ProgStorm Festival has announced its full 18-band lineup for its second edition, running August 21 to 23, 2026, at Club Soda in downtown Montreal. The three-day progressive metal festival adds five more acts than its 2025 debut and brings several rare North American appearances to the city.
Cynic, Car Bomb and Pure Reason Revolution will headline the weekend, with Car Bomb returning to Montreal for the first time in 15 years and Pure Reason Revolution making their first North American appearance in two decades. The lineup also includes two-time Juno Award winners Anciients, along with Vulkan, Wilderun, Greylotus, An Abstract Illusion, Dawn of Ouroboros, Aeternam, Exist, Nospūn, Fractal Sun, Dessiderium, Heaven’s Cry, Hillward, Chronochromie and Sky Passage.
Swedish acts Vulkan and An Abstract Illusion will make their North American debuts at the festival, while American band Nospūn and Costa Rican group Fractal Sun will perform their first Canadian shows. Each night features six bands, with programming spread across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The festival launched in August 2025 with 13 bands and drew attendees from multiple countries. Organizers Jici Lord-Gauthier and Eddy Levitsky positioned the event as Canada’s only festival dedicated exclusively to progressive metal, a niche that sets it apart from broader metal festivals like Heavy Montreal or Quebec City’s Loud As Hell, which feature more varied lineups.
ProgStorm’s expansion comes as specialized metal festivals continue to find audiences in North America despite the genre’s limited mainstream visibility. The festival’s focus on progressive metal, a subgenre known for complex song structures and technical playing, targets a dedicated fan base willing to travel for specific programming.
Tickets are on sale now through the festival’s website. Club Soda, with a capacity of roughly 500, has hosted progressive metal acts regularly over the past two decades, making it a familiar venue for the genre’s touring circuit.
