Montreal becomes the capital of international rap hostilities once again

Montreal | Today marks the beginning of the second half of season 11 of End of the Weak Québec, an edition that will culminate in the grand world final in Montreal.

There are events that come back, and there are those that come back for a good reason. End of the Weak Québec is undoubtedly part of the latter category.

After a period dedicated to strategic development, the Quebec chapter of one of the world’s largest rap competitions returns to the stage in front of a live audience in 2026, seven years after its last public appearance in 2019. This comeback also marks an important milestone: the organization’s 15^th anniversary in Quebec.

For this new edition (season 11), the organization presented the first three qualifying nights as part of the Francos de Montréal.

The rest of the competition will take place at the Projet Tyxna venue, which will host the final two qualifying rounds (including tonight’s penultimate qualifier), the Wildcard night, the national final, and the grand world final. The national final will determine the artist who will have the honor of representing Quebec at the End of the Weak world final, where the best MCs from different international scenes will compete.

By launching the competition at the heart of the Francos, it gave participants a prestigious stage and a unique opportunity to make a name for themselves before representing Quebec on the international stage. The Quebec market is filled with exceptionally talented artists, many of whom are still part of the underground scene, alongside those who regularly make headlines and appear on the covers of specialized media outlets.

The return of the international competition to the metropolis

It was in 2015 that the Quebec division had the honor of hosting the world final at Belmont. Eleven years later, season 11 once again establishes a direct connection with audiences, both local and international.

Several international delegations will be on site, including those from the United States, France, England, Switzerland, and South Africa, highlighting the scale of this competition.

Let's be honest: these are the kinds of events that truly put the underground scene on the map, for all the right reasons. They bring the entire community together, rather than just a small circle of friends.

Behind this relaunch are three well-known names in the industry: Benoît Beaudry, Guillaume Gingras and Jaime Emilioowners of the Quebec division of the organization End of the Weak.

Reached by phone, Benoît Beaudry, one of the key figures behind the event, emphasized that:

‘’The return to the stage in front of a live audience is extremely positive for the entire Hip-Hop industry.’’

What is End of the Weak?

If you’ve never attended an End of the Weak, here’s what you need to know before stepping into the event: it’s nothing like a traditional rap battle where there are no limits to disrespect in order to tear down an opponent’s career with material that could make you want to put your opponent to sleep in front of everyone, lol. End of the Weak takes the opposite approach. No insults, no personal attacks.

The goal is not to put down the other MC, but to highlight talent, writing skills, and the respect between artists. This is where the term anti-battle comes from, a concept that the organization itself embraces.

Born in New York in 2000, the concept is now present on five continents and even had its own television platform with La Fin des faibles, broadcast on Télé-Québec.

More specifically, the competition consists of five challenges that test different aspects of an MC’s craft, much like a competition that evaluates multiple technical skills rather than a simple one-on-one battle:

1. Free Verse
2. A cappella
3. Improvisation (freestyle bag)
4. The MC vs DJ
5. The circle (cypher)

Want to give it a shot?

Québec is not lacking platforms for emerging artists and established acts, but each one has its own purpose, and End of the Weak occupies a very specific place within this landscape.

Access to the competition remains professional: artists qualify either by invitation or by becoming the audience’s choice. To have a chance at being selected by the public, participants must purchase a ticket for the event. Each evening also begins with an open rap battle for everyone, providing an opportunity to be discovered and potentially earn a spot in the official qualification round that follows.

Aujourd’hui et demain restent les dernières dates où tenter sa chance comme artiste du public. Le niveau s’annonce relevé : mieux vaut arriver préparé.

When questioned about the importance and impact ofEOW for the next generation, Steve Pageot, one of the governors of the Recording Academy and also one of the judges of the competition, believes that this kind of event pushes artists to surpass themselves and give their best.

Season 11 continues its journey

The season that took off at Francos de Montréal, to the Place Desjardins, avec trois soirées gratuites et 100 % en français :

• June 12 / Ruby Red, KJT, Sam Faye, Jeune Chilly Chill
• June 14 / Monk-E, Morse Attack, Nikolas Anka, LS
• June 19 / Bagg, Houdini, Chacalcolik, EX.ACT

Téhu and Sqreeb were on the decks, Darleph Cazeneuve (Goofy Welldone) and Carmina Vanessa hosted, while the judging panel brought together Steve Pageot, Olivier Brault, Ekinoxx, and Dj Rossy Ross throughout the different nights.

After these first three events and two more qualification rounds in the coming days, three artists have already secured their spot in the Québec final:

• Monk-E
• KJT
• Chacalcolik

Two qualification rounds remain before the full final lineup is revealed. Next stop: Projet Tyxna in Montréal for the continuation of the competition:

4^th Qualification Round | August 14, 2026, 8:00 PM

• You will find on stage: Spaceman DelaHoudini, Helmé, VOICE and Joshua Miller-Clarke, comedian and Hip-Hop artist, aka Scynikal.

5^th Qualification Round | August 15, 2026, 8:00 PM

Wild Card | August 21, 2026, 8:00 PM

• The best second-place finishers of the season return for a chance to claim the final available spot in the Québec Final. The competition is far from lacking twists.

National Final (Quebec) | August 22, 2026, 8:00 PM

WORLD FINAL | September 5, 2026, 8:00 PM

• Montreal will become the meeting point for the world’s top international talents as champions from several countries come together to crown the best MC in the world.

The next chapter of End of the Weak Québec is already underway, as the organization continues its development on several fronts. We wish Benoît Beaudry, Guillaume Gingras, Jaime Emilio, and the entire team the very best of success.

For the rest, all you need to do is buy your ticket now: Tickets