Come amaze at the Gardens of Light
Welcome to the magical Gardens of Light! Running from September 3 to November 1, 2026, the Chinese, Japanese and First Nations gardens at Montréal’s Botanical Garden will light up come nightfall. Wander the meandering footpaths set ablaze in a million colours with delicate silk lanterns and ethereal light projections, and watch nature come to life.
Lights and lanterns for everyone’s delight
Every edition of Gardens of Light brings its own poetic theme, which is exhibited in the lanterns as well as in the special programming organized to animate the evenings for kids.
Come see luminous, interactive and immersive installations and participate in craft workshops, food tastings and more.
Created to encourage dialogue between humans and nature, this is an experience that has the whole family in mind — but it makes a great date night idea too. (Watch for the special Halloween activities happening throughout October!)
Date night, family outing… the Botanical Garden unveils its true magic at night!
Chinese legends brought to life
The Chinese Garden will be decked out from top to bottom in hundreds of handmade silk lanterns to tell the Shan Hai Jing tale, a cornerstone of Chinese mythology starring the goddess Xiwangmu, who gathered creatures around the sacred tree that connects heaven and earth. The story comes to life through the multicoloured creatures perched and posed everywhere you look. There’s also an immersive multimedia water show! On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, there are often special half-hour activities or workshops you can sign up for ahead of time.
A Zen tour of Japan
By contrast to that high-octane light show, the Japanese Garden is a perfect site for quiet contemplation. When night falls the garden’s unique features get washed in tranquil lights that denote each shape and texture. See a monumental projection displaying birds that take flight across rocks, fish that emerge from the foliage and mountains that rise high on the waterfall wall, all to the sound of an enchanting flute.
In a poetic homage to the changing seasons inspired by the yūgen aesthetic, it’s an invitation to take the time to admire the subtle or spectacular transformations of nature. Stroll through a series of scenes in this peaceful garden or take a seat on a bench and bask in the beauty.
The First Nations cycle of life
To mark its 25th anniversary, the Indigenous Peoples Garden presents a completely reimagined experience. The journey unfolds across five interconnected scenes developed in collaboration with Indigenous artists and explores the connections between people, generations and the land.
Isa Tousignant
Isa Tousignant is an editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. (All were transformative.) Her favourite things include discovering new flavours and celebrating the creativity that defines her hometown, Montréal.