Given the theme of our most recent edition, we had to take the opportunity to pay homage to some of the remarkably talented Canadians (aka Glamadians!) who continue to grace the globally revered OSHEAGA stage and bring so much enjoyment to our musical worlds.
TATE MCRAE
Tate McRae headlines Osheaga 2026 as a global pop super-star, a Calgary-born force who has turned raw feeling into sleek, chart-dominating confessionals. First known through dance, she brings that same physical sharpness to hits like “you broke me first” and “greedy,” where every movement feels locked into the music. Montreal audiences have followed that rise up close, from the city’s smallest rooms to its largest arena stage, the Bell Centre. At the top of the bill for this year’s edition of Canada’s biggest and best three-day destination music festival, McRae carries herself with a stage presence that is completely magnetic.
CHARLOTTE CARDIN
Charlotte Cardin moves with a cool, sculpted confidence, often in sharp silhouettes that mirror the precision of her sound. The Montreal artist broke through with her smoky, bilingual vocals, then surged with Phoenix, sweeping the 2022 Juno Awards and cementing her place at the top of Canadian pop. That moment carried into a remarkable hometown run, with 13 consecutive sold out nights at MTelus. At Osheaga 2023, she stepped in for Aya Nakamura, delivering a last minute set with poise that held Canada’s biggest music festival steady. In 2024, Charlotte delivered another string of sold-out shows, this time a four night arena run at Place Bell in Laval. Her momentum continues!
THE BEACHES
The Beaches bring a different kind of polish, one that leans into attitude over perfection. The Toronto band broke out hook-driven with gritty rock before surging back with “Blame Brett,” a sharp, self-aware anthem that sharpened their edge. Across multiple Osheaga appearances, their evolution has played out in full view, from newcomers to a band fully in command of its image. Leather, eyeliner, and a refusal to smooth the edges define their presence.
KAYTRANADA
Kaytranada has always made cool feel instinctive. Born in Haiti and raised in Montreal, he built a sound that slips between house, hip hop, and R&B with ease, then carried it far beyond the city through 99.9% and the Grammy-winning BUBBA. Collaborations with Anderson .Paak, Kali Uchis, Pharrell Williams, H.E.R., and Childish Gambino widened that orbit. His Osheaga arc runs from an early daytime set on one of the festival’s smaller electronic stages in 2012 to a commanding hometown headline turn in 2019.
ARKELLS
Arkells understand that rock and roll should feel sharp, open-hearted, and a little larger than life. Formed in Hamilton, they built their reputation on big choruses, restless energy, and a string of Juno wins. Songs like “Leather Jacket” and “Knocking at the Door” carry that mix of grit and uplift. Across repeated Osheaga appearances, they bring a crowd-ready style that feels lived in, all charisma and drive.
FEIST
Feist occupies a space where restraint becomes its own statement. Emerging from Calgary and later tied to Toronto’s indie scene, she stepped out from Broken Social Scene into a solo career defined by clarity and tone. With songs like “1234” and “The Limit to Your Love,” she turns simplicity into something striking. At Osheaga, her appearances feel intimate, refined, and entirely self-possessed.
METRIC
Metric sharpen indie rock into something sleek and exact, balancing propulsion with a cool, metallic edge. Led by Emily Haines, the band broke through with Fantasies and tracks like “Help I’m Alive,” building a catalogue that moves between urgency and control. Their Osheaga history reflects that staying power. (Metric brings the All the Feelings Tour with Broken Social Scene and Stars, to Place Bell, October 8, 2026)
WOLF PARADE
Wolf Parade operate where urgency meets intention, their sound built on restless keys and jagged guitars. Formed in Montreal, they emerged in the mid-2000s with Apologies to the Queen Mary, a defining album of that indie wave. Their Osheaga appearances stretch from the festival’s early years to a return in 2026. Onstage, their wired energy is un-predictable in all of its tension and release.
For more on the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival, visit osheaga.com and follow @osheaga.