CANADA VIBES NEWSROOM · EVENING EDITION
July 18, 2026 · 7:00 PM ET

Less than six weeks before its 18th edition, scheduled for August 19-23 in Percé, the Percéides international film and art festival faces an incomplete financial structure and a suspended $2-million federal grant.

With less than six weeks to go, the Festival’s financial structure is still not complete. The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles du Québec (SODEC), one of the festival’s main funders, has not yet confirmed its contribution. The board of directors also expects the 2025 accounting report to show a significant deficit.

More seriously, $2 million in federal funding has been cut off until the non-profit organization is restructured. The situation follows an internal governance crisis reported in recent weeks involving the festival’s board of directors and its founder.

Interim general director Benoît S. Pilon says he hopes to be able to offer programming to film lovers this summer. While unable to give a definitive answer, he estimates the probability the festival goes ahead at above 60%, and is already developing a recovery plan spread over two to three years.

Sabrina Merceron, commissioner of the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision de la Gaspésie, says cancelling the Percéides would be a hard blow to the region: the event drives cultural tourism in Percé and generates significant economic spinoffs for the community.

What to watch

SODEC’s funding decision, whether the festival is confirmed to proceed August 19-23, and details of the two-to-three-year restructuring plan.

Sources

• Radio-Canada — “L’édition 2026 du Festival Les Percéides pourrait être compromise”
• Radio-Canada — “Le Festival Les Percéides généralement soutenu malgré la crise interne”
• Radio-Canada — “Crise interne au Festival international Les Percéides”
• CHNC FM — “Les Percéides doivent convaincre pour assurer sa survie”