The Festival d'été de Québec (FEQ) has kicked off its 2025 ticket sales with the much-anticipated presale. Sales opened at noon, and like previous years, the 20,000 passes available through the Desjardins presale vanished within minutes, showcasing the relentless enthusiasm from fans. The virtual queue counted nearly 100,000 eager festival-goers, all vying for the limited number of tickets. Last year, the same presale sold out within 10 minutes—a thrilling fact supported by the festival's historical ticket demand.
Following the Desjardins presale, there will be 105,000 general admission passes available during the main sale on February 26, 2025, also at noon. The total number of general admission passes for FEQ 2025 stands at 125,000. The presale tickets were priced at $152, but prices will rise to $165 during the general sale. Notably, the new BLEUFEU pass, which grants access to both the FEQ and the FONO festival, will also be on sale for $315. This price reflects a $15 increase from last year, but organizers maintain the FEQ offers exceptional value, as admission to just one headlining concert typically costs the same as the festival's comprehensive 11-night experience.
Although all 20,000 presale passes were sold out by 12:21 p.m. on the day of opening, the longer time frame for presale sales this year suggests improvements to the ticketing system's management, allowing buyers to queue more steadily. This year’s presale continued to attract strong demand, evidenced by many fans facing queues longer than thousands—some with over 84,000 people placed before them.
To tackle the ever-present issue of ticket resale, the FEQ organization has implemented several new measures. "It's not fair to find passes on the market at prices significantly higher than those set by the festival. Scalpers profit from music fans' passion, to the detriment of artists and the public," officials stated on the FEQ website.
This proactive stance against ticket scalping aims to address the frustrations faced by true festival lovers. FEQ has set strict transaction limits to combat bulk buying scalpers can exploit. Festival attendees are only allowed to purchase up to four general admission passes per transaction or two BLEUFEU passes. Buyers will enter a virtual waiting room before sales kick off, helping to streamline the purchasing process and prevent rampant bulk purchases.
Last year, the FEQ drew controversy when it unexpectedly moved up the ticket release, prompting backlash from fans who felt forced to buy passes without knowledge of the festival lineup. This year, organizers have pledged to keep the sale at noon as promised, giving festival-goers certainty and respect for the announced time.
Those interested in purchasing their tickets on February 26 will find their waiting room open from 9:00 to noon. Upon the ticket release, attendees will be randomly assigned their place in the queue, ensuring fairness throughout the purchasing experience. This adjustment is intended to eliminate chances for early arrivals to gain ticket purchasing priority.
To maintain the festive atmosphere of the FEQ, organizers are encouraging attendees to share their passes with family and friends rather than resort to resale options. Yet, the reality of resale looms large; the festival's comms team acknowledges, "Despite our efforts, resale is still prevalent across all festivals. It disheartens us when fans are unable to enjoy their festival at reasonable prices," echoing sentiments widespread throughout the industry.
Even regional events, free or not, have not been exempt from scalper activities. For example, the tribute concert for the late Karl Tremblay of the Cowboys Fringuants faced similar challenges, showing scalpers' relentless pursuit of profit—a concern the Coalition avenir Québec addressed earlier this year. Missouri MP Kariane Bourassa has met with stakeholders but, unfortunately, no actionable strategy has materialized yet.
The countdown has officially begun for the 2025 FEQ as ticket sales loom on the horizon. The festival is doing all it can to safeguard the genuine enthusiasts who simply wish to partake without the sometimes-disheartening and often inflated prices encountered when buying from resellers. Organizers are hopeful these measures will create fairer access for fans yearning for their festival experience, and as always, the anticipation is high for what this next iteration of the FEQ will bring.