Festivals
îLESONIQ In The City & îLESONIQ Afterparties Take Over Montreal On Festival Weekend
A decade in the making and over 500,000 fans strong, îLESONIQ, presented by Virgin Plus in collaboration with Beach Day, has become a cornerstone of Montréal’s vibrant summer music scene. Now that you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with the full schedule for this landmark 10th edition, it’s time to announce the îLESONIQ parties! The celebration expands beyond Parc Jean-Drapeau, with îLESONIQ in the City kicking things off on August 8 at several venues downtown. Over the course of the weekend, a series of official îLESONIQ Afterparties will keep the energy alive well into the night.
This 10th anniversary of îLESONIQ is a testament to the passion and loyalty of our community. Together, we’ve built something extraordinary—a festival that continues to set the standard for electronic music in Canada and beyond. Mark your calendars and join us in celebrating a decade of unforgettable memories, world-class talent, and the unbeatable energy that makes îLESONIQ so special.
For those looking to get their groove on early, the îLESONIQ team has put together a dynamite selection of performances in the form of îLESONIQ in the City on August 8 in various venues across the city, which will see some of the world’s leading DJs take over some of the hottest spots in Montréal.
Montréal is known for keeping the party going all night long, and this year’s îLESONIQ Afterparties are shaping up to be epic gatherings, providing a citywide home for nocturnal souls whose sole mission is to dance the night away! Non-stop parties, featuring top talent DJs and performers.
This year, the festival site has levelled up to maximize the festivalgoer’s experience with an all-new immersive L-acoutics sound setup at the Coca-Cola NEON stage! By the numbers, the 2025 edition of îLESONIQ is impressive to say the least – with 320 speakers & surround sound system, 124 subwoofers, 18 delay towers, 20 lasers, 32 cryo jet CO2 blasters, 6 bubble machines, 32 flame generators and much much more!
Tickets for îLESONIQ’s 10th edition are already on sale at ilesoniq.com.
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – Kaytranada
The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE closed out another memorable week on Sunday with the biggest match in world football and a fitting musical finale. Fans packed the site well before kickoff, creating a sea of jerseys, flags, and face paint as they gathered to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. Every big chance was met with gasps and cheers, and when Spain secured the victory, the celebrations spread across the festival grounds as supporters soaked in the final moments of a month-long tournament.
There was little time for the excitement to settle before the day’s entertainment shifted from football to live music. Montreal’s Kaytranada took over the Amphitheatre stage, giving fans one last reason to keep the energy going after the trophy presentation. Known for blending house, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music into a sound that feels uniquely his own, Kaytranada delivered exactly the kind of set the festival needed to close the weekend.
With Spain crowned world champions and Kaytranada providing the soundtrack to the celebration, the FIFA Fan Festival wrapped up another successful day at the PNE. It was a reminder that throughout the tournament, football and music proved to be the perfect combination, bringing thousands of people together to celebrate on and off the pitch.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
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All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – The Dead South, Jesse Roper, Colin James
The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE Grounds delivered another full day of football and live music on Saturday, July 18, as fans packed the site to watch the FIFA World Cup third-place match before spending the afternoon discovering Canadian talent across the festival stages.
The day opened with one last piece of World Cup drama before the tournament finale. England defeated France in the third-place match, giving English supporters plenty to celebrate before the music began. Groups wearing England shirts could be spotted throughout the grounds after the final whistle, adding to the lively atmosphere that has become a daily feature of the Fan Festival.
Once the football wrapped up, the focus shifted to the Amphitheatre and Park Stage. Vancouver’s own Jesse Roper was among the first artists we caught, bringing his signature blues-rock sound to an enthusiastic crowd. His guitar work and easy stage presence made for a strong start to the afternoon, with plenty of fans gathering in front of the stage despite a full day of entertainment still ahead.
Over on the Park Stage, Canadian blues-rock legend Colin James reminded everyone why he has remained one of the country’s most respected performers for decades. His set mixed polished musicianship with plenty of groove, drawing listeners of all ages who appreciated every guitar solo and familiar chorus.
The Dead South closed out the day. The Saskatchewan quartet’s blend of bluegrass, folk and country proved to be a perfect fit for the outdoor setting. Fans sang along, clapped in time and danced throughout the performance.
With the World Cup final less than 24 hours away, there was already a sense that the tournament was nearing its conclusion. Even so, July 18 showed that the FIFA Fan Festival remained much more than a place to watch football. It continued to bring together sport, live music and community in a way that has made it one of Vancouver’s standout events of the summer.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE DEAD SOUTH
JESSE ROPER
COLIN JAMES
FANS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer