- The 16th edition is expanding with new venues in Montreal.
- Four days of performances, discoveries, and cultural encounters.
- A rich musical and artistic program with diverse influences.
- New events, including the Miss Dance Orientalys contest.
- A sensory journey through traditions, creativity, and shared experiences.
From August 13 to 16, 2026, the Orientalys Festival returns for its 16th edition, marking a major turning point in its history. Presented by TD Bank Group, the event is expanding beyond the Quai de l’Horloge in Montreal’s Old Port for the first time to showcase Eastern cultures at various venues across Montreal. Under the theme “Toward Other Ports,” the festival offers four days and four nights of discovery, encounters, and celebrations where ancient traditions engage with contemporary creativity.
More than just a musical event, Orientalys has evolved into a true cultural journey combining performances, workshops, crafts, cuisine, and interactive experiences. The public will be invited to travel through a mosaic of countries, from Morocco to China, from Egypt to Afghanistan, via Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestine, Iran, and even Eritrea.
This new edition reaffirms the festival’s ambition to build bridges between communities and showcase artists from here and abroad. Among the major new features, the “Samedi en Liesse” program is now taking over Montreal’s venues, while the Miss Dance Orientalys contest will highlight the richness of Oriental dance in all its forms.
With a program where music, dance, and cultural heritage converge, Orientalys transforms Montreal into a vast crossroads of cultures. Every stage becomes a space for sharing, every performance tells a story, and every encounter becomes an invitation to travel.
A vibrant program blending traditions, new creations, and discoveries
The TD Stage will be at the heart of the festival’s major evenings with a program rich in contrasts and emotions. Audiences will be able to discover the Persian sounds of Farzad Milani, the electronic influences of DJ Mina, the fusion of Andalusian rumba, Algerian chaâbi, and cumbia presented by Ali & Ihab, as well as the dance creations of Ana Espinosa and her company AnaDanse.
The audience will also be treated to performances by La Perse, Rosanne Dion and her dancers, Boulila and his Gnawa world, as well as artists from the Montreal Chinese Culture and Arts Foundation. Indian rhythms will also take center stage with Veils of Bollywood, Veils of Punjab, Qafila, and DJ Deep Patel.
A cultural immersion in the heart of the Old Port and in Montreal’s performance venues
The Medina stage will offer an experience inspired by the great markets of the East, where music, dance, and traditions come together in a festive atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy performances by AYAAM’s Groupe D’Attan, Lara Zaïd, Dounia and her troupe, Mushfiq Hashimi, DJ Fayas, Imdyazn Canada, Mustafa Akife, Evenis Dance, and many other artists representing an exceptional diversity of cultures.
The “Pays d’Orient” section, meanwhile, will offer a true sensory journey with its tents, craft demonstrations, workshops, and interactive experiences. Inspired by the souks, medinas, and bazaars of the East, this space will become a living theater where visitors can discover traditions passed down from generation to generation.
2026 Program Overview
- Orientalys Festival
- August 13–16, 2026
- Free admission to most activities.
TD Stage
- Farzad Milani.
- DJ Mina.
- Ali & Ihab.
- Ana Espinosa and AnaDanse.
- Miss Dance Orientalys in partnership with ANADanse.
- Persia.
- Rosanne Dion and her dancers.
- Boulila.
- Montreal Foundation for Chinese Culture and Arts.
- Veils of Bollywood.
- Veils of Punjab.
- Qafila.
- DJ Deep Patel.
Saturday in Celebration
- Rakcha Band.
- Kabyle All-Night Party.
- Noria.
- Djaffar Aït Menguellet.
- Menad Harkat.
- Tafsut.
Medina Stage
- AYAAM’s D’Attan Group.
- Lara Zaïd.
- Dounia and her folk dance troupe.
- Mushfiq Hashimi.
- DJ Fayas.
- Imdyazn Canada.
- Mustafa Akife.
- Evenis Dance.
- Eritrean Youth Project.
- Iza San.
- DJ Sarhane.
- Hadhret Rihet el Bled.
Espace Pays d’Orient
Cultural Exhibitions.
Handicrafts.
Cuisine.
Demonstrations.
Parades.
Intercultural encounters.
Introductory workshops
Henna.
Turkish percussion and singing.
Lebanese and Palestinian Dabké.
Flamenco.
Arabic and Iraqi calligraphy.
Tunisian darbouka.
Moroccan bendir.
Yemeni coffee ceremony.
Chinese erhu.
Crochet.
Friendship bracelets.
Candle-making.
This summer, let yourself be swept away by the colors, rhythms, and stories that shape Eastern cultures. The 2026 Orientalys Festival offers much more than a series of performances: it provides a human connection where traditions come to life, where artists share their passion, and where every visitor can discover a new window onto the world.
