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FEQ 2026: Six-Figure Crowds Flock to Canada’s Best-Kept Musical Secret
Québec City's Festival d'été de Québec (FEQ) drew massive crowds for its 2026 edition, an 11-day celebration featuring headliners including Muse, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Cypress Hill, Kesha and Limp Bizkit. Now approaching its 60th year, the festival has built a reputation as one of Canada's most eclectic music events, notable for its affordability, community atmosphere and dedication to showcasing both emerging Québécois talent and established international acts.
Passes for the full festival started at just $180 Canadian, helping the 2026 edition sell out in a record three hours, the fastest in FEQ's history. Consequence attended the closing weekend, where highlights included sets from Montreal shoegaze act No Joy and sibling duo Faux Real, alongside Muse's headline performance on the Plains of Abraham, which drew the largest and loudest crowd of the entire event.
In short
- FEQ 2026 in Québec City featured Muse, Jelly Roll, Kesha and more
- Festival passes started at $180 CAD; sold out in three hours
- Nearly 60-year-old event blends major headliners with local Québécois artists
Explained simply
Festival d’été de Québec, usually called FEQ, is an annual music festival in Québec City. It runs across several venues, including the Plains of Abraham, a historic park near the city centre, and brings together performers from Québec and abroad.
FEQ is organised by a non-profit festival body and is known for offering a wide range of music, from local and emerging acts to internationally known headliners. Its relatively low-cost passes have helped make it accessible to a large audience.
The festival is part of Québec City’s summer cultural calendar and gives local musicians a platform alongside established performers. Its mix of genres and artists helps explain its broad appeal.
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