At barely 5pm, the metro is packed with micro shorts, fuzzy leg warmers, and everyone’s best outfits. A mix of weed and bass from the DJ set welcomes festivalgoers as they step onto Sainte-Hélène Island, tucked right outside of Montréal, for the second day of Palomosa. Blending genres like hyperpop and techno for three days of pure euphoria, the festival traded its usual September dates for spring this year, offering an electric start to the summer.
This year’s festival marks the third edition of Palomosa, taking place from May 14-16 2026 in Montréal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau. Palomosa’s mission is to “bring Internet culture into the physical world,” and is known for its electronic, indie, and experimental underground lineups. The festival kicked off on Thursday, May 14, with an outdoor block party with artists including X-Coast, Tommy Holohan, Chippy Nonstop, and Cirque Cosmic.
Friday’s lineup was stacked with both local and international artists. Opening the day at the Fizz stage was JAMVVIS, who hyped the crowd with his playful electro set, dancing with his friends and waving a Jamaican flag. French artist OURI continued by turning the festival into a dreamscape, intentionally layering tracks and creating surreal atmospheres, completely in control of her craft. The Fizz Stage continued to trickle with more and more people, as hypnotic performances from Japan’s iconic POiSON GiRL FRiEND and the electronic duo followed. Over at the National Bank Scene, English Singer and DJ Hannah Diamond had the crowd jamming to bright hyperpop songs, pink hair swaying in the wind as people danced both behind her in the booth and in front of the stage.
The night continued with an electrifying set from Xaviersobased, who sprinted across stage while fans jumped and moshed below. Red lights painted the sky as bold videogame-esque visuals flashed behind him, while horns blared every few minutes as he checked in with the crowd, matching their chaotic, gritty energy. The festival felt alive, breathing heavily – whether you knew his lyrics or not, the energy flooded the entire festival ground. Brash hyperpop soon turned into an atmospheric and groovy DJ set from MGMT. While the duo are rather known for their iconic 2010s indie pop and rock tunes like “Kids” and “Electric Feel“, their DJ set moved far from this sound as 80s inspired electronic and funk flooded the festival. The crowd nodded along, though some a little disappointed to not hear their hit songs. Despite this, MGMT still put on a fun and smooth DJ set, which slowly closed the night.
Only hours before doors opened on Saturday, the festival announced the cancellation of headliner FakeMink’s set due to health issues. While unfortunate, this was reminiscent of Palomosa’s first edition in 2024, Headliner Kali Uchis’ set was cancelled. Nonetheless, the show went on as the festival announced new set time slots to accommodate the cancellation, adding a performance from rapper twentythree.
Starting Saturday off at the Fizz stage was the hypnotic Sophia Stel. The Vancouver based artist filled the air with dreamy alternative and electronic pop, strolling across stage with her black hoodie on and a bottle of alcohol in hand. Stel effortlessly commanded attention, performing tracks from her projects Object Permanence and How To Win at Solitaire. Whether you already knew her or were just discovering her, it was easy to get lost in the lush synths and airy vocals. It wouldn’t be surprising to see her performing at even more festivals soon as her audience continues to grow.
The day’s performances continued to be impress. Quebec flags were waved around as Kinji00 performed tracks like “Fleur De Lys”. Toronto-based duo Femtanyl, loud and frantic, had the crowd forming mosh pits under strobing lights. Meanwhile, at the National Bank stage, back to back DJ sets were keeping the energy high, including a performance by French artist, Cannelle, whose pastel hair and hypnotic stage presence caught everyone’s attention. Her blend of hyperpop and electropop cast the audience under her spell. At the Fizz stage, Lucy Bedroque continued with a set of chaotically wonderful rage, rap and hyperpop. They danced around the stage, a flashy chain clinking against their neck as pink and white lights painted the sky. Sunglasses reflected stage lights, hair swayed and arms waved around. All the way through the back of the pit, Bedroque’s energy was contagious. The final set at the Fizz stage came from ThaiBoyDigital. Known for both his own tracks and collaborations with Bladee, Ecco2k and Yung Lean, the artist brought blends of rap, hip hop, and electronic to the last hour of the festival.
After three nights packed with performances spanning across rap, techno, hyperpop, and everything in between, Palomosa continues to establish itself as one of Montréal’s most exciting festivals. Beyond its eclectic fashion and mesmerizing sets, Palomosa keeps highlighting both Canadian and international artists while promising even more exciting moments for its future editions.
