Montreal’s AfroMonde Festival returns to the Old Port from August 22 to 24, bringing its 17th edition to the Quai de l’Horloge with a program reflecting its mission to promote multiculturalism and intercultural exchange. Under the 2025 theme “Harmony,” the event will combine music, visual arts, gastronomy, fashion, and technology in an open-air celebration of cultural diversity.
The festival’s main stage will feature a range of Pan-African and Afro-descendant artists. Opening night includes performances by Racoon and Montreal producer High Klassified. Saturday’s lineup features rapper Zach Zoya and Vibe Benders, while Sunday’s closing concert will spotlight Haitian-Canadian musician Wesli alongside DJ Bullet. Earlier each evening, audiences can expect sets from artists such as Jeekay, the Senegalese Choir of Montreal, and Plame OKT.
Beyond the music, AfroMonde offers themed zones highlighting food, fashion, dance, and technology. Visitors can explore handicrafts, textile work, and visual art, as well as an international food market blending local traditions with global flavours. Family-friendly activities run throughout the weekend, offering a space where different cultures can meet through shared experiences.
The festival’s closing event, the AfroMonde Carnival, takes place on Sunday, August 24, from 3 to 4 p.m. The parade will highlight Barbados as its guest country and feature music, dance, and costume displays that reflect the range of communities represented at the festival.
This year marks a new collaboration with Fiesta Sabor Latina, adding a significant Latin American presence to the food zone and carnival programming. Festival entry remains free, with optional $3 supporter passes offering discounts with exhibitors and contributing to the event’s mission of supporting local artisans and cultural initiatives.
The AfroMonde Foundation, which organizes the festival, will formally introduce this year’s edition during a press conference on August 7 at Studio Giovanelli. The evening will include a discussion panel, Q&A session with the media, and a networking reception hosted by DJ PSteph. CIBC, a major festival partner, will speak on the importance of funding small businesses within the local cultural sector.
Seventeen years in, AfroMonde remains a fixture of Montreal’s summer calendar, continuing to create spaces where art, music, and community intersect.
Photo – Phil Latour
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