Montréal cultural calendar
Leisure activities Culture, arts and heritage
Blockbuster museum exhibitions, live music concerts, theatre and comedy are among the many live entertainment choices in Montréal this autumn 2026.
POP MUSIC
Some highlights of upcoming national and international tours:
November
Doja Cat - Woman
Former Queensrÿche lead vocalist Geoff Tate at the Olympia (November 7), Hiatian campas singer Alan Cavé at Place Bell (November 8), German indie rock band Giant Rooks at Théâtre Beanfield (November 10), American stoner / doom metal band Sleep at Club Soda (November 10), Toronto singer-songwriter Allan Rayman at Fairmount Theatre (November 12), French DJ Snake at Place Bell (November 13), American singer-songwriter Matt Hansen at Théâtre Beanfield (November 13), The Jazz Room pays tribute to Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong at Le Piccolo in the Rialto Theatre (November 13 and January 22), and the Gipsy Kings at MTELUS (November 14).
Russian deathcore band Slaughter To Prevail at MTELUS (November 15), American heavy metal band Trivium at Place Bell (November 17), Dweezil Zappa at Théâtre St-Denis (November 17), masked country star Orville Peck at MTELUS (November 19), Raine Maida & Chantal Kreviazuk at Théâtre Beanfield (November 20), American deathcore band Whitechapel at MTELUS (November 22), Canada’s Barenaked Ladies at the Olympia (November 26), the downtempo ambient and electronic music of Bonobo at MTELUS (November27), and the Queen of Pop-Rap Doja Cat at Bell Centre (November27).
Concerts of note: Prog-rock supergroup BEAT – featuring former King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin, virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai and legendary drummer Terry Bozzio – perform the music of King Crimson at Théâtre St-Denis on November 2.
Tom Wilson OC and Leela Baum of The Damn Truth join guitar god Frank Marino, Shane Murphy and other Montreal musicians to salute the 60th anniversary of historic collaborations between Bob Dylan and The Band at the Million Dollar Bash concert on Friday November 6 at 7:30 PM at Théâtre Beanfield.
Leonard Cohen’s family presents Everybody Knows at Théatre St-Denis on November 4 and 5, a decade after Cohen’s passing. Created and led by Adam Cohen, the production pairs Leonard Cohen’s most enduring songs with curated archival photography and film. Adam will be joined onstage by his son — Leonard’s grandson — with additional special guests TBA. Also: Read about Leonard Cohen’s Montréal here.
Montréal independent record label Secret City Records presents their 20th anniversary celebration concert to close the M for Montréal festival, November 21 at Club Soda, featuring performances by Suuns, Plants and Animals, and Unessential Oils. The M for Montréal festival runs November 18 to 21.
By popular demand, Clerel remounts Donny Lives, his tribute to legendary soul singer Donny Hathaway, at Diese Onze on November 28
More than 100 singers and musicians will take the stage when Jireh Gospel Choir and Montreal Gospel Choir directed by Carol Bernard bring their annual Noël Gospel concert to the Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts on November 28.
December
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe In Anything
British power metal band DragonForce at MTELUS (December 1), Canadian double-header Spoons and Rough Trade – featuring rock legend Carole Pope – at Le Studio TD (December 3), The Jazz Room pays tribute to Marvin Gaye at Le 9e (December 5 and February 12), American punk rock band The Bouncing Souls at Théâtre Beanfield (December 8), heavy psych / stoner power trio King Buffalo at Fairmount Theatre (December 9), Montréal rock legends Wolf Parade of Heated Rivalry fame headline MTELUS (December 10), Afrobeat reggaeton singer Kapo at MTELUS (December 11), superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli at Bell Centre (December 13), American indie rock band Lord Huron at MTELUS (December 15 and 16), Canadian rapper Night Lovell at MTELUS (December 19), and Choir! Choir! Choir! at MTELUS (December 22).
Concerts of note: Luc De Larochellière presents 40 ans de chansons celebrating the 40th anniversary of his career at Théatre Outremont on December 4. Guest performers include Michel Rivard, Paul Piché, Jordan Officer, Isabelle Cyr and Sylvie Paquette.
Montréal soul queen Michelle Sweeney and her band headline two shows at Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill on December 18 at 7 and 9:30 p.m., then Sweeney headlines her roof-raising Gospel Brunch with Michelle Sweeney & The Gospel Tribe at Le Balcon on December 27. Reservations required for both shows.
