Quebec City’s alternative music festival Le Phoque OFF has unveiled its full lineup for 2026, and Montreal’s underground scene is out in force. The 12th edition runs February 13-21 across the capital, with a substantial Montreal contingent among the roughly 100 artists set to perform. The festival’s dual format splits between headline shows and 20-minute showcase sets, a structure that’s helped Le Phoque OFF build its reputation as a launchpad for emerging Quebec and Canadian artists since 2015.
Montreal acts appear across both streams. Electronic collective Moonshine headlines one of the festival nights, while Robert Robert will launch new album Boost during the nine-day run. French-born, Montreal-based avant-pop artist Hélène Barbier brings her third record Panorama to the proceedings. Le Winston Band deliver their French-Canadian-meets-Cajun mardi gras sound, promising one of the festival’s rowdier nights. But the real draw lies in the showcase component, where emerging Montreal artists get 20 minutes to make their case to industry delegates and music fans willing to take a chance on something new.
Five Montreal Artists Worth Catching
Afternoon Bike Ride arrive as one of the festival’s most anticipated acts. The three-piece have been generating serious buzz in Montreal’s indie circuit, and their showcase slot offers a rare chance to catch them outside the city before wider recognition hits.
N Nao works the experimental pop lane with a sound that defies easy categorization. Her approach to songwriting favours atmosphere and texture over conventional pop structures, making her showcase set one of the festival’s more adventurous options.
Sankya brings dancehall-flavoured R&B that bridges Montreal’s Caribbean communities with contemporary urban sounds. Her vocal approach and production choices suggest an artist carving out distinct territory in Quebec’s francophone music landscape.
Jazz artist Olivia Khoury won Jazz EP of the Year at the 2023 GAMIQ awards, giving her showcase set added weight. Her presence in the lineup reflects Le Phoque OFF’s genre-agnostic programming philosophy.
Bye Parula deliver retro cinematic indie dream pop, the kind of sound that benefits from the festival’s intimate venue settings. Their aesthetic leans into vintage production textures without tipping into pastiche.
The showcase program also features DIY indie rocker Jeremie Lachance and indie-psych duo Wizaard. A dedicated rap showcase at L’Anti Bar & Spectacles on February 16 brings together Kamilou, Na$-T, SLM, and Jashim. Access to all showcase nights costs $40 via the Discovery Pass. The festival runs its industry PRO program alongside the public shows, with panels addressing artificial intelligence, diversity in programming, and Indigenous realities in the music sector.
