M for Montréal 2026: Six rising Canadian artists you need to know

Every November, M for Montréal transforms venues across the city into a meeting place for emerging artists, tastemakers, and music fans looking for their next favourite band. For artists arriving from across Canada, it's also a chance to bring a piece of their hometown scene to new audiences. For twenty-one years, M for Montréal — part multi-venue music festival, part industry conference — has showcased some of Canada's best emerging artists early in their careers, contributing to the development of artists like Mac DeMarco, Grimes, Men I Trust, and Charlotte Cardin. The latest success story is undoubtedly Québec's polka dotted, masked math-rock duo Angine de Poitrine, who played to a packed room at Ausgang Plaza last year, leading to international booking representation with Roam Agency just months before their global takeover in 2026. This year, The Line of Best Fit joins forces with M for Montréal for two official showcases on 19 November, bringing together artists whose music has been shaped by the communities they call home. At Quai des Brumes, Winnipeg's Virgo Rising will bring their brooding, introspective indie rock alongside Sea of Lettuce and Hillsboro, while L'Escogriffe...