All Images & Text: Madison Truscan. Follow Madison on Instagram here.
OSHEAGA’s 19th edition was the best year yet, and it wasn’t just because of the star-studded lineup. Montréal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau was transformed from a lush park on an island to a vibrant hub of music and community. Every detail was thoughtfully curated, from the brand activations to the infamous ferris wheel, the intentional stage layouts to the delicious food vendors, and more. Fashion was a spectacle of its own, with leopard print booty shorts and rain-ready plastic ponchos equally sharing the spotlight (we’re looking at you, Tate McRae fans). Even the unpredictable weather became part of the experience, creating moments of strangers dancing together in the rain instead of running for cover. It was three days of muddy shoes, unforgettable sets from nearly 90 artists, and memories made with new friends from all over the U.S and Canada, further proving that OSHEAGA is set apart from every other music festival.
Friday’s highlights included DFW legend Leon Bridges presenting his soon to be released funk-inspired album, Happiness Anywhere. British indie-rock band Wet Leg performed classics like Wet Dream and Chaise Longue. Fans swooned over Blood Orange’s genre-bending sound and sheer musical talent. Night one closed out with an emotional and raw performance from Twenty One Pilots. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun created an intimate environment amongst the massive crowd, along with added pyro and insane lighting to really end Friday with a bang.
Saturday’s highlights included a heartfelt set from American indie rock and folk band Mt. Joy. Lead singer Matt Quinn closed out with a message to fans that “Art is HUMAN”, and to “not let a computer be your voice”. In a world that’s shoving AI down our throats from every direction, it felt immensely refreshing to see a band and an artist use their captivated audience to spread such a powerful message. Next was sombr, whose set was perhaps the most memorable of the weekend. The viral sensation spray painted “sombr loves Montréal” on a flag and ran off the Scene de la Montagne stage, all the way around to the Bell River stage and onto the catwalk, interacting with thousands of fans, giving hugs, handshakes and signing CDs. He concluded his set by performing “12 to 12” two times in a row, for reasons left up to our imagination. Following sombr was pop diva Tate McRae, who teased her fourth album and new era. Her set design, choreography and dancers were by far the most phenomenal of the weekend, with every move seemingly enhancing her vocals. The age range of fans was extremely diverse and further proved that age doesn’t matter when it comes to loving music – icons love icons.
Sunday’s highlights started with indie synth-pop sibling duo BETWEEN FRIENDS, who didn’t let the pouring rain stop their fans from belting every lyric at the top of their lungs. The acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter CMAT took the stage later, kicking off her set with an emotionally honest statement, “Our keyboardist has food poisoning. We’ve been awake since 4am. The airline lost all of our luggage… and I kind of want to die”. Despite her grievances, the set was eccentric, quirky, and overflowing with “Euro Country” energy. Despite the dark clouds, Zara Larsson soon brought the sunshine and European summer to Montréal. Zara not only has a beautiful voice, but is an INSANE performer, with choreography worthy of an encore. Lorde wrapped up the weekend with the most captivating performance, balancing understated intimacy with an arena-level stage presence. Her set flowed seamlessly from 2013 classics to songs from her newest album, Virgin. Every older Gen Z and younger millennial got emotional, and you couldn’t help but jump and scream at the top of your lungs hearing Ribs live.
All in all, OSHEAGA 2026 was one for the books, and we’re thrilled to see how OSHEAGA and the entire city of Montréal will celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2027 – bigger and better than ever before.