Local soul, jazz and hip hop
For those looking for dinner and a show under one roof, the city’s top soul and RnB musicians headline Le Balcon music hall and restaurant year-round. Regular headliners include Montréal music legends Freddie James, Kim Richardson, Dawn Tyler Watson, and Michelle Sweeney. Montréal’s premiere musicians and entertainers also headline live-music nightclubs Diese Onze and Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill, both ranked by DownBeat magazine as two of the top jazz nightclubs on the planet. Montréal’s top jazz, soul and blues divas headline both venues which also have dinner menus.
Le Cypher X organizes the city’s premiere hip hop concerts every Thursday at O Patro Vys while GrowveMTL presents jams featuring the city’s top musicians playing everything from disco to hip hop each Wednesday at Turbo Haüs.
Hillbilly Night each Monday at the legendary Wheel Club in NDG is the longest-running open mic night in Montréal.
CITY OF FESTIVALS
Montréal hosts many star-studded festivals each fall:
The 22nd edition of the CINARS Biennale presents more than 150 multi-disciplinary performances – including music, dance, theatre and circus – by participants from more than 50 countries, including South Korea, Italy, France, Guinea, Taiwan, Spain, and Sweden. Runs November 9 to 14. Click here for the full program.
The 11th edition of the Stella Musica Festival runs to December 6, celebrating the contributions of women to music and the arts. Headliners this year include Inuit throat singer Nina Segalowitz at the Galerie d’art Émergence (November 5 at 7 p.m.). Click here for more info.
The 18th edition of the Massimadi Festival for Afro LGBTQ+ film and arts runs to November 8. Click here for full programming TBA.
The 15th edition of the multi-disciplinary Festival du monde arabe runs from October 30 to November 15. Click here for full programming at various venues.
Click here for a full listing of Montréal festivals.
THEATRE
The Centaur Theatre Company in Old Montréal presents Montréal theatre luminaries Brian Dooley and Danielle Desormeaux co-starring in Holiday in Zürich about a happily married Canadian couple in their 70s as they prepare for a hard-earned, jam-packed trip to Switzerland. The husband is travelling toward the most difficult challenge of his life while his wife is eager for a holiday full of sight-seeing, romance and European cuisine. As they pack their suitcases, their different expectations for the trip come into direct and funny collision. Runs November 4 to 22.
Then the Segal presents the Tony-winning musical Come From Away about the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the people of Gander who welcomed them during 9/11. Uplifting, heartfelt and deeply human, Come From Away celebrates kindness, resilience and the bonds that unite. Runs November 22 to December 13.
Mainline Theatre presents their hugely popular annual production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show starring Montréal drag sensation Augusta Wind as Dr. Frank N Furter. Runs October 28 to 31. Six shows over four nights at the Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal.
Evenko and Broadway Across Canada present the smash hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia! at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts: on the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to a Greek island. Features a greatest-hits soundtrack by ABBA. Runs October 13 to 18.
Click here for more French-language theatre in Montréal.
Click here for more English-language theatre in Montréal.
DANCE
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal’s timeless adaptation of Casse-Noisette (a.k.a. The Nutcracker) by legendary Quebec choreographer Fernand Nault returns to Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for its 62nd year. This two-act ballet based on Hoffmann’s classic tale is set to the music of Tchaikovsky and brings together more than 60 dancers and 100 extras, plus Les Grands Ballets Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jean-Claude Picard. If you have never seen it, this famed production is a must. The Nutcracker runs from December 5 to 30.
Bach Before Bedtime presents their 45-minute bilingual The Nutcracker for children at Le Gésu on November 29 and December 1.
Danse Danse ╲ 2026-2027
The prestigious Danse Danse series presents the best dance shows from around the world:
- After touring 109 cities across 18 countries, the internationally-acclaimed Dance Me – Music by Leonard Cohen by Ballets Jazz Montréal returns to Montreal one last time, at Théâtre Maisonneuve. Runs November 25 to 29.
- Dance icon and choreographer Marie Chouinard presents a curated selection of emblematic solos and duets from her repertoire in Henri-Michaux: Mouvements + Solos et duos choisis at the Monument-National. Runs December 16 to 19.
Looking ahead, RIVERDANCE 30 - The New Generation, the international Irish dance phenomenon seen by 30 million people worldwide, brings their 30th anniversary show to Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts from February 4 to 7, 2027.
The famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater headlines Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on March 9 and 10, 2027. Experience a mix of new works and classics that have inspired fans for decades including Mr. Ailey's masterpiece Revelations, anthem to resilience and joy.
