The 40th International Nuits dAfrique de Montréal festival offers a variety of North African artists who have come to enrich a program that allows you to take a musical journey to meet the cultures of Africa, the West Indies and South America and the Maghreb. In this exceptional program you will find indoor shows as well as in the entertainment district:
July 8: Afirka (Algeria-QC): The group revives the popular spirit of raï, chaoui and Kabyle music: that of improvised parties and carefree nights, where the resounding darbouka, the nostalgic mandola, the flayed violin and the electrified guitar compete to bring eternal moments to life. (Balattou Club)
July 9: Adil Smaâli & Elements Of Baraka (Morocco): A true trance experience where ritual meets the underground, Elements of Baraka hypnotizes by intertwining gnawa singing, guembri and krakeb with the saturated textures of dub and psytrance. (The Ministry)
July 12: Labess (Algeria): Labess is a vibrant musical journey, carried by Nedjim Bouizzoul, which crosses the borders of exile and cultures. With its Algerian roots and an unusual background, the group offers plural music, fusing chaâbi, gypsy rumba, flamenco and many other influences. (The National)
July 14: Chibane (Algeria-QC): Chibane navigates with sensitivity between North African tradition, gypsy jazz and committed poetry. The author, composer and performer irrigates his chaâbi with cosmopolitan rhythms, nicely underlined by an intense and warm voice, which carries both wounds and hopes. (Loto-Québec scene)
July 15: Zalam Kao (Haiti-Argentina-Tunisia-Brazil-QC): The big winner of the Syli dOr for world music 2026 is bold, twirling with skill between jazz, funk and soul. It’s heterogeneous, but really trippy! (Loto-Québec scene)
July 16: Salamate Gnawa (Morocco-QC): The rumbling guembri, piercing krakebs, penetrating tbel and jubilant spiritual songs of Salamate Gnawa, paired in joyful communion with blues, jazz, flamenco, zouk or rock rhythms, are unfathomable. (Loto-Québec scene)
July 17: Bastin Band (Algeria-QC): Bronze Syli of world music 2026, Bastin Band shakes the stage with its convulsive associations of raï, funk, soul, pop-rock and North African rhythms. Between covers and original creations, Bastin Band pursues a single objective: to make people dance, in a party atmosphere! (Loto-Québec scene)
July 19: Sandya Fusion (Morocco-QC): Nourished by reggae, funk, jazz and rock, Sandya’s gnawa music is a vibrant festive space that belongs to the public. Anchored in the sacred traditions of dakka marrakchia and lissawa, Sandya is nothing but joy and resonates like a call to dance and abandon. (Loto-Québec scene)