Back for its 18th edition this summer, The Osheaga Music and Arts Festival returns to Parc Jean-Drapeau from August 1–3, 2025, promising another three-day blur of live music, warm weather, and waterfront energy. Equal parts destination festival and Montreal summer tradition, Osheaga has carved out a reputation for bridging the mainstream and the underground—and for dance music fans, it’s always held a few surprises.
This marks our second year covering Osheaga for Nexus Radio, and one of the reasons we keep coming back is the way the festival programs electronic and beat-driven acts alongside its marquee pop and indie headliners. You might not find full-on raves here, but you will find clever bookings tucked throughout the weekend that speak directly to fans of house, hip-hop, and genre-bending club sounds.
At the top of the bill are three major names: The Killers, Tyler, The Creator, and Olivia Rodrigo —an eclectic trio that spans indie rock nostalgia, experimental rap, and chart-dominating pop. But it’s the depth of the lineup that makes this year feel especially rich. Electronic tastemakers like Jamie xx, The Chainsmokers, and Glass Animals bring festival-tested grooves, while acts like Doechii, FINNEAS, Amaarae, and Gracie Abrams offer genre-blurring sets with a strong rhythmic core.
Look a little further and the dance energy gets even more interesting. Claude VonStroke and INJI will hit the Island Stage with house-forward sets, bbno$ brings his quirky, bass-heavy style to the Forest, and experimental favorites like Shaboozey and Amaarae are sure to inject their performances with left-of-center production. Osheaga may not market itself as a dance festival, but its lineup tells a different story if you know where to look.
One of the best-kept secrets for those in the know? Coors Light Afters—a growing network of official afterparties that stretch the weekend’s programming into the city. These nighttime sets take place in Montreal venues and feature both festival artists and special guests. This year’s Afters include appearances by Chet Faker, Sultan & Shepard, and more. They’re not just a way to keep the party going—they’re where some of the most intimate, unexpected moments of the weekend tend to unfold.
Whether you’re in it for the headliners or hoping to catch that one set that turns into a personal discovery, Osheaga offers more than enough to keep dance fans curious—and moving. We’ll be on-site all weekend long to bring you the highlights, the hidden gems, and the beats between the big moments!
