Planning on traveling to Canada to enjoy one of the best summer music festivals? The 2026 Osheaga music festival is almost here and promises an exciting lineup with major artists like Lorde and Twenty One Pilots. We cover all the essentials like daily lineup and ticket options, so you're ready for a long weekend of fun, and (hopefully) sun. Navigate the STM metro like a pro, pack festival essentials, and find the best post-show poutine once the headliners finish their sets.
In this article:
- Osheaga Festival Essentials
- Navigating Your Way Around Montreal
- Things to Do During Your Montreal Stay
- Your Osheaga Packing List
- FAQ: Osheaga Music Festival
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Osheaga Festival Essentials
What and Where Is the Osheaga Festival?
Osheaga is a music festival that happens once a year in Montreal. It usually happens over three days at the end of July or early August. The festival has six stages and blends global headliners with emerging artists in rock, pop, electronic, and hip-hop. It's Canada's largest arts and music festival, with over 140,000 attendees annually.
Osheaga Activities
Besides the music, Osheaga has art installations from various local artists. Osheaga typically features an exhibit called Music on Paper showcasing iconic music posters.
The mood is generally relaxed. You can lounge in a hammock, join games of volleypong, and grab food at the YUL Eat Gardens.
Osheaga 2026 Lineup
This edition of the Osheaga music festival takes place from Friday, July 31, to Sunday, August 2. Here are the headliners of the 2026 Osheaga lineup:
Friday, July 31, 2026
- Twenty One Pilots
- The xx
- The Neighbourhood
- Geese
- Kehlani
Saturday, August 1, 2026
- Tate McRae
- sombr
- Turnstile
- Empire Of The Sun
- Mt. Joy
Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Lorde
- Gunna
- Major Lazer
- Clipse
- Subtronics
- Zara Larsson
Osheaga 2026 Tickets
Here are the types of Osheaga tickets available:
- General Admission ticket: The classic pass to the festival grounds. It gets you in the gates and in front of the six stages, which is all you need to sing along to your favorite artist's songs.
- Party Deck ticket: If you get overwhelmed in crowds, consider upgrading to a higher tier. Party Deck tickets get you onto a covered, elevated platform with a solid view of the two main stages. Get your own bar and a faster way into the festival, without being stuck in the thick of the main floor.
- Casino de Montréal GOLD ticket: Want even more convenience? This ticket gets you a private terrace with a great view, food stalls, private bathrooms, and a "fast-lane" entry. Perfect for those who hate lining up.
- Platinum ticket: Did anyone say VIP? On top of a front-row viewing pit, you get rides between stages, a mimosa brunch, and even a backstage tour. You can also hit up "glam stations" for a makeup touch-up or grab a quick massage between sets.
You can get either single-day tickets or weekend tickets. Weekend tickets start at $430 CAD or around $315 USD. Single-day tickets start at $180 CAD or around $130 USD.
You can purchase them from the Osheaga website, which redirects you to Ticketmaster.
How to Get to the Osheaga Music Festival
The Osheaga festival takes place on the Parc Jean-Drapeau grounds on Saint Helen's Island. There are a few ways to get there:
- Metro: Hop on the STM Yellow Line and get off at the Jean-Drapeau station next to the festival site. You can get paper tickets or a $6 reloadable OPUS card.
- Rideshare or taxi: While convenient, be prepared for heavy traffic and surge pricing during peak festival hours—taking the metro is much cheaper.
- Bixi: If the weather is nice and you're feeling ambitious, you can rent a bike with the Bixi app. You might have to wait to dock your bike, as docking stations can get busy too.
Pro Tip: Get your metro return pass in advance, as lines can get very long after the event. If you get an OPUS card, you can also reload it through the Chrono app.
Where to Stay in Montreal During Osheaga
There are no campgrounds at the festival. You'll have to look for a place to stay near the Berri-UQAM station or any station that connects easily to the Jean-Drapeau stop. Here are a few areas to consider:
- The Village (Le Village): This is a great spot to be close to the Berri-UQAM station, which is directly on the Yellow Line. If you stay here, you can walk to the metro and be at the festival in under 15 minutes. During the summer, the main strip (Sainte-Catherine St.) becomes a pedestrian-only zone, with vibrant outdoor patios.
- Plateau Mont-Royal: Check out Montreal's iconic spiral staircases and murals. Look for places near Mont-Royal or Sherbrooke stations. It's a quick one to two-stop hop on the Orange Line to reach the Yellow Line transfer at Berri-UQAM.
- Old Port (Vieux-Montréal): If you want something a bit more fancy, the Old Port offers historic cobblestone streets and boutique hotels. To get to the festival, you can catch the Orange Line at Champ-de-Mars or Place-d'Armes, only one to two stops away from the Yellow Line.
Pro Tip: You can also check Osheaga's Accommodations page for special hotel packages.
Things to Do During Your Montreal Stay
From iconic European architecture in Old Montreal to views of the entire city from Mount Royal Park, one thing is sure—the city comes alive in the summer.
To make the most of your weekend, read our 20 Best Things to Do in Montreal blog or follow our handy checklist below, which includes a bonus food section. Copy-paste it to your notes app to make things easy.
Spots to Check Out in Montreal
Neighborhoods
- Plateau Mont-Royal
- Downtown
- Old Montreal
- The Village
- Little Italy
- Mile End
- Saint-Henri
- Verdun
Museums and Culture
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- McCord Stewart Museum
- Pointe-à-Callière (Archaeology and History)
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC)
- Notre-Dame Basilica
- Saint Joseph's Oratory
Nature and Parks
- Mount Royal Park
- Lachine Canal
- Montreal Botanical Garden
- Montreal Biodome
- Montreal Insectarium
- Montreal Biosphere
- Parc La Fontaine
Markets and Landmarks
- Jean-Talon Market
- Atwater Market
- Sainte-Catherine Street
- The Ring (Place Ville Marie)
- La Grande Roue de Montréal
Food and Restaurants
- Poutine: La Banquise (open 24 hours) or Ma Poule Mouillée
- Smoked meat sandwich: Schwartz's Deli
- Montreal-style bagels: St-Viateur Bagel or Fairmount Bagel
- Brunch: Arthur's Nosh Bar or L'Avenue
- Craft Beer: Dieu du Ciel!
Your Osheaga Packing List
The key to surviving a festival weekend is knowing exactly what to bring. Here is a festival-exclusive add-on to our classic packing list with all the essentials you'll need at Parc Jean-Drapeau:
- Your tickets
- Your metro fare
- A photo ID
- A small crossbody bag or fanny pack
- An empty reusable water bottle
- A portable phone charger
- Cashless payment
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses and a hat
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes
- A rain poncho
- Earplugs
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
Pro tip: Need more space for your belongings? Booking a Platinum ticket gives you access to on-site lockers. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis and emptied at the end of the day.
Enjoy Osheaga and the city of Montreal while staying connected easily. Arrive to the festival safely, post live videos of the shows you attend, and find the best brunch spots without the stress of overspending on data.
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