In about 3 weeks
From September 4th to 6th, the accordion will once again connect generations and continents.
Montmagny, August 17, 2026 – The accordion returns every fall, bringing a breath of fresh air to Montmagny! World Accordion CrossroadsThe festival, which welcomed 6,500 attendees last year, will hold this event again in a few weeks. From September 4th to 6th, nearly 65 musicians from 6 countries will converge on the city for around twenty concerts, indoors and outdoors, featuring traditional music, world music, jazz, musette, classical, folk and variety music.
Among the artists to discover, here are some must-sees from here and elsewhere:
- le Quebec trio Boys to marry, formed in 2023, which quickly performed at the World Acadian Congress, held in Nova Scotia, before launching its first album, La dot, in 2024;
- theBelgian accordionist Gwen Cresenswho discovered the accordion at the age of five by listening to a street musician near Antwerp Cathedral and who has since performed alongside Luciano Pavarotti, on stages such as the Olympia and the Zénith in Paris;
- le French-Gypsy duo formed by Jean-Claude Laudat and Jean-Yves Dubantonpartners for over 30 years, who revive the warm spirit of the balls and cabarets of yesteryear;
- theaward-winning accordionist Viivi Maria Saarenkylä, winner of the Music Moves Europe Talent Award in 2021 and named Artist of the Year by the Finnish Accordion Association in 2018, who forms with the guitarist JP Piirainen le Finnish duo Northflip;
- le French quartet Bargainatt, which reinvents the dances of Auvergne, Brittany, Poitou and Gascony with a resolutely modern energy.
A weekend that transcends generations
Le Friday 4 SeptemberThe festival will open at the Espace citoyen with a double program presented in two performances, at 18pm and 21pm. The opening concert will be followed by the Rencontre des musiques du monde, an event that will bring together, among others, the Basque-Spanish duo Tapia eta Leturia, masters of the trikitixa, alongside several international guest artists.
Throughout the weekend, the Accordion Museum will open its doors free of charge, while the open-air concerts presented on the Museum site and at Place Montel will invite the public to enjoy the festive atmosphere with a day ticket or a weekend wristband.
The Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th In the afternoon, the festival will showcase a new generation of accordionists. From 13:30 p.m. to 16:30 p.m., the Youth Zone will host "The New Breath of the Accordion," a free event featuring performances by young Quebec accordionists and participatory workshops presented under a tent. Each day will offer a public jam session hosted by Alexandre Patry, where musicians and festival-goers are invited to share the stage. Finally, each evening will conclude with large-scale concerts in concert halls.
“A festival like ours doesn’t just celebrate heritage, it also prepares for its future. Seeing the next generation share the stage with experienced musicians is one of the greatest gifts this edition can offer us. The New Breath of the Accordion reminds us that this music is still very much alive and will continue to bring generations together.”, says Raynald Ouellet, founder of the World Accordion Crossroads.
Le Sunday 6 SeptemberThe festival will end in style with 100% Trad Québec, a closing night bringing together several key figures of traditional Quebec music.
About the World Accordion Crossroads
For 37 years, the World Accordion Festival has been held in Montmagny (Chaudière-Appalaches) during Labour Day weekend, bringing together artists from Quebec, Canada, and nearly 10 other countries. In 2020, the organization received UNESCO accreditation as an advisory body on intangible cultural heritage.