CLASSICAL STAGE
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal upcoming concert highlights:
- The Thousand and One Notes of Sheherazade with guest conductor Dina Gilbert on November 11.
- The Sibelius Concerto & Swan Lake with guest conductor Tianyi Lu and violinist Andrew Wan. Runs November 19 and 21.
- Stravinsky’s Petrushka: Between Dance and Tradition with conductor Rafael Payare and guest violinist Veronika Eberle. Runs December 2-3.
- Nagano Conducts Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with OSM Conductor Emeritus Kent Nagano. Runs December 8 and 9.
- Looking ahead, Renée Fleming: Voice of Nature with conductor Rafael Payare and international superstar guest soprano Renée Fleming. Runs January 12 and 13, 2027.
All OSM concerts are at the Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts.
Upcoming Orchestre Métropolitain concerts at the Maison Symphonique include:
- Heroines and Lyrical Passions conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson with guest soprano Sarah Dufresne on November 15.
- The annual Holiday Melodies conducted by Grammy-winning maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin on December 19 and 20.
Led by conductor Andrei Feher, the Orchestre Classique de Montréal presents Echoes Across Worlds at Pierre-Mercure Hall on November 5, as part of the Festival du monde arabe; and their annual Händel’s Messiah concert in the Crypt of Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal on December 10.
Over at Bourgie Hall, their new 2026-2027 season presents over 100 ticketed concerts, including:
- Schubert’s Ballads with baritone Konstantin Krimmel and pianist Ammiel Bushakevit (November 3).
- Bach & Kurtág Matinée with cellist Daniel Claret (November 19).
- Superstar duo Andrew Wan and Charles Richard-Hamelin with a program of Schubert’s works for violin and piano (December 10).
- 12th edition of the Taurey Butler Trio’shugely popular A Charlie Brown Christmas (December 16 and 17).
- In Conversation with Anthony Roth Costanzo (January 25). Presented in connection with the concert Philip Glass for Voice on January 26.
- Philip Glass for Voice with countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo and pianist Bryan Wagorn (January 26).
Click here for the full Bourgie Hall program.
The Orchestre symphonique de l’Isle presents renowned Montréal cellist Stéphane Tétreault at Oscar Peterson Hall on November 28. Tétreault plays the 1707 “Countess of Stainlein, Ex-Paganini” Stradivarius cello, generously loaned by Mrs. Sophie Desmarais.
MUSEUMS
The blockbuster exhibition Heroes of Greece. The Age of Troy at the Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal explores one of the greatest adventures of all time: the Trojan War. Guided by the Iliad, the legendary epic featuring heroes and powerful gods and goddesses, this major exhibition explores the origin and legacy of this seminal work attributed to the poet Homer. At the crossroads of myth and reality, the exhibition displays nearly 400 authentic objects—treasures of Greece—from 28 Greek museums and archaeological sites. Several works are being presented on display for the first time in North America. Runs to March 7, 2027.
The PHI in Old Montréal presents Turn or Burn by Montréal-born lens-based visual artist Jean-François Bouchard which documents his encounters with evangelical street preachers. The project examines how their words and actions replay, with growing intensity, the tensions between faith, performance, and politics in public space. Runs to March 14, 2027.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in the Golden Square Mile presents The Soul Trembles, largest solo exhibition to date of Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota. Covering more than three decades of creative output, the exhibition pays tribute to the internationally-renowned visual artist lauded for her performances and immersive installations made with red, black or white thread. Runs to February 14, 2027.
The McCord Stewart Museum in the Golden Square Mile presents Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves which brings together 38 Indigenous artists from more than 30 nations whose practices redefine the boundaries between contemporary art, culture, fashion, design and traditional techniques. The Indigenous artworks, clothing and textiles on display explore themes including materialization, queer narratives, cultural embellishment, ornamentation, storytelling, tattooing, trade, activism and preservation. Runs November 27 to March 29, 2027.
At Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal in Griffintown, the 8th edition of the ELEKTRA Biennial presents the exhibition F(R)ICTION: Arts and Games which bring together works by artists trained in art schools as well as experimental works created by artists trained in the fields of game studies and game design. The exhibition highlights the differences between these two communities, their areas of overlap, and the more recent emergence of creators trained in both fields. Runs to November 15.
Click here for more museum exhibitions in Montréal.
Click here for more immersive exhibitions in Montréal.
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
The 74th edition of Montréal’s Santa Claus Parade runs along René-Lévesque Boulevard between Drummond and Saint-Urbain Streets on Saturday, November 21.
