Big, can’t-miss Montréal concerts in 2023

Jamie O'Meara

Jamie O'Meara was the Editor-in-Chief at C2 Montréal and the former Editor-in-Chief of alt-weekly newspaper HOUR Magazine.

This article was updated on September 14, 2023.

It goes without saying that 2023 will be one of the most epic years for A-list live music in Montréal’s entertainment history. From Metallica to Shania Twain, if you like music — any music — the next many months have top-tier artists as varied as the seasons in Montréal, and are well worth the trip to la belle ville all on their own. Let the following be your guide to all the can’t-miss Montréal concerts in 2023...

Fall concerts

All hail hip-hop’s GOATs: They’re the foundational New York City rap collective that spawned legendary names like RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna and Ol' Dirty Bastard (ODB, RIP). Now Wu-Tang Clan — considered by many to be the greatest hip-hop group of all time — are embarking on the co-headlining N.Y. State of Mind Tour with another giant of the genre, Nas, who Billboard called one of the “10 Best Rappers of All Time.” It will be epic in Laval’s Place Bell on October 2.

 

 

One, two, three, uno, dos, tres, cuatro! 3 Latin artists will be performing together: Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin! The three artists are joining forces for the "TRILOGY" tour, and they will be in Montréal at the Bell Centre on October 20. Get ready for this one-in-a-lifetime fiesta!

 

 

Let's go girls: Who hasn't sung the famous song "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" at karaoke? Now is our chance to hear it in person as our favourite Canadian country pop singer Shania Twain returns to Montreal on her Queen of me world tour on October 25, 2023 at the Bell Centre.

 

The colour of incredible: Anyone who’s been lucky enough to take in a P!NK concert (and yours truly is one of those fortunate souls) won’t forget it any lifetime soon, such is the towering talent of this performance triple threat. And Montrealers will get not one but two chances to see the R&B/pop rock superstar when she brings her Trustfall tour (named for her just-released ninth studio album) to the Bell Centre, November 1 and 2. Opening are GROUPLOVE and KidCutUP.

 

A joyous hello again, and a solemn farewell: Following the sudden and shocking loss of founding member Andy Fletcher, legendary electro-pop pioneers and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductees Depeche Mode will play their first live shows in five years on the “Memento Mori Tour,” named for the band’s forthcoming 15th studio album, due out in Spring 2023. Enjoy the silence (or rather, lack thereof) at the Bell Centre on November 3rd.

Rock’n’roll all day and party one last night: If you’re to believe them (insert grain of salt here), NYC hard-rock legends KISS will put away the makeup after 50 years of blood-spitting, fire-breathing metal mayhem on this final leg of their The End of the Road Tour, which began in 2019. Expect the classics — Rock and Roll All Nite, Detroit Rock City, Beth and more — when KISS take over the Bell Centre for ostensibly one last time on November 18.

 

The Boss is back: There are very few performers in the pantheon of rock’n’roll who excite the same kind of emotional connection with fans as blue-collar-rock legend Bruce Springsteen does. Near-instant sold-out concerts are the norm on this latest tour by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, who are playing their first North American shows together in seven years (and the reviews, at the risk of understatement, have been glowing). Put your party hat on November 20 at the Bell Centre.

 

Suckers for these brothers: The Jonas Brothers are headed to Montréal on December 1st for their Five Albums, One Night tour. It's going to be an unforgettable performance where they'll play songs from all five of their albums in one night!

 

 

Coming in 2024

Our Lady, Mother of Pop: The Material Girl, indeed. Madonna is the most successful solo artist in the history of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and has the most number one singles by a woman in Canada, Australia and multiple European countries. She’ll be performing this material and more on “The Celebration Tour,” featuring four decades of her greatest hits, and sending the Bell Centre into a frenzy on January 18 and 20, 2024.

 

It's not goodbye, it's PEACE OUT: As part of their last tour, Aerosmith will come to Montréal for their PEACE OUT tour, with special guest The Black Crowes, on January 26, 2024

 

You need to have the Guts: Pop rock princess Olivia Rodrigo is coming to Montréal on March 26, 2024 as part of the GUTS world tour.

Jamie O'Meara

Jamie O'Meara was the Editor-in-Chief at C2 Montréal and the former Editor-in-Chief of alt-weekly newspaper HOUR Magazine.

Enjoy the best of Montréal

The Tourisme Montréal newsletter gives you the inside scoop on everything happening in the city.

Moments nearby