Of Monsters and Men will headline this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival in July. (FACEBOOK)
Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men will headline the 51st edition of the Winnipeg Folk Festival this summer.
Festival organizers pulled back the curtain on this year’s lineup on Thursday night, saying the band has long been a goal for the festival.
“Their performance comes at a meaningful time, aligning with the 150th anniversary of the Icelandic settlement in Manitoba,” a press release said.
Joining Of Monsters and Men at Birds Hill Provincial Park will be solo artist Lucy Dacus, who is a member of the supergroup boygenius.
Other acts include Father John Misty, who will make his festival debut, alongside Stephen Wilson Jr., political songwriter Jesse Welles, and folk-tronic group Sylvan Esso.
“We want to keep that familiar Folk Fest vibe our audience enjoys each year while also introducing artists who have never played the festival before,” said artistic director Chris Frayer.
“We curated this lineup with intention, bringing in artists who truly reflect who we are as a festival. We believe this year sets the trajectory for the next 50 years.”
Special programming includes Time Fades Away: Neil Young @ 80, the festival’s version of the 2025 Massey Hall celebration of Neil Young’s music and his 80th birthday.
Festivalgoers can also experience the workshop Cumbia Cósmica (Cosmic Cumbia), a genre blending traditional Colombian cumbia rhythms with psychedelic rock and electronic music, performed by Chicha Libre, Empanadas Ilegales and Killabeatmaker.
Tier 2 tickets are now on sale. Attendees can purchase them online or in person at the Winnipeg Folk Festival office (203–211 Bannatyne Ave).
The 2026 festival takes place July 9-12. To see the full lineup, visit WinnipegFolkFestival.ca.
