Fall 2026: Montréal cultural guide for families

La Tohu, Saint-Michel
This venue for performance, creation, and experimentation specialises in contemporary circus arts and presents some of the best local and international circus acts. This fall, catch: 
Ages 12 and over: Wolf (October 7 to 11, 2026)
All ages: L'Impro Cirque (October 17, 2026)
All ages: iD - Evolution (October 31 to November 15, 2026)
Ages 5 and over: Le Magicien d'Oz (December 17, 2026 to January 3, 2027)

Gardens of light — September 3 to November 1, 2026, Jardin botanique
This signature fall event allows visitors to admire three cultural gardens in the Montréal botanical garden bathed in a dreamy light. The 14th edition will also spotlight Resonance, a brand-new narrative and artistic experience to honour the 25th anniversary of the Indigenous Peoples Garden. A real feast for the eyes! 

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Downtown
Right in the heart of the historic Golden Square Mile downtown, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MBAM) hosts world-class international exhibitions and offers workshops for all ages on Saturdays and Sundays. Families can enjoy an artistic experience focused on the current major exhibition or explore the museum’s permanent collections. Admission is free for visitors aged 20 and under. Fall exhibitions include: 

• Chiharu Shiota - The Soul Trembles (September 26 to February 14, 2027)
• Allison Katz - Jeu d'esprit (October 9, 2026 to March 14, 2027)
• Anne Kahane - Structures (November 19, 2026 to April 4, 2027)
• Rising Suns: Art from the Confederacies of the Great Lakes and Rivers  (until October 11, 2026) 
• Ready, Set, Go! Sports Inspire Art (until October 12, 2026)
• Beyond the Pedestal: Sculptures in the Collection, from the 1960s to Today (until March 7, 2027) 

Musée d’art contemporain, Downtown
Temporarily closed. Reopening slated for 2028. 
The MAC family exhibitions and activities are designed for children aged 6 and up, as well as teenagers. This fall, join the dynamic, welcoming team for a workshop organized as part of the Journées de la culture, where you can explore new perspectives on avant-garde art on September 26, 2026. Free for 18 years and under.

World Press Photo Montréal — August 26 to October 12, 2026, Marché Bonsecours 
Bring your teens to see the 19th edition of this not-to-be-missed exhibition, a flagship event of Montréal’s fall calendar. Featuring the winning photos from the prestigious international photojournalism contest, the exhibition highlights the events that marked the past year and includes accompanying exhibitions by Quebecer artists and photojournalists. Free for children under 10.

OASIS immersion, Palais des congrès, Downtown 
Experience immersive adventures in the enchanting world of OASIS immersion. Located in a 2,000-m² multimedia space, discover three immersive galleries and two luminous experiences with your family. Free for children aged 0 to 5. This fall all through November 2026, explore:

• Root for nature, a true sensory bath in nature created in collaboration with National Geographic, focusing on conservation and sustainable development issues, 
• The Immersive Carnival of the Animals, a journey into a vibrant retro-futuristic world filled with whimsical characters—half animal, half instrument—and a playful, interactive scenography.
• Bodyverse: an exploration of the human body through large-scale immersive projections with free-roaming interactive virtual reality.

Museum of Illusions of Montréal, Old Montréal
At the heart of this playful and educational destination for all ages, discover over 70 visual experiences, including holograms, stereograms, optical illusions, and immersive rooms designed to delight the senses and challenge the mind. Admission is free for children aged 0 to 4.

The AURA Experience at Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, Old Montréal
This multimedia experience created by renowned Montréal studio Moment Factory immerses the whole family in a captivating visual and musical universe, projected onto the neo-Gothic architecture of Montréal's Notre-Dame Basilica. Free for children 5 years and under.

The Black Mirror Experience™, King-Edward Pier, until October 22, 2026, Old Port
Inspired by the hit series, The Black Mirror Experience is an immersive adventure that blends the physical world with virtual reality. In groups of up to six, participants explore a world where a new AI companion, designed to improve people's lives, goes awry. Every choice can change the outcome in this interactive experience. For ages 12 and up.

Panorama Experience – Living Waters, Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal, until December 31, 2026, Old Port 
This immersive circuit is dedicated to the mysteries of the aquatic world. Artistic installations, projections and underwater landscapes invite visitors to explore hidden ecosystems and discover new connections between humans and nature.

SAT – Quartier des spectacles
Exhibitions and immersive experiences come together in this creative laboratory dedicated to the development of digital culture. Inside the Satosphere, enjoy a fully immersive audiovisual experience with teens and children alike. 

Arsenal Contemporary Art , Les Quartiers du Canal — Griffintown 
Located on the Lachine Canal in a former 19th century shipyard in the heart of Griffintown, Arsenal Contemporary Art hosts a diverse range of programming, from contemporary art exhibitions to multidisciplinary, immersive performances. This fall, check out: 

• Arsenal Contemporary Art Parcours  (until October 14, 2026)
• Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences 
• F(R)ICTION - Art and Games, in partnership with the 8th edition of the Biennale ELEKTRA (October 15 to November 15, 2026)

Heroes of Greece. The Age of Troy — until March 7, 2027, Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, Old Montréal

The whole family is invited to explore one of Antiquity’s greatest epics: the Trojan War, Homer’s heroes and the gods of Olympus—where human passions and divine conflicts intertwine. Nearly 400 authentic artifacts are brought together, several of which are being presented in North America for the very first time. Also back on until September 9, 2026 is Summer on the Pointe: a lineup of free, festive activities will take place on the Museum’s forecourt, in a warmly decorated urban oasis that’s perfectly adapted for families. 

