POP Montreal turns 25 this week, and the festival is not being subtle about it. From Tuesday September 23 through Saturday September 27, more than 400 acts are taking over 50-plus venues across Mile End, the Plateau, and downtown, turning the neighbourhood into five straight days of music, art, film, and craft markets. The 25th anniversary brings back a legendary lost venue, lands Martha Wainwright on a rooftop stage, reunites a band that has not played together in nine years, and wraps it all in a film series, an art program, and the largest craft market in the festival’s history. Here is what to know and where to start.

🎸 The Festival: What POP Actually Is

POP Montreal is an independent music festival built around discovery. It has never been the kind of festival with one massive headliner on a single field; instead, it distributes hundreds of artists across dozens of bars, halls, church basements, galleries, and rooftops, with tickets ranging from a few dollars to mid-range depending on the venue. A lot of the surrounding programming (Art POP, many Puces POP events, some Film POP screenings) is free. The vibe is deeply local even as the lineup spans international acts, and the festival has spent 25 years cultivating the feeling that any random Tuesday night show at a small venue might be the best thing you see all year.

📍 Where: Multiple venues across Mile End, the Plateau, and downtown Montreal. The venue hub is the Bernard/Saint-Laurent/Saint-Denis corridor in Mile End.
🗓️ When: September 23 to 27, 2026. Full schedule and tickets at popmontreal.com.

🎻 The Divan Orange Returns (Sept 24–25)

This is the story of the festival. The Divan Orange, a beloved Mile End music venue that closed in 2018 after years of noise complaints and financial strain, is coming back for three special nights during POP Montreal. The first two nights (September 24 and 25) feature Plants and Animals, one of Montreal’s most celebrated indie rock bands, with support from Sasha Cay and Katie Moore respectively. Both shows are sold out, but they are worth knowing about because the return of Divan Orange is a genuine moment for the city’s music community. Keep an eye on the festival’s last-minute ticket releases.

📍 Where: Divan Orange, 4234 boul Saint-Laurent, Mile End. Metro Mont-Royal (Orange line).
🗓️ When: September 24 and 25. Both nights sold out; check popmontreal.com for last-minute releases.

🌃 Rooftop Shows: Martha Wainwright and Bells Larsen at the Rialto (Sept 26–27)

The Rialto Theatre’s rooftop stage is one of POP Montreal’s signature settings, and the 25th anniversary uses it well. Martha Wainwright plays Friday September 26, and Bells Larsen closes out the festival weekend on Saturday September 27. Wainwright is a Montreal institution at this point; seeing her on a rooftop with a city skyline backdrop and the autumn air coming in is the kind of show that will be referenced for years. Tickets for both shows are available through popmontreal.com and typically move fast for Rialto rooftop events.

📍 Where: Rialto Theatre, 5723 avenue du Parc, Mile End. Metro Acadie (Blue line).
🗓️ When: Martha Wainwright on September 26; Bells Larsen on September 27. Tickets at popmontreal.com.

🎤 Think About Life Reunion

The 25th anniversary also brings Think About Life back together for their first show in nine years. The Montreal art-punk duo made a significant mark on the city’s early-2000s DIY scene and influenced a lot of what followed; this reunion is one of those events that festival regulars will be talking about before and after the fact. Check popmontreal.com/calendar for the specific venue and date within the festival window.

📍 Where: TBC, Mile End or Plateau. Check popmontreal.com/calendar for venue details.
🗓️ When: During the festival, September 23 to 27. Tickets at popmontreal.com.

🛍️ Puces POP: The Craft and Record Market (Sept 26–27)

Puces POP is the festival’s enormous craft and record fair, and for the 25th anniversary it is the biggest edition yet. Hundreds of vendors sell handmade goods, independent records, vintage finds, zines, and art prints. It is free to browse, which makes it one of the most accessible parts of the festival, and it draws a genuinely diverse crowd beyond the typical music-festival audience. A solid Saturday afternoon option if you want the festival energy without committing to a show ticket.

📍 Where: Marché des possibles, 5605 avenue de Gaspé, Mile End.
🗓️ When: September 26 and 27. Free admission. Hours at popmontreal.com.

🎬 Film POP and Art POP: Beyond the Music

Film POP runs screenings throughout the festival week, typically at Cinéma du Parc and a few other venues, with a focus on music documentaries and hybrid art films. Art POP takes over galleries and non-traditional spaces around the neighbourhood with visual art tied to the festival’s themes. Both programs are partially free and offer a way into the festival that is slower-paced and easier to navigate than trying to catch four bands in a night. The full programs are listed at popmontreal.com.

📍 Where: Various venues, Mile End and Plateau. Full list at popmontreal.com.
🗓️ When: September 23 to 27. Many events free; check popmontreal.com for individual event details.