Turn up the heat this winter at Igloofest 2024! 🔥

Mark Hamilton

Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.

This article was updated on December 20, 2023.

It takes a lot more than a bit of winter chill to keep Montréal from partying, and here winter is accepted as a beautiful piece of the cycle of annual life. And each year, thousands of bundled-up revellers take to the Old Port of Montréal for Igloofest to dance the night away, winter chill be damned. Surely, Igloofest may indeed be the coolest (as in ambiance and weather-wise) party in the world! For the four weekends between January 18 to February 10, 2024, a world-class line-up of DJs take to the decks and Montréal gets to the serious business of dancing in the streets.

Electronic music’s A-list

Each edition of Igloofest features the cream of the crop of electronic music talent, from top-tier international superstars to the latest and greatest up-and-comers. Featured performers include pro improvisor Marc Rebillet, the CEO of Australia’s Mutual Pleasure Records label Partiboi69, Montréal rave scene mainstay Skesa, Ukrainian-born REZZ, producer, writer and rapper Nostalgix, Southern France’s NTO, Armada Music’s Joachim Pastor, Montréal-based Hyunji-A, German techno and trance specialist Stephan Bodzin, Italian producer duo Glowal, superstar DJ Diplo, Detroit’s legendary Floorplan, Grammy-nominated legend Armin van Buuren, a DJ set by hyper poppers 100 gecs, MTL-based multidisciplinary artist, DJ and musician Odile Myrtil, Platinum-selling Eric Prydz, Denver-based melodic house maven Lane 8, Montréal-born Madonna and Lady Gaga remixers Sultan + Shepard, Irish EDM up-and-comer EMBRZ, Denmark’s Ashibah, French duo The Blaze, Parisian trio Oden & Fatzo, progressive house originator Kaskade and Ukrainian trailblazer Miss Monique. And like every year, Igloofest’s programmers have scoured the most up and coming artists in the electronic music world, and your new favourites are ripe for discovery while waiting for the fest’s headline superstars. Tickets and further lineup information are available now at Igloofest’s website.

Party in true winter style

Sure, Burning Man may have the desert heat, but Igloofest brings the crowds together for an illuminating experience that is the ultimate in chill. There’s few finer ways to spend a winter evening than exploring Igloofest’s installations like the playful Igloovillage, while the eye-popping visuals and epic stages leave just as much of an impression as the music. And where else can you be rewarded for your bulkiest winter wear? The annual tacky snowsuit contest brings the most unforgettable monstrosities in Igloofest fans’ closets out into the open.

Kicking off 2024’s festival season right

Montréal is a city of festivals, with an internationally renowned annual calendar of unmissable events encompassing music, performance, film and comedy. And Igloofest starts off 2024 with a bang, with much more where that came from. From the world-famous Just for Laughs comedy festival and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal to the cutting edge Pop Montréal International Music Festival and image+nation festival film LGBTQueer Montréal, there’s something for everyone!

Mark Hamilton

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