Festival FONO | GIMS, SOMBR, Alessia Cara, Natasha Bedingfield, Sofi Tukker and many more!

Mar 18
7 min read

GIMS, SOMBR, Alessia Cara, Natasha Bedingfield, Sofi Tukker and many more! : A Bold Lineup for the Third Edition of Festival Fono

Presented by Beneva in collaboration with RBC

Québec, le 18 mars 2026 – From September 10 to 12, 2026, Festival Fono will return to Québec City for a vibrant new edition, presented by Beneva in collaboration with RBC. For three days, Université Laval’s campus will come alive with a lineup featuring close to 40 artists from here and abroad. Led by GIMS, SOMBR, Alessia Cara, Chance Peña, Sofi Tukker, Angus & Julia Stone, Fredz, Natasha Bedingfield and Ariane Moffatt, the 2026 edition promises one last burst of summer across three distinct stages: Vallée Beneva, Boisé Coors Light and Forêt Électro.

“With Fono, we wanted to build much more than a music lineup: a true end-of-summer experience, shaped by a lively site, a strong atmosphere and a distinctly current identity. In just a few editions, the festival has developed a personality all its own, and that is largely thanks to festivalgoers, who embrace that energy and make it their own. We are convinced this new edition will once again win them over,” said Nicolas Racine, President and Chief Executive Officer of BLEUFEU.

“We are extremely proud of this contemporary, urban lineup, which will undoubtedly take Fono to the next level. We set out to build a diverse and carefully structured program in which each stage asserts its own identity while also interacting with the others. The idea is to make room for both major headlining moments and discoveries, in an experience that naturally invites audiences to move from one space to another,” said Louis Bellavance, Vice-President, Content and Artistic Direction.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Fono to our campus for a third year. Since its creation, this festival has further opened our campus to the Quebec community, strengthened our students’ sense of belonging, and fostered innovation through a unique testing ground for interdisciplinary projects. Fono helps make Université Laval a place of learning, connection, discovery, and creation, fully engaged in the cultural and civic life of the region,” said Sophie D’Amours, Rector of Université Laval.

The lineup

Designed to move festivalgoers through a range of atmospheres, this new edition of Fono will unfold across three spaces: Vallée Beneva, the hub for major marquee performances; Boisé Coors Light, a setting for discoveries and more intimate shows; and Forêt Électro, an immersive haven devoted to electronic rhythms. Completely reimagined for 2026, Forêt Électro will come alive from site opening to closing, with two stages and a renewed experience.

Vallée Beneva

On Thursday, September 10, Québec City artist Goodbye Karelle will open the evening with her sensitive, richly textured indie rock, before handing the stage over to Fredz, the new star of French-language rap. The night will culminate with GIMS, a major force on the international Francophone music scene, whose appearance in Québec City is shaping up to be one of the festival’s standout moments.

On Friday, September 11, the spotlight will turn to a decidedly pop-driven evening. Canadian artist Sofia Camara will kick things off, followed by Natasha Bedingfield, a leading figure in British pop known for a string of undeniable hits. Headlining the night, American artist SOMBR, a rising phenomenon in international pop whose popularity continues to soar, will bring the evening to a close. It will mark this global sensation’s first performance in Québec City.

On Saturday, September 12, Montreal artist Meghan Oak will open the festival’s final day. She will be followed by Rymz, a heavyweight of Québec rap, and then Chance Peña, the Texas singer-songwriter and producer whose folk-pop universe is both tender and enveloping. Alessia Cara, one of the most acclaimed Canadian pop artists of her generation, will then close out the night in style.

Boisé Coors Light

Directly across from Vallée Beneva, performances that were previously split between two side-by-side stages will now be presented on a single stage, Boisé Coors Light, in a larger-format setup.

On Thursday, September 10, Marco Ema will open the program with his refined and distinctive songwriting. Brazilian group TechnoBrass will follow with their vibrant instrumental energy, before making way for Ariane Moffatt, an essential figure in Québec pop music.

On Friday, September 11, Laura Schembri will kick off the evening with her indie pop. Festivalgoers will also discover Sebastian Gaskin, an eclectic artist from the First Nations, before welcoming back The Franklin Electric, a well-known band whose folk sound is driven by unifying melodies. The evening will close with Angus & Julia Stone, the iconic Australian duo of the international indie folk scene, who will finally perform in Québec City after more than 20 years of career.

