MUTEK 2026: An ecosystem that amplifies digital creativity in Montréal and around the world

Photo: Cleo Leigh | MUTEK Montréal 2026 - Vivien Gaumand

Tiohtià:ke / Mooniyang / Montréal, Thursday, September 10, 2026 — MUTEK wraps up its 27th edition with a record number of attendees and reaches a new milestone in its development. With more than 102,000 attendees* (representing a 42% increase in attendance compared to 2025), MUTEK confirms a transformation that began several years ago: the organization is no longer just a festival, but a true ecosystem dedicated to electronic music and digital creativity.

Structured around four complementary pillars—Festival, Forum, Market, and Village Numérique—MUTEK now serves as an infrastructure that supports digital and musical creation in its various dimensions: artistic discovery, dissemination, reflection, professional development, networking, and business development. Each component addresses specific needs and audiences, while contributing to a shared ambition: to facilitate the exchange of ideas, talent, and projects, and to help shape a rapidly evolving sector.

The success of the 2026 edition exceeded all our expectations. It is a source of undeniable pride for our entire team, which has worked tirelessly to enhance MUTEK’s relevance and influence at the local, national, and international levels. I am especially delighted that the magic of MUTEK has unfolded with renewed vigor, allowing Montréal to continue to distinguish itself as a leader in the field of digital creation. — Alain Mongeau, Artistic Director and Co-Executive Director of MUTEK

Through its activities and collaborations, MUTEK helps create opportunities for connection and development that benefit a network broader than itself. Through its Market, more than 1,700 networking meetings were organized among 300 professionals—nearly double the number of creative and commercial opportunities compared to 2025. MUTEK thus acts as a catalyst that brings together and mobilizes artists, businesses, researchers, institutions, and audiences.

This mission is reflected in the origin of its audiences. According to an independent study, 50% of festivalgoers were tourists or day-trippers in 2026, compared to 45% during the 25th edition in 2024. This trend reflects the growing appeal of MUTEK and Montréal as tourist destinations, with one in two attendees coming from outside the city. It also confirms the festival’s role as a cultural hub with national and international reach.

Key Figures:

General:

• 102,591 attendees, including 70,287 at the free outdoor stage
• 70% of passport and pass sales came from outside Québec
• 949 mentions (to date) in media outlets based in 37 countries, 60% of which were international, representing a media reach of 150 million
• 188,201 social media followers
• 16.9 million impressions across various digital platforms

Festival:

• 137 artists from 27 countries, 36% of whom are Black or from racialized communities, and 20% of whom belong to 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
• 89 performances and 4 immersive films, 57% of which feature at least one woman or non-binary person
• 62 premieres, including 45 international premieres
• 55% of the programming showcasing local and national talent

Forum:

• More than 1,100 participants gathered over three days
• 158 speakers from 13 countries, 60% of whom are women or non-binary individuals, 5% are Indigenous, 24% are Black or from racialized communities, and 19% are members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
• 52 lectures, performances, workshops, screenings, and masterclasses
• 4 networking events and 9 studio visits

Market:

• More than 180 delegates from 40 countries
• More than 135 studio representatives and artists from Québec and Canada
• More than 1,700 networking meetings

In the media:

Live Report: MUTEK Montréal 2026 — Joe Hale, Clash Magazine (United Kingdom)

Crack Magazine’s guide to MUTEK Montréal 2026 — Crack Magazine (United Kingdom)

MUTEK makes Montreal the centre of the universe for electronic music and digital art from Aug. 25 to 30 — Stephan Boissonneault, Cult MTL (Québec)

MUTEK Is the Avant-Garde Electronic Party for the People — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork (United States)

MUTEK 2026 Is Turning Montreal Into A Digital Playground — RANGE (Canada)

A Week At MUTEK Made Montreal Feel Too Good To Be True — Ted Davis, Stereogum (United States)

Quebec’s Got an Edge in Digital Art, and It Has Nothing to Do With Technology — J.P. Karwacki, The Main (Québec)

MUTEK Edition 28: Sensitive Waves

Festival and Festival + Forum 2027 Passports are already on sale

Tickets

MUTEK would like to thank its partners, who play a key role in the maintenance and development of its activities and have provided support towards the production of the Festival, the Forum, the Market and the Village Numérique.

The Government of Québec, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the ministère du Tourisme du Québec, the Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine du ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation du Québec, the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles du Québec, the ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie du Québec, the ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, the Canada Council for the Arts, FACTOR and Canada's private radio broadcasters, the Department of Canadian Heritage, Musicaction, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Ville de Montréal, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, Taipei Cultural center New York, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, the Italian Institute of Culture in Montreal, the Consulat général de France à Québec, Tourisme Montréal, XN Québec, the Society for Arts and Technology, Hôtel Monville, Indigenous Screen Office, Canada Media Fund (CMF), and Investissement Québec International.