Complexe Dejardins presents Santa Claus and his Magical Kingdom from November 21 to December 24. Free face-painting, rides on the little train or carousel, daily shows, and Santa himself is on hand to hear every child’s holiday wishes.
Bach Before Bedtime presents their 45-minute bilingual The Nutcracker for children at Le Gésu on November 29 and December 1.
Disney On Ice presents Magic of Family skates into Place Bell from December 17 to 20, with segments from Frozen and Encanto. Tickets available for both French and English shows.
Looking ahead, Warner Bros. Discovery presents the ciné-concert Bugs Bunny at the Symphony at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts on February 12 and 13, 2027, in time to celebrate Bugs Bunny’s 85th birthday, and the concert’s 35th anniversary. Sixteen classic Looney Tunes will be projected on the big screen as the FILMharmonique Orchestra conducted by George Daugherty performs the original iconic scores live.
Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic! skates into the Bell Centre from February 25 to March 1, 2027, with never-before-seen performances by more than 30 beloved Disney characters.
Children of all ages can discover new worlds at Montréal Espace pour la vie, the largest natural-sciences museum complex in Canada which comprises the Jardin botanique, Planetarium, Biosphere, famed Biodôme and Insectarium. Purchasing fixed-time tickets online is highly recommended.
The Montréal Science Centre’s IMAX cinema screens films for all ages.
CIRCUS ARTS
Pianist Alexandra Stréliski shares the stage with the prestigious French troupe Cirque Le Roux for a unique version of Entre chiens et louves (Between Dogs and Wolves) at Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. Runs November 4 to 15.
The 7 Fingers (“Les 7 Doigts”) presents The Attic: Things I Have Seen Lying on My Back at Théâtre St-Denis. Deeply personal, the production draws from the life and career of Shana Carroll, co-founder and co-artistic director of The 7 Fingers, a former trapeze artist and Tony Award nominee for her work on Broadway’s Water for Elephants. Runs November 10 to 15. If you prefer to hear the show’s dialogue in English, choose the November 12 performance. All other performances are presented in French.
The 7 Fingers (“Les 7 Doigts”) presents Heredis: Echoes of the Past, an original stage production inspired by the Assassin’s Creed universe, live at Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. The two-hour show stars 17 performers blending acrobatics, urban parkour and choreographed combat, following a young man’s journey through time to find his father. Runs December 3 to 20.
Cirque Éloize - Serge Fiori – Seul ensemble
Specializing in contemporary circus, La TOHU presents:
iD ÉVOLUTION by Cirque Éloize. Trampwall, aerial hoop, trail biking, breakdance and many other disciplines intertwine in an electrifying ballet where each jump, gesture and musical note tell a story. Performed by nine artists directed by Jeannot Painchaud, assisted by choreographer Elon Hoglung. Runs October 31 to November 15.
The holiday circus musical Le Magicien d’Oz adapted by Théâtre Advienne que pourra from L. Frank Baum’s famous tale. Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion will lead young and old down the legendary Yellow Brick Road on an adventure filled with song, magic, humour and emotion. Runs December 17 to January 3, 2027.
CINÉMA
Cinéma du Parc screens Oscar best-film front-runner La Bola Negra from October 30 to November 5. Click here for English subtitle screenings, and here for French subtitle screenings.
Created with the blessing of the iconic rock band, Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon screens under the starry dome of the Planétarium from Thursdays to Saturdays until November 28. This show merges the original musical score with spectacular visuals of the solar system and immersive effects in a surround-sound environment.
The 55th edition of the Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal runs October 8 to 18. Films screenings include Autofiction by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar (October 10), Fatherland by Paweł Pawlikowski (October 12), Tender Loving Care by Mike Leigh (October 12), and La Bola Negra by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (October 11). La Bola Negra got a 20-minute standing ovation at Cannes and won the 2026 People’s Choice Award at TIFF. Click here for full programming.
The 18th edition of the Massimadi Festival for Afro LGBTQ+ film and arts runs to November 8. Click here for full programming.
More than 150 films will be screened at the 39th edition of the Image+Nation LGBTQ film festival which runs November 19 to 29. The full program will be announced in November.
The 29th edition of the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) runs November 19 to 29. Opening the RIDM is To Hold a Mountain by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival; and closing the fest is Ba’s Book, a film in which Ashley Da-Lê Duong and her family examine the intergenerational impacts and legacy of the Vietnam War by recreating scenes from a book written by the filmmaker’s father.
