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. 
• The JOAT Festival international de street dance is a street dance festival that runs through September 1 and is full of free performances and workshops. 
• From August 29 to September 13, 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. 
• Join the open-air TEMPÉO, Dance and Music Festival (September 16 to 20) for live dance and even lessons with pro instructors.
• MAPP_MTL, the international projection mapping festival, lights up spaces across town from September 29 to October 3, blending vibrant digital projections with live music for a mesmerizing experience.
• MTL Connect (October 13 to 16) 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 7 to 18) to CINEMANIA (November 4 to 15) and RIDM Montréal International Documentary Festival (November 19 to 29), it’s a feast of screenings, along with free virtual and in-person events and activities.

• POP Montréal International Music Festival (September 23 to 27) 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 18 to 21), with a mix of free and ticketed events including live shows and online performances. 
• Meanwhile, Mundial Montréal (November 17 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 4 to December 9) celebrates the composer with some free performances sprinkled throughout the event.

• The Montréal Ukrainian Festival (on four days between August 29 and September 20) 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 8 to 19) 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, Esplanade Louvain and Bassin Peel also offer live music, food, and activities through September and October. 

• Discover murals by MURAL, LNDMRK, MU and more by simply strolling across the city, as free as a bird.
• 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 many Maisons de la culture art centres, too, where culture thrives year-round.

1. 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.
2. The Redpath Museum is a university museum specializing in natural history, geology and world cultures that’s always free to all, though a suggested donation is welcome. It’s wonderfully located amid the beautiful McGill University campus.
3. Free to visit year round, the Musée de Lachine invites visitors to explore Montréal’s oldest complete building, fascinating archaeological collections and one of Canada’s largest outdoor sculpture gardens, all set along the scenic St. Lawrence waterfront.
4. At the McCord Stewart Museum, you’ll get free admission on Wednesday evenings after 5 p.m. 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.
5. PHI invites curious minds to experience thought provoking contemporary art through rotating exhibitions, immersive installations and multimedia works. Admission is free for children aged 12 and under, to members of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis as well as persons with disabilities and the D/deaf and hard of hearing community (along with their companion). 

Want more? The Passeport MTL offers discounts on even more of Québec’s history, art, and culture — all at your fingertips!

• 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 guides to biking routes, rentals and BIXI bikes to easily get around and enjoy aaaaall Montréal has to offer.