By Rita Wakim – Montreal – 06.07.2026
A powerful moment unfolded at Saint Levant’s concert in Montreal, where music met identity, memory, and resilience.
On the Grand Stage of the Montreal International Jazz Festival — which is celebrating its 46th anniversary this year as a landmark celebration of music, culture, and creativity — Saint Levant delivered far more than a concert. He delivered a message.
Addressing a crowd gathered in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, the French-Palestinian artist expressed his hope that one day he would be able to invite the world to a free Palestine, while reaffirming his commitment to speaking the truth about his homeland and about a history marked by more than a century of occupation.
For more than an hour, Saint Levant performed a repertoire of songs passionately embraced by his audience, made up largely of Gen Z fans who know his lyrics by heart and connect deeply with his artistic universe. The crowd also reflected a gathered Arab community, including Palestinians, Lebanese, Tunisians, Moroccans, Jordanians, and Egyptians, all united in their appreciation of his music and message. Known for his poignant lyrics and his ability to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries, the artist has rapidly built a global following with tracks such as Do You Love Me?, Jerusalem Freestyle, Sheikh, Nano , Deira, and his latest hit, Sabah El Ward.
With his distinctive voice, magnetic stage presence, and emotionally charged performance, Saint Levant transformed the evening into more than a musical event — it became a cultural and emotional gathering. Thousands of festivalgoers filled the Quartier des spectacles, reflecting both the scale of his popularity and the resonance of his message among a new generation of listeners.
The night continued with a festive closing segment featuring Abu Levant as DJ, performing a selection of crowd-favorite tracks that kept the energy high. An afterparty followed, opened by the Yallah Habibi band, led by the tunisian artist DJ Khalil Fourati whose vibrant set and feel-good song selection set the tone for a memorable continuation of the evening. Saint Levant later returned in a DJ set of his own, revisiting some of his songs while blending Lebanese, Arab, and international tracks in a celebration that extended the spirit of the concert well into the night.
More than just a performance, Saint Levant’s appearance in Montreal stood out as a moment where art, identity, and conviction came together on one of the city’s most iconic festival stages — an unforgettable night that will remain in the memory of his audience for a long time. Saint Levant has since left Montreal for Cairo to film a video clip and a song release with Diva Haifa Wehbe.