Montreal in spring has a way of flipping from slush to spark almost overnight, and Pouzza Fest tends to mark the moment the city’s punk scene properly wakes up. The long-running festival returns May 15 to 17, 2026, bringing more than 150 bands to downtown venues and the outdoor stage at the Parterre du Quartier des Spectacles. It remains one of the few events that still feels wired into the city’s DIY culture, treating community like something lived rather than marketed.
The 2026 edition comes stacked with headliners that capture the festival’s mix of legacy acts and restless newcomers. PUP, Buzzcocks, Bedouin Soundclash, Baroness, and The Planet Smashers top the bill, a lineup that swings from classic punk to horn-driven ska to heavy, melodic metal. Seeing Buzzcocks‘ name on the poster feels like a long-awaited gift for Montreal fans who missed their earlier runs, while PUP‘s return to home turf is practically a civic event. The Planet Smashers, longtime staples of the local scene, bring the hometown energy that keeps the festival rooted.
The poster shows just how many anniversaries are landing on the same weekend. The Sainte Catherines mark 20 years of Dancing for Decadence, Cancer Bats celebrate 20 years as a band, and Home Front keep building on the momentum from their recent post-punk work. The undercard runs deep with everything from Dave Hause & The Mermaid to Pinkshift, Blood Command, Tigers Jaw, and Laura Stevenson, proof that Pouzza has grown far beyond its scrappy beginnings while staying true to what it started as. Montreal names like Weakened Friends and Bars keep the local talent front and centre.
As always, the festival spreads across multiple downtown venues within easy walking distance, which has quietly become part of its charm. That setup pushes fans into the same streets, the same bars, the same sidewalk conversations, and that’s often where Pouzza’s real magic happens. For newcomers, the Parterre outdoor stage offers a free entry point into the weekend, surrounded by food, skating, comedy, and mid-set dance circles that only seem to happen here. The all-ages policy continues to be one of Pouzza’s strongest moves, proof that punk scenes stay healthy by letting people in, not locking them out.
Pup photo – Kieron Yates
Share this :
