Osheaga 2025: A Monumental Return to Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau

Montreal’s Osheaga Festival Musique et Arts has long been a crown jewel of North America’s festival circuit, and for its 2025 edition, organizers have outdone themselves with a genre-defying, star-packed, and sonically adventurous lineup that might just be the festival’s most thrilling to date. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Parc Jean-Drapeau, this year’s event—running August 1-3, 2025—promises a kaleidoscopic weekend of unforgettable performances, nostalgic throwbacks, and fresh new sounds poised to set summer ablaze.

Friday: A Cinematic Start Led by The Killers and Glass Animals

The weekend kicks off in grand fashion with The Killers at the helm—a band synonymous with anthemic, arena-filling indie rock. Expect Brandon Flowers and company to roll out a nostalgia-laden set heavy on hits like “Mr. Brightside” and “When You Were Young”, alongside new material designed to keep the Osheaga mainstage crowd roaring.

Joining them are British psych-pop maestros Glass Animals, whose Dreamland era turned them into crossover darlings. Their shimmering, neon-lit soundscapes will offer a vibrant contrast to Doechii’s explosive hip-hop energy and Dominic Fike’s genre-bending indie pop.

Friday’s undercard is equally stacked: Lucy Dacus will bring her intimate, gut-wrenching indie rock to the riverfront stage, while emerging favorites like Artemas, Ekkstacy, and Wunderhorse cater to the moody, Gen-Z indie scene. Rounding out the night are European club heavyweights like Nico Moreno and Salute, ensuring the party stretches deep into the night.

Saturday: Tyler, The Creator and Gracie Abrams Lead a Day of Eclectic Brilliance

Tyler, The Creator returns to Osheaga as Saturday’s headliner, a long-anticipated appearance following his Call Me If You Get Lost victory lap. Expect a career-spanning set equal parts theatrical, introspective, and downright wild. Sharing the top line is rising pop phenom Gracie Abrams, whose confessional lyricism and atmospheric production have made her a new indie-pop queen in the making.

Dance music gets a spotlight too, with The Chainsmokers bringing their high-gloss EDM-pop hybrid to a crowd eager for singalongs and drops. Festival veterans TV On The Radio add some indie rock gravitas to the day, alongside genre-jumpers like Sammy Virji, Durand Bernarr, and a surprise nostalgic treat in Kaleo.

Of particular note is a burgeoning new wave of acts like Good Neighbours, Naomi Sharon, and Adam Ten, signaling Osheaga’s continued commitment to showcasing the next generation of genre-crossing boundary pushers. The diversity of sound and style is dizzying — a true buffet of pop, electronic, indie, and R&B.

Sunday: Olivia Rodrigo, Jamie xx, and Cage The Elephant Close in Epic Style

Sunday’s lineup reads like a dream for alt-pop and indie rock lovers alike. Pop powerhouse Olivia Rodrigo headlines with a set expected to blend heartbreak anthems from SOUR and GUTS with any surprises she’s been cooking up in the studio.

Cage The Elephant makes a welcome return to the festival circuit, promising a riotous live show that’ll blend their signature Southern garage rock with psych-tinged festival bangers. Meanwhile, Jamie xx will no doubt turn Parc Jean-Drapeau into an open-air rave with his hypnotic electronic soundscapes.

Other standout names include genre shapeshifter Chet Faker, the soulful and future-facing Amaarae, and underground club favorite ISOXO. Montreal’s own Debby Friday brings a hometown set guaranteed to be a highlight, while Osheaga continues its tradition of regional pride with appearances from Emi Jeen, The Darcys, and Ruby Waters.

A Celebration of Discovery, Nostalgia, and Boundary-Pushing Sound

Osheaga 2025’s greatest strength lies in its eclecticism. From chart-topping pop stars and indie rock icons to buzzing newcomers and genre-bending electronic artists, this lineup reflects the kaleidoscope of modern music culture. The festival’s subtle nod to ‘80s nostalgia (with acts like The Killers and TV On The Radio) blends effortlessly with the hyper-modern, genreless music of today.

The production promises to be top-notch, and with multiple stages set against one of Canada’s most scenic outdoor spaces, it’s a perfect summer escape for music fans of every persuasion. Expect memorable moments, surprise guest appearances, and those serendipitous discoveries that make festivals like Osheaga a rite of passage for artists and audiences alike.

If you’re looking for a festival experience that balances mainstream spectacle with indie discovery and the pulse of the electronic underground, Osheaga 2025 is your ticket. This year’s edition feels less like a lineup and more like a love letter to the last four decades of popular music culture. Consider this your reminder: don’t sleep on Montreal this August.

Tickets are on sale now at osheaga.com.