Festival Fono Unveils the Full Fono Conferences Lineup

May 7
5 min read

Festival Fono Unveils the Full Fono Conferences Lineup

Two days of conferences offering fresh perspectives on today’s realities

Québec City, May 7, 2026 — Festival Fono presented by Beneva, in collaboration with RBC, today unveils the full lineup for Fono Conferences, taking place September 10 and 11 at Université Laval’s Pavillon Alphonse Desjardins. This one-of-a-kind event, held at the heart of a music festival, will bring together leading voices from business, sports, politics, culture, technology and academia. Featured guests include Geoff Molson, in conversation with Alain Crête; Bruno Marchand, in conversation with Pénélope McQuade; Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, in conversation with Alexane Drolet; Laurent Dubreuil and Frank Pons, in conversation with Geneviève Tardif; Tasha Kheiriddin and Thierry Rodon, in conversation with Émilie Dubreuil; as well as Chris Bergeron, Carl Honoré and Fred Colantonio.

"Fresh Perspectives"

Through a series of talks, panels and conversations presented over two days, Fono Conferences invites audiences to meet people who, through their journeys and in response to today’s realities, choose to see things differently and bring forward new ideas. Researchers, entrepreneurs, visionaries and public figures will share perspectives that challenge assumptions, open up dialogue and offer new ways of approaching today’s world.

“Fono is a growing festival, and Fono Conferences supports that ambition. By expanding the experience beyond music, we want to build a distinctive gathering that brings people together around ideas, encounters and discovery. This is an important step in the development vision we are pursuing for Fono,” said Nicolas Racine, President and CEO of BLEUFEU.

Université Laval Rector Sophie D’Amours states: “An impact-driven university like Université Laval is a place where ideas collide. Fono Conférences offers a unique opportunity to bring research into a public event and help spark new ideas. Franck Pons and Thierry Rodon, two Université Laval professors recognized by their peers, will exchange with leaders from a range of disciplines to reflect on major societal issues. It’s an invitation for everyone to come together on campus!”

“With Fono Conferences, we want to create a different kind of gathering: a place where ideas move in many directions, where journeys inspire, and where people can meet in a setting that is less conventional than a traditional business conference. It is also a wonderful opportunity to bring together worlds that are not always naturally associated, to spark meaningful encounters and to nourish our thinking and creativity in a different way,” added Louis Bellavance, Vice-President, Content and Artistic Direction at BLEUFEU.

September 10 Lineup

Opening Conference — Bell presents: The Weight of a Name, the Strength of One’s Choices

With Geoff Molson, President and CEO, Groupe CH

In conversation with Alain Crête, journalist and sports host

Carrying a name associated with a major Quebec institution, Geoff Molson chose to forge his own path. An inspiring conference on choices, responsibility and the courage to define oneself beyond family legacy.

Panel — RBC presents: Building a Sustainable Sports System: A Winning Choice for Society

With Laurent Dubreuil, Olympic medallist speed skater, and Frank Pons, Dean of FSA ULaval and Professor of Marketing

Moderated by Geneviève Tardif, journalist and sports host

What if sport were not an expense, but one of the most profitable investments for our society? This conference offers an insightful look at the human, social and economic impacts of the sports system, showing how investment from grassroots to elite levels can become a truly winning choice for all.

Conference — Turning Setbacks into Strength: Lessons from Rock Legends

With Fred Colantonio, rock’n’roll criminologist and international speaker

Drawing inspiration from rock legends, Fred Colantonio, an internationally recognized speaker, offers a fresh perspective on leadership, team cohesion and the resilience needed to fully own who we are and succeed collectively. An energizing conference on embracing change, turning resistance into opportunity and sustainably mobilizing people around ambitious challenges.

Closing Conference — Reinventing to Take Action: From Community Roots to Municipal Leadership

With Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Québec City

In conversation with Pénélope McQuade, host

Reinventing to take action means transforming a commitment rooted in the community sector into a new path of impact. An inspiring conference in which Bruno Marchand reflects on his personal journey, from community work to municipal leadership, and on the courage to reinvent oneself in order to continue serving the common good.

September 11 Programming

Opening Conference — Beneva presents: From the Field to the Human

With Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, physician, entrepreneur and former NFL player

In conversation with Alexane Drolet, journalist and creator of the Alexplique platform

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif shares a journey where athletic performance meets personal and social commitment. An inspiring conference on leadership, resilience and the choice to redefine success by placing people at the heart of action.

Panel — Northern Sovereignty: Issues, Responsibilities and Perspectives

With Tasha Kheiriddin, political analyst and communications strategist, and Thierry Rodon, Professor of Political Science and expert on Northern issues

Moderated by Émilie Dubreuil, Radio-Canada journalist

A direct and human conversation in which each speaker shares their perspective on the Far North to shed light on current geopolitical issues. The discussion opens a dialogue on an increasingly coveted territory, shaped by tensions, diverging interests and sometimes opposing visions. Together, they help us better understand what it means today to protect, inhabit and represent the North, at a time when the race for this territory is intensifying.

Conference — Writing Tomorrow Through AI and Fiction

With Chris Bergeron, creative strategist, digital leader and speaker

At the crossroads of fiction and artificial intelligence, Chris Bergeron offers a stimulating reflection on how AI can transform storytelling while respecting human creativity and inclusion. An inspiring conference to rethink the writing of tomorrow, explore the ethical issues of human-machine co-creation and preserve the soul of the stories that bring us together.

Closing Conference — Classe Affaires FSA ULaval presents: The Hidden Power of Slowing Down

With Carl Honoré, author, speaker and spokesperson for the Slow Movement

A TED speaker and leading voice of the Slow Movement, Carl Honoré invites us to rethink our relationship with time in a world addicted to speed. An engaging and impactful conference on discovering how slowness can become a powerful lever for performance, clarity and longevity, by knowing when to slow down… and when to accelerate.

Tickets

Full programming details and tickets are available now at fonoconferences.com. Capacity is limited, so early booking is recommended.

OFFICIAL PHOTOS AND VISUAL AVAILABLE HERE

About BLEUFEU

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn