Concerts and shows

Montréal’s entertainment scene sparkles with concerts and shows at venues big and small. Here are some of our picks.

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal’s timeless adaptation of Casse-Noisette (a.k.a. The Nutcracker) by Quebec choreographer Fernand Nault returns to Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for its 60^th year. This two-act ballet based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale is set to the music of Tchaikovsky and brings together more than 60 dancers and 100 extras, plus the Orchestre des Grands ballets Canadiens de Montréal. If you have never seen it, this famed production is a must. The Nutcracker runs from December 14 to 30.

Grammy-winning maestro Kent Nagano and Fred Pellerin unite with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal to deliver the brand-new Christmas tale Le secret de Polichignon at the Maison symphonique de Montréal for five shows from December 14 to 17.

Under the baton of conductor Jean-Nicolas Trottier with musical arrangements by Antoine Gratton and vocals by Montreal jazz and soul legends Ranee Lee, Kim Richardson and Dawn Tyler Watson, the  Orchestre Metropolitain presents Holiday Melodies (December 9 and 10) at the Maison Symphonique.

Then Grammy-winning maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the OM and an all-Canadian cast of soloists in Handel’s Messiah at Notre-Dame Basilica on December 19 and 20.

TheOrchestre Classique de Montréal will perform Handel’s Messiah in the crypt of Saint Joseph’s Oratory on December 13 and 14. Get your tickets early, these OCM concerts always sell out.

Bourgie Hall presents the ninth edition of their highly-anticipated holiday classic A Charlie Brown Christmas featuring the Taurey Butler Trio. This four-concert series (December 20 and 21) will sell out, so get your tickets early.

The annual Andy Kim Christmas concert returns to the Beanfield Theatre (formerly The Corona) on December 9 with special guest performers, with all proceeds donated to Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada. Andy Kim was born and raised in Montréal, and his mega-hits include Rock Me Gently and the iconic Sugar, Sugar for The Archies.

Arts and culture

Blockbuster shows fill Montréal theatres, museums and art galleries this season.

The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts in the Golden Square Mile presents the major touring exhibition Marisol: A Retrospective, the most comprehensive survey devoted to the groundbreaking artist (1930-2016). In addition to Marisol’s canonical works from the 1960s and 1970s and later projects, this retrospective includes examples of the artist’s source materials, sketches, studies and personal photographs to further illuminate her working methods, life and times. Runs to January 21, 2024.

The PHI Foundation in Old Montréal presents the JOUEZ/PLAY solo exhibition by Argentinian-born artist Rirkrit Tiravanija who is widely recognized as one of the most influential artists of his generation. His work defies media-based description as it combines traditional object making, public and private performances, teaching, and other forms of public service and social action. Runs to March 10, 2024.

Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal in Griffintown explores the history of the famed cathedral, from the laying of the foundation stone in 1163 to the current restoration project, and the work of its builders from the past to the present day. To navigate the exhibition, visitors use a HistoPad and scan the 21 “Doors of time” to embark on a journey through space and history. Runs to December 30.

Filmed during NASA missions, the blockbuster immersive exhibition Space Explorers: THE INFINITE teleports visitors virtually 400 kilometres above Earth onto the International Space Station for an unforgettable journey into space. Wearing VR headsets, visitors experience life on the ISS as if you are really there, thanks to free-roaming virtual reality which gives visitors amazing access to personal moments filmed in cinematic 3D, 360° format by the eight astronauts who live on board. Space Explorers: THE INFINITE is located in the Old Port next door to the Montreal Science Centre. Children under 8 not admitted. Runs to January 7, 2024.

Over at the McCord Stewart Museum, relive the magic of Ogilvy’s mechanical Christmas window displays in the Holidays at the Museum installation until January 7, 2024. Visitors of all ages will see The Mill in the Forest outdoors on Victoria Street and The Enchanted Village inside the Museum. These dazzling displays – a holiday tradition that goes back to 1947 and among the last of their kind in North America – feature handmade animals that come to life in a Bavarian setting.

Children will love the French-language Nicolas Noël – Le cristal du temps at Théâtre Jean-Duceppe on December 27 and 28.

Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal runs at the Bell Centre from December 21 to 31.

For its annual holiday pantomime, Hudson Village Theatre presents playwright Ben Crocker’s Puss In Boots directed by Steve Walters. With singing, dancing and silly jokes, the Hudson Village Theatre Panto is a hugely entertaining family theatre experience. Runs from December 15 to January 7, 2024. 

City of lights

As the nights grow longer, Montréal lights up with tons of activities to get you glowing with holiday spirit.

The Luminothérapie playground in the Quartier des Spectacles lights up the night with eye-popping interactive installations until March 10, 2024.

Created by Montréal’s renowned multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory, AURA literally reconstructs Notre-Dame Basilica’s interior with lights and sound.

Fabulous food and a festive mood

Montréal is known as a city that celebrates food year round, so you’ll find lots of palate-pleasing options, plus a festive menu of holiday-themed dinner shows.

Stay up to date with the city’s dynamic culinary scene by clicking here to read food critic Mayssam Samaha’s latest picks.

Food critic Jason Lee’s choice picks where to eat during the holidays.

For those looking for dinner and a show under one roof, Le Balcon music hall and restaurant offers themed live-music shows year-round, starring such well-known entertainers as Freddie James and Michelle Sweeney. Le Balcon’s Celebration holiday party concert series runs from December 1 to 30, while soul diva Michelle Sweeney also headlines a Gospel Evening on December 28.

Get a breath of fresh air

Stretch your legs and work off some of those delicious meals with outdoor fun all around the city, from hiking on Mount Royal to ice-skating in the Old Port.

The 75-hectare Montréal Botanical Garden is home to some 20 thematic gardens, including the Alpine Garden and the First Nations Garden, as well as 10 greenhouses. It is an ideal getaway for families looking for a calm and spacious oasis in the city. Along with the Planetarium, Biodôme, Biosphere and Insectarium, the Botanical Garden is part of Space for Life, the largest natural sciences museum complex in Canada. Click here for more info about Space for Life.

The Old Port of Montréal outdoor skating rink returns in December. Great music and twinkling lights add to the ambiance. Click here for updates.

Enjoy music, festive lights, hot chocolate and more at Noël dans le Parc at Place Émilie-Gamelin downtown and in Parc des Compagnons and Parc Lahaie in the Plateau neighbourhood until December 31. Click here for full programming.

Les amis de la montagne operates a sports equipment rental service for ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing and more in Mount Royal Park each winter. Enjoy the refrigerated skating rink at Beaver Lake or explore the marked trails for cross-country skiing (22 km), snowshoeing (3 km) and hiking (10 km in winter). Click here for their updated programming.

If you have your own equipment, go hiking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on the trails of Parc Maisonneuve and Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Discover neighbourhoods

Every neighbourhood in Montréal exhibits a unique character of its own, embodied by its historical sights, restaurants, hotels and art galleries, nightlife, parks and people. Click here for an introduction to Montréal’s most popular neighbourhoods, plus here are other choice picks:

Chosen by Time Out magazine as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, Villeray’s charms lie in its people and independent businesses, from its picturesque parks to its curved apartment staircases. Be sure to check out the legendary Ferlucci Coffee Shop.

Verdun has been shaped by the borough’s proximity to the St. Lawrence – in fact, the beautiful green parks that line the entirety of the waterfront were originally built to protect the area from flooding. A little snow doesn’t keep anyone inside either, with a cross-country ski track along the river’s edge starting at Parc Arthur-Therrien and traversing all the way to Lachine nearly 20 km away. In 2023, Time Out magazine chose Verdun’s Wellington Street as one of the coolest streets in the world. Click here for more info about Verdun and its attractions.

Les Quartiers du Canal district is comprised of three Montréal neighbourhoods: Griffintown, Little Burgundy, and Saint-Henri, bound together by the historic Lachine Canal. The pathways and greenspaces along the Lachine Canal are a perfect area for dining and daydreaming, for promenading and pedaling. Highlights include famed Joe Beef restaurant and historic Atwater Market. Click here for more info about Les Quartiers du Canal.

Holiday markets and shopping

Montréal is a shopper’s paradise year-round, but the experience becomes even more festive during the spirited holiday season. Here are some ideas to get you started.

The Le Village de Noël de Montréal at Atwater Market (runs to December 24), the  The Great Christmas Market (runs to December 30) located in Place des Festivals in the Quartier des Spectacles and Sainte-Catherine street are all back this holiday season.

Montréal’s Underground Pedestrian Network, often nicknamed “the underground city” by visitors, connects all the major downtown shopping centres without setting foot outside. Look for “RESO” signs and start exploring.