POP Montreal has announced its initial lineup for the festival’s 24th edition, with 63 performers set to take the stage from September 24 to 28, 2025. Over 60 of the acts scheduled to perform at the 24th edition of POP, from Sept. 24 to 28, were announced today.
The five-day festival continues its tradition of showcasing established international artists and emerging talent across multiple venues in Montreal’s Mile End neighbourhood and surrounding areas. This year’s first wave announcement includes several notable names that signal the festival’s commitment to genre diversity and artistic discovery.
Among the marquee acts is Mercury Prize-nominated Irish folk band Lankum, making their Montreal debut with their distinctive blend of traditional Irish music and contemporary influences. The Dublin quartet, whose 2023 album False Lankum earned them critical acclaim and a spot on the prestigious UK awards shortlist, represents the kind of boundary-pushing act that has become synonymous with POP Montreal’s programming philosophy.
The festival will also feature veteran Toronto post-rock outfit Do Make Say Think, whose instrumental compositions have influenced a generation of musicians. Their return to Montreal comes at a time when post-rock has experienced renewed interest among younger audiences. Similarly, Michel Pagliaro, the Quebec singer-songwriter who achieved success in both French and English markets during the 1970s, offers a connection to Montreal’s rich musical heritage.
International representation spans continents with acts like Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, who bring Moroccan Gnawa music traditions to the festival, and DAM, the pioneering Palestinian hip-hop group known for their politically charged lyrics and fusion of Arabic musical elements with contemporary rap production.
The electronic music contingent includes Belgium’s Bolis Pupul, whose work draws from early techno pioneers and Japanese electronic innovators like Yellow Magic Orchestra. This reflects POP Montreal’s ongoing commitment to presenting electronic music that challenges conventional dance floor expectations.
Local Montreal talent features prominently with Annie-Claude Deschênes’ solo project. Known for her work with avant-garde groups Duchess Says and PyPy, Deschênes represents the city’s experimental music scene that has long been a festival cornerstone. The celebration of DuPrince Records’ 10th anniversary, featuring Hawa B, Les Shirley, and Jesuslesfilles, highlights the underground label’s role in nurturing Montreal’s independent music community.
Other notable inclusions are 4AD artists U.S. Girls, returning with material from their latest album Scratch It, and shoegaze act No Joy, whose five-year absence from recording has made their new material particularly anticipated. Isabella Lovestory’s reggaeton-influenced pop adds another dimension to the festival’s genre spectrum.
The announcement arrives as POP Montreal continues to establish itself as a crucial platform for artists operating outside mainstream commercial frameworks. Festival programmers have consistently demonstrated an ability to identify emerging talent before their wider breakthrough, a reputation that has made the event essential viewing for industry professionals and music enthusiasts alike.
Additional programming details for Film POP, Art POP, Kids POP, and the POP Symposium conferences will be announced in coming months, maintaining the festival’s multidisciplinary approach that has distinguished it from purely music-focused events.
Tickets and venue information are available through the festival’s official website, with additional artist announcements expected as the September dates approach.
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