Festivals and cultural events Montreal

Clearly one of the most popular festivals in the city, it brings the Quartier des spectacles to life with the best comedians in la Belle Province. It will be 40 years old in 2022! The festival's English-language counterpart, Just For Laughs Montreal, and Zoofest, an event dedicated to up-and-coming comedians, take place in parallel, in an unconventional and festive format. Laughter guaranteed! Note that an annual program of indoor comedy shows is also offered (see hahaha.com for more info and tickets).

The goal of this event is to promote Quebec cinema in Canada and abroad, through meetings organized between the public and film artisans, various events, not to mention, of course, close to 300 screenings of all kinds, including about a hundred premieres and more than thirty free activities (round tables, DJ nights, workshops, awards ceremonies, etc.). Screenings take place at the Cinémathèque, the Imperial Cinema and the Odéon Cineplex in the Latin Quarter.

A unique festival in North America, bringing together the best of the African, Caribbean and South American music scenes. The artists make heads move on rhythms with multiple influences. During these summer days, between traditional music, jazz, electro or bossa nova, it is above all an atmosphere that is created. In addition, concerts are also scheduled during the rest of the year as well as workshops and inspiring conferences on the theme of music.

In the enchanting setting of St. Helen's Island, with a breathtaking view of the St. Lawrence River and downtown Montreal, this open-air festival is entirely dedicated to the electronic music scene with the biggest names in techno, house music and dubstep . Since 2022, the Oasis Show stage has doubled in size and is now one of the largest in Canada, promising a memorable show! The night before the event, a pre-festival party is organized in town and ÎleSoniq also presents indoor artists throughout the year.

The international independent music scene meets at Pop Montreal, a festival for music lovers in the purest sense of the word. The discovery pass (offered before the unveiling of the program..., adventurers beware!) allows you to attend all the concerts scheduled, to fill your ears with new and more familiar sounds. Pop Montréal programs many other well-known events throughout the year, such as Puces Pop, Film Pop, Art Pop, etc. (see the website for more information).

A small festival turned big, this unique and festive international gathering is a superb showcase for genre cinema from the four corners of the globe. Original and a bit eccentric, it is today a major reference for this type of cinema and the event stands out clearly from other world cinema events. Since its debut in 1996, Fantasia has attracted more than a million spectators, eager to discover the varied programming that bridges the gap between avant-garde and mainstream cinema. An event not to be missed.

MUTEK Montréal is more than a festival, it's an immersive sonic and visual experience. No DJ sets here, just live performances for total sensory exploration. Whether standing, lying down, in a dome or in virtual reality, let yourself be transported by established and emerging international artists. MUTEK also promotes Canadian artists and a commitment to gender equality. At the same time, the MUTEK Forum offers conferences and workshops on art and new technologies. 25 years of innovation and audacity to celebrate from August 20 to 25, 2024, with over 100 audiovisual performances.

More than a kilometer of Sainte-Catherine Street is dedicated to the visual arts and becomes for some time the largest open-air gallery in eastern Canada with some one hundred artists practicing different disciplines participating in the event or in the large-scale exhibition and sale. The program also includes a number of contemporary cultural events, including multidisciplinary and interactive performances that allow the artists and the general public to meet. An open-air event where it is good to stroll in the middle of the Montreal summer.