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© Annabelle Ducharme
Brave New World
ELEKTRA Festival 2026
June 16 to 20
ABOUT
In 2026, the ELEKTRA Festival places its program under the sign of a deeply contemporary unease. By reworking the title of Aldous Huxley’s famous novel, this new edition examines our relationship with technology at a time when innovation is as captivating as it is disorienting. Behind promises of progress lie algorithmic standardization, the automation of entertainment, and a growing disconnection from reality. It is an idea already articulated by Guy Debord in The Society of the Spectacle in 1967: that of a world where technological mediation increasingly replaces direct experience.
Driven by this theme, the program unfolds across four venues in Montreal : PHI, Society for Art and Technology [SAT], FOIL Gallery and Nad School. Discover audiovisual performances, immersive dome experiences and exhibitions that engage perception, the body, and technical systems. Complementing this artistic journey is a professional component designed to foster exchanges among artists, curators, presenters, and other cultural practitioners.
OPENING NIGHT
© Alex Dozois
Join in for the launch of the ELEKTRA Festival. An exclusive opportunity to learn about the program alongside the artists and partners, and to attend the premiere of Lucas Paris’s performance “vibrant user.online”.
→ 6 PM: Cocktail and networking on the SAT rooftop, in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. Presentation of the festival’s artistic and professional program.
→ 7 PM: “vibrant user.online”, an audiovisual performance by Lucas Paris, created during his residency at SAT. Inside the dome, a series of pictograms transform in real time via a touchscreen, creating dreamlike digital scenes. A Q&A with the artist will follow the performance.
Tuesday, June 16th
Starting 6pm
Performance at 7pm
VENUE
Société des Arts Technologiques [SAT]
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Free admission to the opening.
Performance accessible with tickets.
Bar service.
PERFORMANCES
Thursday, June 18th
EVENING #1 : Myriam Bleau, Douglas McCausland, Crystn Hunt Akron
At PHI
Friday, June 19th
EVENING #2 : Gabriela Hébert & Michelle Bawden, Antoine de Schuyter, Philippe-Aubert Gauthier & Tanya St-Pierre
At PHI
Saturday, June 20th
EVENING #3 : Temitope Olujobi, Wonwoori, Tacit Group (Gazaebal)
At PHI
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM
Composite#39, Festival ELEKTRA 2024 © Yasuko Tadokoro
A true bridge between the local and international networks, the Professional Program of the ELEKTRA Festival offers a rich lineup, fostering exchanges between artists, curators, presenters, and stakeholders in the field.
To make these meetings accessible to as many people as possible, free events are included in the program: the International Digital Art Market (MIAN) and a networking cocktail, both held at the NAD School.
The full Professional Program is accessible with the purchase of a VIP Pass, which grants access to exclusive activities alongside a delegation of around twenty international professionals. In addition to full access to the festival’s artistic program, the pass includes artist studio visits and meetings with cultural venue teams. Reserve your pass before Wednesday, June 10!
International delegation of curators and programmers.
New names will be announced soon.
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Majken Overgaard, independent curator (Denmark)
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Nine Choi, WESA (South Korea)
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Laura C. Schmidt, ZKM Centre for Art and Media (Germany)
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David Dronet, Station Mi and ]interstice[ Festival (France)
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Hyemin PAR, Korean Cultural Centre (Canada)
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Isabella Idolfi, independent curator (United States)
Artist studio visits and meetings at cultural venues include the following locations:
SAT Studio, NAD School, ELEKTRA Gallery, PHI, Arsenal Contemporary Art, FOIL Gallery, the studios of Katherine Melançon, Martin Messier, Bill Vorn. Other venues will be announced soon.
Regular ticket (free)
Access to the MIAN and networking cocktail at NAD School.
Thursday, June 18:
Presentations from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Networking and NAD tour from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
Friday, June 19:
Presentations from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
VIP Pass ($280, incl. tax)
Limited availability, purchase before June 10.
From Tuesday, June 16 to Saturday, June 20: studio and workshop visits, access to performances at PHI, 1 VIP dinner at the immersive art hotel SonoLux, 2 cocktails, and 3 networking meals with our partners.
INSTALLATION
Creation
Fvckrender
Fvckrender is a Montreal-based digital artist renowned for his surreal, hyper-saturated visuals that blend 3D rendering, photography, and graphic design. His work, often exploring themes of identity, technology, and emotion, has earned him a global following and collaborations with major brands and musicians. His signature style merges futuristic aesthetics with raw human expression.
From June 16th to 20th
8 am to 6 pm
Free entrance.
Restauration on site.
VENUE
FOIL Gallery
→ Directions
VENUES
PHI
407 Saint-Pierre St.
Montreal, QC H2Y 2M3
Société des Arts Technologique [SAT]
1201 Saint-Laurent Boul.
Montreal, QC H2X 2S6
→ Directions
NAD School
1501 de Bleury St. 7th floor
Montreal, QC H3A 0H3
→ Directions
FOIL Gallery
6560 Waverly St.
Montreal, QC H2V 4M3
→ Directions
PARTNERS AND SUPPORT
GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS
CULTURAL PARTNERS
PRESS
COLLABORATORS AND SPONSORS
