MUTEK Unveils First Wave for 2026 Montréal Edition

Jeff Mills, Rival Consoles, Ben UFO, Voices From The Lake and more lead the first announcement for the festival’s 27th year.

by RANGE

Photo: Evian Christ

Published on March 10, 2026

For nearly three decades, MUTEK has turned Montréal into a pilgrimage site for electronic music devotees—where experimental sound, forward-thinking visuals, and the global underground club circuit converge. Today, the legendary festival of digital creativity has revealed the first artists confirmed for its 27th edition, set to unfold Aug. 25 to 30, 2026 across the city’s Quartier des spectacles.

Leading the initial lineup is Detroit techno visionary Jeff Mills, who will present the North American premiere of Stargate, an immersive performance inspired by his ongoing fascination with science-fiction worlds. Elsewhere on the bill, boundary-pushing UK producer Rival Consoles brings a cinematic live AV show, while Hessle Audio founder Ben UFO returns with one of the most eclectic DJ sets in modern club culture.

MUTEK’s first wave also bridges electronic music’s past, present, and speculative future. Austrian guitarist and ambient pioneer Fennesz will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his landmark album Endless Summer alongside visual artist Lillevan, while Manchester icon A Guy Called Gerald revisits his jungle classic Black Secret Technology. British composer Matthew Herbert also returns to Montréal with a new socially engaged work exploring food insecurity.

Across the programme, the festival leans into the more experimental edges of performance. American noise artist Evicshen will deliver a visceral set using DIY instruments, while Japan’s ELECTRONICOS FANTASTICOS! transform discarded electronics into electromagnetic instruments. Cult ambient techno duo Voices From The Lake also return, bringing their hypnotic soundscapes back to Montréal’s listening rooms.

As always, the festival unfolds across multiple venues—from free outdoor programming at esplanade Tranquille to immersive works at the Society for Arts and Technology and late-night club sessions at MTELUS. This year also introduces the Maison symphonique as a new venue, opening the door for large-scale sonic works like Tristan Perich and James McVinnie’s Infinity Gradient, written for organ and one hundred speakers.

With more Québec and Canadian artists still to be announced, MUTEK’s 27th edition is already shaping up to be another essential gathering for the global electronic avant-garde—six days where Montréal becomes a living circuit board of sound, light, and possibility.

Tickets and festival passes are on sale now. For the full lineup and additional festival information, visit mutek.org.