Free things to do this fall in Montréal

Downtown Montréal pulses with creativity year-round, and the Quartier des Spectacles is at its heart with lots of live music and theatrical performances. Expect surprise performances, multimedia projections and bold public art around every corner. Start with the JOAT Festival international de street dance: this street dance festival runs through September 1 and is full of free performances and workshops. 

From August 23 to September 7, don’t miss Le FAR Festival des arts de ruelle, with pop-up performances and family-friendly activities in alleyways — aka ruelles — across the city.

Follow a glowing trail of video and light installations, from the esplanade of Place des Arts to Insitu, a visual poem on the Maison symphonique. On the Promenade des Artistes you can see Yawenda’ from September 11 to November 9, examining the history of French-language Indigenous theatre in Québec.

Join the open-air TEMPÉO, Dance and Music Festival (September 10 to 15) for live dance and even lessons with pro instructors.

Sport meets spectacle at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (September 14), where top cyclists race through Mount Royal Park. Catch the action for free at the Parc Jeanne-Mance fan village. 

MAPP_MTL, the international projection mapping festival, lights up spaces across town from September 24 to 27, blending vibrant digital projections with live music for a mesmerizing experience.

MTL Connect  (October 28 to 31) brings digital arts to life at SAT with exhibitions, conferences, and several free events celebrating innovation in the digital world.

Film lovers, this is your season: from the Festival du nouveau cinéma (October 8 to 19) to CINEMANIA (November 4 to 16) and RIDM Montréal International Documentary Festival (November 20 to 30), it’s a feast of screenings, along with free virtual and in-person events and activities.

POP Montréal International Music Festival (September 24 to 28) is a renowned Montréal attraction: it’s a celebration of music, art, and culture, featuring free pop-up performances, panel discussions, free Kids POP activities and more to see in venues across the city.

Urban music fans can groove to M for Montréal (November 19 to 22), with a mix of free and ticketed events including live shows and online performances. 

Meanwhile, Mundial Montréal (November 18 to 21) shines a spotlight on world music, offering a selection of free performances right downtown.

For classical music enthusiasts, the Montréal Bach Festival (November 15 to December 7) celebrates Bach’s genius, with some free performances sprinkled throughout the event.

Craving global flavours? The Montréal Ukrainian Festival (September 6 to 8) fills Parc Maisonneuve with artists, singers, dancers, comedians and choirs to entertain you for free as you consider dolling out a few dollars for the scrumptious traditional Ukrainian food on hand. 

The Martinique Gourmand Festival (September 9 to 21) offers Creole cuisine and a free market at the Grand Quay, with free music and animations to be enjoyed as you smell the mouthwatering food.

For more local flavour, visit Montréal’s public markets, including Jean-Talon Market and Atwater Market, perfect for picking up seasonal treats for a picnic in the park.

Ephemeral open-air spaces like Jardins Gamelin and Marché des Éclusiers also offer live music, food, and activities through September and October. 

Every wall tells a story in Montréal — discover murals by MURAL, LNDMRK, MU and more by simply strolling across the city.

Take a self-guided tour through Montréal’s hundreds of public art installations, or follow our guide to Montréal's most famous icons to see more of the city's major sights and architecture.

Another great resource, our Montréal guide to gallery hopping will introduce you to art galleries like Galerie Hugues Charbonneau, Skol, B-312 and SBC Gallery, not to mention the Belgo Building, which hosts even more gems. 

Check out Bradley Ertaskiran in Saint-Henri, explore Art Mûr on Saint-Hubert Street, and in Mile End, Centre CLARK, Dazibao, Optica, Daphne and Simon Blais await.

Explore the free art and performances at the city’s Maisons de la culture art centres, too, where culture thrives year-round.

At the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, admission is free for those under 25 years old, and for those 65 and over on Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families (one or two adults with one or more children aged 17 and under) can also enjoy free admission on Saturday mornings, and Quebec residents get free access to the collections on the first Sunday of each month, though reservations are required.

The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, offers free admission to various groups, including those 18 and under, persons with disabilities and their companions, and Indigenous people. Plus, you can explore the MACrepertoire, the museum’s extensive digital platform.

At the McCord Stewart Museum, you’ll get free admission on Wednesday evenings after 5 pm and also on the first Sunday of every month, with a "pay what you can" model. Admission is always free for visitors under 17 years old as well as for members of Indigenous communities and museum members.

Mount Royal Park is a must-see, offering panoramic city views, peaceful forest paths and fresh air by the bucketful. Catch the skyline from the Kondiaronk Belvedere and the Mount Royal Chalet, then walk to the illuminated cross for a closer view. From there you can stroll all the way down the hill to the shores of the St. Lawrence, and take in sights of monuments, architectural gems and art installations along the way.

Montréal's parks and green spaces are perfect for exploring — from the serene Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau to the expansive Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame, and Parc Frédéric-Back in Saint-Michel. As fall sets in, they come alive with vibrant colours.

Find peace in Montréal's sacred sites like the historic churches of Old Montréal and downtown, or the majestic Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Côte-des-Neiges.

Explore the city by transit, foot, or bike — check out our guide to biking routes, rentals, and Bixi bikes to easily get around and enjoy aaaaall Montréal has to offer.