Inclusive and responsible Montréal events
Culture, arts and heritage Festivals and events
If there’s one thing Montréal does best, it’s festivals and events. From performing arts and film to music, tennis, and Indigenous tourism, the city offers events for every taste, and most are designed with social and environmental responsibility in mind. Here’s a look at some that combine celebration with meaningful action. You’re invited to join in!
Festival TransAmériques (FTA): a leader in sustainability rooted in the community
The Festival TransAmérique (FTA) invites locals and visitors alike to see the world differently through live performances. Over the years, its programming has evolved while staying true to its social values. Here are a few of its most noteworthy inclusion initiatives:
- Appealing to a wide audience by offering free access to a diverse range of talks, activities, and performances.
- Paying special attention to accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
- Reaching diverse audiences by offering an audio-described performance for people who are blind or partially sighted, and by providing French and English surtitles for works, when needed.
- Offering workshops, meetups, and performances for young Indigenous talents from Québec through the Eka shakuelem program, which means “don’t be shy” in Innu.
FTA’s environmental leadership is equally impressive. Its ongoing initiatives have earned major recognition:
- Recipient of four Vivats awards in November 2025 and the Tourisme Montréal Prix distinction in the sustainable tourism category in April 2026.
- Obtaining the label GreenStep and recognized by RECYC-QUÉBEC’s “ICI on recycle +” program.
- Partnering with Go Zéro to recycle set materials and cigarette butts and collaborating with Écoscéno and the Remise culturelle to reuse scenic elements.
- Raising awareness through activities addressing social and environmental issues, such as the annual Journée d’écologie décoloniale, whose fifth edition took place in 2026.
To take action yourself, check out FTA’s Festivalgoer’s Sustainability Guide.
Piknic Électronik: responsible practices and mutual respect
Since its creation, Piknic Électronik has brought top electronic music artists from near and far to Montréal’s outdoor stages. Beyond the beats, the festival puts sustainability front and centre:
- Over 3,100 trees and plants have been planted in nine years as carbon compensation for CO2 emissions related to the transport of the numerous artists through a partnership with Arbre-Évolution.
- First Montréal event to introduce reusable cups in 2013, now expanded to include reusable plates.
- A staffed sorting station ensures proper waste management.
- A “green donation” option at ticket purchase helps fund additional projects.
In addition, Piknic Électronik is known for making electronic music more accessible to everyone by bringing it outdoors. Here are a few examples of its inclusion measures:
- Five Petit Piknic events tailored to families for the summer season.
- Accessibility measures for people with mobility challenges, in partnership with Kéroul.
- Support for vulnerable individuals through collaborations with organizations such as GRIP.
- A calm, inclusive and safe retreat zone called l’Escale for anyone who needs a break from the action.
Take a BIXI or public transit to Parc Jean-Drapeau. Check out the festival’s page of recommendations for more information.
The International First Peoples’ Festival: an immersion in Indigenous arts
For over 35 years, the International First Peoples’ Festival has celebrated the vitality of First Nations, Inuit, and Indigenous Peoples from around the world. Created by the non-profit Terres en vues, the festival fosters dialogue and cultural exchange through a diverse artistic program that showcases creativity, resilience, and the rich variety of Indigenous expression. Film, music, visual arts, crafts, literature, and food all come together in one immersive experience.
Visitors can attend screenings, live performances, and interactive workshops to discover ancestral knowledge, or meet filmmakers and artisans at the Indigenous market on the Place des Festivals.
This year, to mark the 325th anniversary of the Great Peace of Montréal, the closing concert Ici fut planté l’arbre de paix (“Here was planted the tree of peace”) on August 14 will be the festival’s highlight.
The spirit of the International First Peoples’ Festival continues beyond the event itself. In September, ICI TOU.TV will broadcast a selection of films presented at the festival, while the Rue Atateken podcast keeps the conversation going year-round, with episodes exploring Indigenous languages, film creation, social issues, and decolonization.
National Bank Open: serving positive community impact
Tennis fans are already familiar with the National Bank Open, presented at the IGA Stadium in Parc Jarry. This summer, Montréal once again welcomes the best in men’s tennis. Committed to making the event accessible to as many people as possible, Tennis Canada has introduced several initiatives to foster inclusion:
- Nearly 30,000 free tickets distributed for the IGA Family Weekend.
- A new 216-seat, free-access grandstand in Parc Jarry.
- About 180 tickets donated to local community organizations.
- Free companion tickets through the Leisure Access Card for attendees with reduced mobility.
- Cooling stations, shaded areas, and water fountains available to all.
Known for its strong social and environmental engagement, the event continues to reinvent itself to actively support community well-being and promote responsible practices. The following initiatives are a testament to that commitment:
- Used tennis balls recycled into court surfaces.
- Fifteen cents from every ticket sold donated to food banks, totalling close to $40,000 per season.
- Surplus food redistributed to local organizations through La Tablée des Chefs.
- Waste sorting made easy with dedicated stations.
Join in by biking to the venue or using public transit.
MUTEK: inclusivity and sustainability at the heart of an avant-garde festival
Since 2000, MUTEK has been a platform for electronic music and real-time audiovisual performance. Through its MUTEK Market program, well-known local artists gain international exposure, while emerging creators benefit from the MUTEK Incubator, often leading to spots in future festival lineups.
To make the experience inclusive, MUTEK offers:
- Sliding-scale pricing and a limited number of free solidarity tickets for early birds.
- Student discounts on passes and passports.
- A partnership with the Collectif social and GRIP to ensure everyone’s well-being in a safe and healthy environment.
- Information about sensory-friendly experiences, quiet zones, and mobility access.
Winner of numerous awards for its responsible practices, MUTEK integrates environmental awareness into its programming:
- Forum sessions dedicated to responsible solutions for the electronic music industry and to sustainability as a driver of creative innovation.
- The equivalent of 1% of ticket sales donated to environmental organizations through a partnership with EarthPercent.
Choose public transit or carpooling to reduce your own footprint when attending the festival. Visit the festival’s box office page.
Whether you live here or are just visiting, Montréal’s festivals offer something special for everyone. Enjoy the fun—responsibly!
