of all musical genres.
Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) is a music festival managed by a non-for-profit organization, right in the heart of Québec City. With five stages located in the historic part of Quebec City, the most imposing of which is on the Plains of Abraham, the event takes place in a unique setting. The FEQ offers more than 150 shows of all genres, from the biggest headliners in the world to the emerging scene, and has been getting hundreds of thousands of festival-goers dancing and singing since 1968. For 11 consecutive evenings, the city center resembles a real urban and open-air celebration. The FEQ is an accessible and safe gathering, a truly immersive experience in Quebec music and culture.
About BLEUFEU
BLEUFEU is an event organizer and show promoter that presents festive and inspiring experiences, including the Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ), Toboggan – New Year’s Evenings and St-Roch XP, in addition to presenting hundreds of shows throughout the year at the Imperial Bell and a new showroom opening soon. The new umbrella brand will oversee the various existing NPOs, which already have a reputation in the industry for the quality of its productions. BLEUFEU has more than sixty permanent employees and recruits over 500 contract workers each year, in addition to hundreds of volunteers. Visit BLEUFEU.com for more information.
Links:
official site | tiktok | facebook | youtube | instagram
Visit the FEQ website for FAQs and tickets: https://www.feq.ca/en