POP Montreal is back for its 24th edition. What a miracle! They are pleased to announce their full lineup, featuring numerous découvertes, a few secret shows, a few pop-up shows, a parade, a Kiki Ball, and a couple of legends as well!
What is POP Montreal?
POP Montreal International Music Festival is an annual not-for-profit curated cultural event that champions independence in the Arts by presenting emerging and celebrated artistic talent from around the world.
Launched by friends and colleagues in 2002 from an impulse to create meaningful and vibrant experiences in the city, the non-profit festival is now a fixture in the Montreal festival circuit and the international music scene.
2025 Highlights include Annie-Claude Deschênes (Duchess Says, PyPy) – The solo project of the iconic avant-garde Montreal artist, Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou – The foremost female ambassador of Moroccan Gnawa music, performing for the first time in North America, Bolis Pupul – Think early Mr. Fingers-like techno and Yellow Magic Orchestra’s exuberant man-machine minimalism, Chanel Beads – a dream druggy pop bliss, DAM – The pioneers of Palestinian hip hop, Do Make Say Think – Toronto post-rock misfits who are returning to Montreal, Isabella Lovestory – The Reggaeton perro-pop provocateur, Lankum – The Montreal debut by the mythical Mercury Prize-nominated drone folk Irish band, Michel Pagliaro – The legend and Top 40 hitmaker en français and English, Múm – The Icelandic indie electronica experimentalists are back, to present their 7th studio album, out this September. First new album in 12 years! Don’t miss this iconic show! No Joy – Montreal shoegaze stars are back with their first new album in 5 years, QUAL – Dark wave chaos to burn the dance floor. Dress code: wear black. Ribbon Skirt – Led by Anishinaabe musician Tashiina Buswa, Ribbon Skirt just reached the 2025 Polaris Prize short list with their debut album Bite Down. U.S. Girls – 4AD pop mavericks led by Meg Remy return in support of their last album, Scratch It.
Rooftop Shows:
– Rialto rooftop: La Force and Billianne + a SURPRISE show
– Taverne Atlantic rooftop: a SECRET show reserved for festival pass holders
– Ubisoft rooftop: Angine de Poitrine, reserved for festival pass holders and winners of the Ubisoft contest (find the QR code on posters in the Mile-End as of the beginning of September!!!)
Album Launches
Album launches by local artists include Sarah Rossy (with Christian Sean and Naïka Champagne), Pompey, Mint Simon, Meggie Lennon, Hanorah, lots of showcases including presentations by ISLAS Productions, Next Door Records, Second Summer Festival, Struck Productions, Paper Bag Records, Kickdrum, Pique, Venus Fest, Bonbonbon et Du Prince,who celebrate their 10th anniversary with a stellar bill featuring Hawa B, Les Shirley and Jesuslesfilles.
What’s new this year at POP Montreal
New venues: Please note that we won’t be holding any events at l’Entrepôt 77 (except for Fashion PUP), but we will be hosting several pop-up concerts at new venues, including Taverne Atlantic, Bar Wills, and the Ubisoft rooftop.
Fashion PUP festival edition at Entrepôt 77 on Sept 28 from 2 pm to 4 pm
Fashion PUP! Where your dog is the star! Join Sandy Bridges, with DJ support by LaFHomme, and all the other dogs in town for some playful competition on the theme “Nautical”.
Art POP at Espace POP from Sept 27 to Sept 28, a 24-hour closed-door performance withVelours Velours (and guests: Safia Nolin, Lumière, Étienne Coppée…).
Also with Art POP in co-presentation with PHI, “SPACE IS THE PLACE” Wednesday, Sep 24, Avant-jazz mystic Sun Ra brought his pioneering Afrofuturist vision to the screen with this film version of his concept album. This projection is presented in parallel with the exhibition Josèfa Ntjam: swell of spæc(i)es, from September 10 to January 11, 2026 at PHI.
Film POP will be screening films at both Cinéma Public and Cinéma Moderne with Köln 75,the story of Vera Brandes, who staged the famous Köln Concert by jazz musician Keith Jarrett.
Monk in Pieces, a biopic about composer and performer Meredith Monk.
Flore Laurentienne, The End and the Beginning, a sober immersion into a work that slows down time…
Dancer In The Dark, for the 25th anniversary of Lars von Trier’s cult film with Björk.
Not to be missed:
Comedy POP: 2nd edition on Sunday, Sept 28 at Rialto Theatre
A POP favourite, the Mile End Parade, presented by SiriusXM on Sunday, Sept 28
POP Symposium: our music industry-related hot topics, including Ribbon Skirt Artist Talk, Navigating Borders While Trans, Montreal Nightlife Policy Roundtable, What’s Next For Radio? and more…
The Kiki Ball: on Saturday, Sept 27 at Rialto Theater
The Record Fair: taking place at Bar WILLS on Saturday, Sept 27
Puces POP festival edition: from Friday, Sept 26 to Sunday, Sept 28 at Église Saint-Denis
POP Montreal is a registered charity. “We are grateful for any donations, which will help ensure that POP Montreal continues to support artists and connect them with audiences,” reads their about section.
Along with the fall festival POP collaborates with community partners to produce hundreds of cultural events each year and offers many free and affordable events in accessible public spaces.
POP Montreal is proud to say that it has been listening to every artist that applies to the festival since its creation 23 years ago. Year after year, music curators, musicians, and professionals get together for listening sessions to vote. These outstanding submissions make up a central portion of the festival’s programming.
All reservations, concert info, tickets and passes on www.popmontreal.com.
lead photo Albert Dalton
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