The 2025 edition of the Festival international de la chanson de Granby (FICG) concluded on Aug. 24, 2025, after Adam El Mouna was named this year’s winner of the Grand Concours Hydro-Québec 2025. In front of a captivated Palace de Granby audience, the artist was presented with the Fabienne Trophy – named in honour of Fabienne Thibeault, who won the competition in 1974 – the symbol of a major springboard for emerging Francophone musical talent.
Left to right: Philippe Gosselin, Chair of the festival Board of Directors; Adam El Mouna; Josée Mailhot, Executive Director of the FICG; Julie Bourdon, Mayor of Granby.
Hosted by actress, and singer-songwriter with the duo Veranda, Catherine-Audrey Lachapelle, the final brought together the five competitors – Théo Théo, Maude Loue, Mahé, Charlie-Rose, and Adam El Mouna – whose performances each won over the audience. While everyone waited for the decision, the audience was treated to music from Vaëlle, the winner of last year’s edition, who reminded everyone of the kind of doors that this competition can open.
A passionate, generous artist, Adam El Mouna stood out for his onstage intensity, and the authenticity of his performance. After a notable appearance on La Voix (the Québec franchise of The Voice TV singing competition), he refined his writing and artistic world, drawing on an energy both raw and theatrical, to captivate the audience.
The winner walks away with an impressive array of awards and prizes, worth more than $40,000, including $25,000 in career development support offered by the Festival, as well as various opportunities in press relations, radio tracking, strategic guidance, and paid performances at several events and on tours. Among them are the Quartier des Spectacles Prize, which will allow him to perform at Jardins Gamelin in 2026, and the Réseau Ontario Prize, which will open the doors to Contact Ontarois.
The other finalists didn’t leave empty-handed: Théo Théo will perform at Île du Repos and at the Soif de Musique Festival; Charlie-Rose will benefit from a creative residency in Petite-Vallée and a showcase at the FrancoFête in Acadie; while Mahé and Maude Loue will receive, respectively, technical support and a professional video production.
In total, more than $100,000 in prizes and opportunities were awarded this year. For more than 50 years, the Festival international de la chanson de Granby has remained an essential showcase for emerging talent, and a launching pad for many of the most influential artists on the Québec music scene.
SOCAN congratulates Adam El Mouna, and all of the finalists of the 2025 edition!