On Saturday, September 12, the stage will come alive starting in the afternoon with Québec City artist Louis-Charles, followed by rising rap artist Kinji00 and Nova Scotian artist Baby Nova. In the evening, Lous and The Yakuza will bring her bold and distinctive artistic vision, before New York duo Sofi Tukker turns the site into an open-air dance floor with their irresistible electro groove.

La Forêt Électro

This year, Forêt Électro expands with programming that will run from site opening through the end of each night, making it a continuously animated space for festivalgoers in search of a playful atmosphere. It will feature several artists from Québec’s electronic music scene, along with a few international guests.

On Thursday, September 10, festivalgoers will find Duppy Grlz, &YOU, Xaviera, LØXEN and Clara D in an organic and enveloping atmosphere. In residence for all three nights of the festival, American duo Polar Bears will close out this first evening with their explosive universe and animalistic presence.

On Friday, September 11, Forêt Électro will come back to life with DJ Lovely, Flytz, Noche, Xaviera, Clara D and Polar Bears, in a sequence of sets driven by sustained pulses beneath the trees.

On Saturday, September 12, the final day will give way to CHVCK, Lily Pita, Theo Feels, Kanatonik, Clara D and Turbine, before the return of Polar Bears, who will bring the night to a close in an atmosphere of dance, energy and freedom.

The After-Hours Shows

After last year’s smash success, Fono is bringing back its After-Hours Shows!

At the end of the night, three secret locations and three mystery artists will invite a handful of lucky contest winners to experience one-of-a-kind moments.

Ticketing

Passes will go on sale on March 18 at noon at festivalfono.com. Before taxes, the 3-day General Admission pass is priced at $149, the 3-day Université Laval student pass at $109, the 3-day Gold Zone pass at $269, and the Gold Zone single-day ticket at $199. These prices are valid until July 31, 2026, after which a price increase will take effect.

+ Conferences: Think, Exchange, Be Inspired

Back in 2026, + Conferences will once again offer, in collaboration with Université Laval, an immersive experience open to all at the heart of Festival Fono. Over two days, this event will bring together voices from a wide range of backgrounds to spark ideas, encourage reflection, and foster dialogue in a spirit of openness, curiosity, and connection. The full program and ticketing details will be announced at a later date.

Research Project

Festival Fono is a living laboratory and fertile ground for a wide variety of research projects. Last year, Sébastien Tremblay, professor at the School of Psychology and director of the Co-DOT laboratory, led a project entitled The Immersive Power of Binaural Sound: A Reinvented Festival Fono Experience. Several festivalgoers encountered Fritz, a striking mannequin head equipped with microphones and a camera to capture performances as a person would from within the crowd.

Beneva, Presenting Sponsor of Festival Fono

“Fono has, in a short time, established itself as a truly unique event: accessible, unifying, and deeply rooted in its community. At Beneva, we believe in the importance of supporting initiatives that bring people together and create meaningful experiences. We are proud to be associated with such an innovative and inspiring festival, one that directly contributes to showcasing the region’s culture and community vitality,” said Louis Philippe Roux, Vice-President, Marketing, Communications and Commercialization at Beneva.

RBC, Proud Collaborating Partner of Festival Fono

“Music festivals are part of Québec’s DNA. That is why we are proud of our partnership with Festival Fono,” said Nicolas Audet-Renoux, Regional Vice-President, Québec and Chaudière-Appalaches, at RBC. “Supporting students and culture are priorities for RBC. The festival, presented by BLEUFEU, takes place on Université Laval’s campus. That synergy amplifies our impact, because it helps advance two essential pillars of the region.”

About BLEUFEU

BLEUFEU, an event organizer and concert promoter, is on a mission to create festive and inspiring experiences for all music fans. BLEUFEU plays a key role in Québec City’s cultural economy, bringing together more than 1,750,000 fans from near and far each year and generating the sale of more than 200,000 tickets. The organization is behind iconic events such as the Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ), Toboggan – New Year’s Eve Celebrations, Festival Fono, and St-Roch XP, while also presenting year-round programming at its two concert venues, l’Impérial Bell and Grizzly Fuzz. Proudly rooted in the Saint-Roch neighbourhood, BLEUFEU actively contributes to its economic vitality, with close to one hundred employees working there, while further strengthening its role as a leading cultural hub.

About BLEUFEU

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