The Montreal Cinéclub Film Society screens classic movies at various venues every second week. Their Nosferatu + The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari horror double bill with live musicians screens on October 17 at St. George’s Anglican Church downtown.Click here for the full program.
The Cinémathèque québécoise screens classic films and new releases daily.
L’AMOUR À MINUIT is a non-profit Cinéma L’Amour screening series of cult classics that raises funds to restore and maintain the iconic century-old theatre that was built in 1914. Click here for the full program.
Queer Cinema Club Montréal presents monthly screenings at the Cinéma du Parc.
The IMAX cinema at the Montréal Science Centre in the Old Port screens films for all ages.
LITERATURE
The Grand Slam International de Montréal runs to December 6. Highlights include their Francos vs Anglos poetry slam on November 5 at Casa del Popolo. Click here for full festival programming.
The 11th edition of the Read Quebec Book Fair celebrates and promotes English-language authors and literature. Runs December 5 and 6 at the Casa d’Italia.
Lectures LOGOS Readings is a series of monthly multicultural readings hosted by award-winning author H. Nigel Thomas and renowned human rights advocate Maguy Métellus at the UNIA Hall in Little Burgundy.
DRAG SHOWS
Drag icons BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon return to Montréal with The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show at the Olympia Theatre on November 18.
Comic drag queen Mona de Grenoble brings her acclaimed show De la poudre aux yeux to Studio St-Denis on November 20.
RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars winner Jimbo the Drag Clown brings her Jimbo Ruins XXXMas show to Théâtre Beanfield on December 4.
The all-star WAR On The Catwalk hosted by Alyssa Edwards with guest drag superstars Myki Meeks, Jane Don’t, Darlene Mitchell, Juicy Love Dion, Silky Ganache, Discord Addams and Aurora Matrix, at Salle-Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts on February 15, 2027.
Global comic drag superstar Bianca Del Rio – dubbed “the Joan Rivers of the drag world” by The New York Times – brings her all-new It Gets Bitter Tour to the Olympia Theatre on May 21, 2027.
Montréal drag star Rita Baga hosts her Cabaret Caf’Conc’ variety show at the iconic Caf’Conc’ (short for Café Concert) at the Montréal Marriott Chateau Champlain Hotel. Click here for upcoming shows.
Montréal is one of the drag capitals of the world. Located in The Village, drag icon Mado Lamotte’s Cabaret Mado and the classic Bar Le Cocktail both book the best drag performers in the city nightly. Both venues are also two of the most popular nightclubs in The Village.
COMEDY
Montréal’s local comedy scene is enjoying a renaissance with flourishing comedy nights in clubs throughout the city, and touring national and international comedians selling out large venues.
Breakout Irish Comedian Kyla Cobbler brings her hit show Gone Rogue to Théâtre Fairmount on November 4.
Comic Mike Rita headlines Le Studio TD on November 6.
Out Chicago comic Matteo Lane headlines Théâtre St-Denis on November 7.
Just For Laughs Montréal presents Emmy Award-nominated stand-up comedian, actor, and TV host Michael Yo at The Comedy Nest on November 11.
Lebanese comedy sensation Nataly Aukar headlines the Monument-National on November 20.
Scotland’s international comedy superstar Daniel Sloss, two shows at the Olympia Theatre on November 21 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Crowned by Vulture as “stand-up comedy’s most prolific storyteller,” Ali Siddiq at the Olympia Theatre on November 22.
Juno–winning comic Ivan Decker brings his Middle Child Tour to the Fairmount Theatre on November 25.
Just For Laughs Montréal presents Indian-American stand-up comedian Zarna Garg at the Olympia Theatre on December 11.
Celebrated French-Canadian standup comedian and Montréal homeboy Rachid Badouri brings his English comedy show The Tale of the Syrian Dragon! to the Olympia Theatre on December 26.
Looking ahead, American comedy sensation Atsuko Okatsuka at the Olympia Theatre on January 15, 2027.
Check out English-language stand-up comics at Comedyville located behind the Deli Planet in Central Train Station, with shows Thursday to Saturday. Click here for show descriptions.
Support local, national and international comics at Montréal’s legendary The Comedy Nest nightclub located in the historic Montréal Forum. Click here for full programming.
Richard Burnett
Richard “Bugs” Burnett is a Canadian freelance writer, editor, journalist, blogger and columnist for alt-weeklies, mainstream and LGBTQ+ publications. Bugs also knows Montréal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.