Also worth visiting with the whole family:

• Come aboard! Pirates or Privateers? will delight young sailors aged 5 to 12 who are eager for knowledge and adventure.
• Archaeo-Adventure: kids step into the shoes of an archaeologist and experience a simulated dig, moving through the excavation site, tent, and lab space.
• Alley-oop — An Interactive Adventure  (until January 10, 2027): Montréal’s alleys are brought to life with visual projections and motion detection.

Good to know: Admission is free for children aged 0 to 4. 

Musée McCord Stewart, Downtown
Explore the history of Montréal in its diversity through exhibitions that often take interactive avenues. Numerous workshops and guided tours for the whole family are organized every weekend and admission is free to 12 years and under. Don't miss the permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience which showcases the knowledge and history of Indigenous peoples, as well as the current temporary exhibitions: 

• On the Menu – Montréal: A Restaurant Story (until October 18, 2026)
• Carrie Allison : askōhtēskanohwē​ (September 30, 2026 to February 28, 2027)
• Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves ​ (November 27, 2026 to March 29, 2027)

Redpath Museum, Downtown
Head over to the McGill University campus to discover incredible specimens of extinct animal species, fossils - including impressive dinosaur skeletons sure to impress young and old alike - and collections from ancient Egypt, including mummies. Suggested contribution of $10 (adults only).

Château Ramezay – Historic Site and Museum of Montréal, Old Montréal
The permanent exhibition Life at the Château: Splendour and Misery in New France offers an immersion into 18th-century Montréal that's sure to intrigue children of all ages. Free admission for children 4 and under. Two temporary exhibitions have been added to the program: 

• The American Revolution in Quebec — Our March Toward Democracy  (until March 27, 2027)

Jacques Nadeau — Real-Life Instinct, a free outdoor exhibition featuring the works of the celebrated Québec photographer (until November 1, 2026)

Marguerite-Bourgeoys Historic Site, Old Montréal 
Step back in time to the city’s beginnings and meet some of Montréal's most symbolic figures at this historic site. Take in the permanent exhibition, Meet Margeurite! where children can learn more about the influence of this pioneering woman on 17th-century Montréal. Free for children 12 and under.

MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises, Quartier des spectacles
This inclusive, forward-thinking museum and community space highlights the voices of citizens past and present, shedding light on the identities and stories that shape “Montréalness.” Bring the family to explore its current permanent and temporary exhibitions, along with MEM’s public spaces. Admission is free for children 12 and under, with a reduced rate for teens aged 13 to 17.

Écomusée du fier monde, Village
At the heart of a spectacular public bath converted into a museum, youngsters can discover the industrial and working-class history of the Centre-Sud district. Free for children 6 years and under.

La Maison Saint-Gabriel, Pointe-Saint-Charles
Head southwest of Montréal to visit a three-hundred-year-old farmhouse, where you'll get a glimpse of rural Montréal between the 17th and 20th centuries. There are many family activities offered this summer in addition to guided tours for children 6 years and up.

Musée des Hospitalières de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, Plateau-Mont-Royal
This museum offers a look back at four centuries of history through its former monastery, the caregivers’ garden, hospital, three chapels, a crypt and the burial site of Jeanne Mance—co-founder of Montréal and founder of the Hôtel-Dieu. Explore the permanent collection focused on sacred art, hospital care, medicine and pharmacy, as well as a temporary exhibition on view until September 13, 2026: Medicine and Charity, highlighting the heritage of Hôtels-Dieu from the Middle Ages to New France.  Every last Saturday of the month, from 10 a.m. to noon, families are invited to take part in thematic activities for children. Admission is just $5 for ages 5 and up and includes access to the current exhibition and a fun collage workshop.

Espace pour la vie, Quartier olympique

The largest museum complex in Canada devoted to the natural sciences  encompasses:

• the Biodôme
• the Planetarium
• the Botanical Garden
• the Insectarium
• the Biosphère (in Parc Jean-Drapeau)

A ton of activities and exhibitions for all ages await! Free for children 4 years and under.

Les Mosaïcultures, until November 30, 2026, Parc Jean-Drapeau
Les Mosaïcultures take root in the heart of the Jardins des Floralies at Parc Jean-Drapeau, where three large-scale horticultural works are composed of nearly half a million flowers and plants. The experience unfolds as an open-air artistic walk that celebrates life and inspires reflection and wonder in visitors of all ages.

Montréal Science Centre, Old Port of Montréal
For budding scientists of all ages, the Montreal Science Centre offers fun and enriching exhibitions for all age groups. Don’t miss Nanualuk – Northern Expedition, a permanent exhibition that takes visitors on an immersive quest into the Canadian Arctic filled with enriching interactive challenges, along with the 5 permanent exhibitions and films shown at the IMAX®TELUS cinema.

Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum, Saint-Constant
This museum on Montreal's South Shore offers permanent, temporary and virtual exhibits to introduce visitors to the fascinating world of railways. Children can climb aboard various train carriages and participate in the numerous thematic activities held throughout the year. Free admission for children 2 years and under.

Ecomuseum Zoo, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
The only outdoor zoo on the island of Montréal, here you can observe native Québec animals in their natural habitat. Wolves, hawks, caribou, and other magnificent creatures: keep your eyes peeled!