Montréal cultural calendar

POP MUSIC

Some highlights of upcoming national and international tours:

January

American singer-songwriter Neko Case (January 9), CG5 (January 14), Lord of the Lost & The Birthday Massacre (January 25) and Jacob Banks (January 27), Jade Lemac (January 29), Del Water Gap (January 30), and Ghostface Killah (January 31) all headline Théâtre Beanfield.

KOMPROMAT (January 10), Snow Strippers (January 16), Rsko (January 17), Médine (January 24), and Subtronics (January 31) all headline MTELUS.

Gyptian and Etana co-headline the reggae Lovers Rock concert at the Olympia Theatre (January 10); Canadian rock icons Blue Rodeo headline Salle Wilfred-Pelletier for two nights (January 17 and 18), South African indie-folk singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (January 27), theatrical Swedish arena rockers GHOST bring their Skeletour World Tour to the Bell Centre (January 30), and Montréal rock legend Aldo Nova headlines the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal (January 31). 

Philadelphia electronic music producer and DJ Subtronics (a.k.a. Jesse Kardon) headlines two different gigs in Montréal, at Place Bell on January 30 and MTELUS on January 31.

Event of note: Montréal music legend Martha Wainwright will be the next fireside chat guest at Concordia University’s Wild Talks Lecture Series at the downtown Concordia Theatre on January 26.

February

Alex Cuba at Fairmount Theatre (February 3), Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis brings his Epilogue World Tour to Place Bell (February 5), Northern Invasion celebrates 10 years of the Riddim Olympics at MTELUS with a big line-up (February 6 and 7), Josh Ross at MTELUS (February 10), Montréal fave Brit Floyd at Place Bell (February 11); Monolink at MTELUS, Odezenne at Théâtre Beanfield, and Montréal electropop duo Milk & Bone at Fairmount Theatre, all on February 13.

Rock icons Nine Inch Nails at Bell Centre (February 16); Miguel (February 17), Gogol Bordello (February 19) and Cassian (February 20), all at MTELUS; Vancouver RnB roots band Honeybear at L’Escogriffe (February 19); The Offspring at Bell Centre and Excision at Place Bell, both on February 21; Canadian country star Rick Duff at Le National (February 21), American rockers Nothing More at the Olympia Theatre (February 23); chart-busting Canadian singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith (February 24) and beloved Montréal music legends The Barr Brothers (February 28), both at MTELUS.

Concerts of note: Former TV Hardy Boy and 1970s teen idol Shaun Cassidy brings his The Road to Us Tour to the Rialto Theatre on February 21; and The Project Sly Collective presents the all-star Tribute to Sly and The Family Stone at Le Ministère, also on February 21. The Sly Stone tribute features Montréal soul music legends Alan Prater of The Brooks, Danny Blanco, Coco Thompson and Wayne Tennant, alongside the dynamic harmonies of Perpetual Praise Ministries, under the direction of musical maestro Ben Comeau.

March

Filipino singer-songwriter Clinton Kane at Bar le "Ritz" PDB (March 1), Mariah the Scientist at MTELUS (March 3), TWICE at Bell Centre (March 3), American country music star Charley Crockett at MTELUS (March 5), American melodic hardcore band Rise Against at the Olympia Theatre (March 5 and 6), Halifax rock legends Sloan at Le Studio TD (March 6), classic Canadian 80s rock band Honeymoon Suite at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal (March 6), Bad Omens at Place Bell (March 8).

+LIVE+ bring their Like a Rollin’ Thunder Tour to Place Bell with opening acts Big Wreck and The Damn Truth (March 10), MAMMOTH at the Olympia Theatre (March 10), Journey at the Bell Centre (March 11), Vulgaires Machins headline two nights at Théâtre Beanfield (March 12 and 13), beloved Canadian idol Alan Doyle at the Olympia Theatre (March 13, American electronic music producer and DJ Ray Volpe at MTELUS (March 14).

French rapper Josman at Place Bell (March 14), LAMB OF GOD at Bell Centre (March 19), Houston RnB singer-songwriter Bryant Barnes at Le Belmont (March 22), New Wave icon Gary Numan (March 23), Emperor (March 28) and Black Label Society (March 31), all at MTELUS.

Concerts of note: Iconic Montréal favourite Chris de Burgh celebrates his 50th career anniversary at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on March 24 and 25.

Musical events of note: The Disco Isn't Dead project takes over Yoka Luna – formerly Montréal’s iconic 1970s disco 1234 nightclub – with a classic disco soundtrack on Saturday, March 21, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Perfect daytime hours for dancefloor divas who survived the 70s! Also, the West End musical featuring the timeless music of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell: The Musical headlines Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on April 1.

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 winter:

THEATRE

The venerable Centaur Theatre Company in Old Montréal presents the English-language premiere of Kisses Deep by Québecois literary icon Michel Marc Bouchard, and translated by Linda Gaboriau. This long-awaited premiere tells the story of the transformational relationship between a troubled, gifted young man and his complex and inspiring mother. Directed by Eda Holmes, the cast includes Lyndz Dantiste, Yves Jacques, Leni Parker, Alice Pascual and Kevin Raymond. Runs November 26 to December 14.

The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts in the west end presents Canadian screen legend Saul Rubinek in Playing Shylock, a gripping new play that challenges art, identity, and accountability. When a production of The Merchant of Venice is cancelled mid-performance following public outcry, the actor playing Shylock refuses to exit quietly. Instead, he steps forward, breaking character to deliver a bold, impassioned monologue blending razor-sharp humour with urgent questions about culture, history and who gets to tell the story. Runs January 18 to February 8.

The venerable Centaur Theatre Company in Old Montréal presents their WinterWorks Festival which showcases bold, independent voices and cutting-edge theatre from Montréal and beyond. Runs February 3 to 21. Click here for TBA line-up.

Then Centaur presents Goblin: Macbeth about three goblins – Kragva, Moog and Wug – who stumble across Shakespeare, take over a theatre and stage their own wild, hilarious and chaotic version of Macbeth. A one-of-a-kind blend of comedy, tragedy and improvisation. Runs March 4 to 22. 

An Infinithéâtre world premiere, Whalefall runs at La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines from February 23 to March 7, as part of La Chapelle’s bilingual 36th interdisciplinary season.

The West End musical Bat Out of Hell: The Musical headlines Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on April 1.

Broadway Across Canada and evenko present smash hit touring productions at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. Their new 2026 Broadway season includes Montréal’s first-ever presentation of & Juliet (March 17 to 22). Looking ahead: Moulin Rouge! The Musical (June 9 to 14) and the triumphant return of Disney’s THE LION KING for a whopping 24 performances (August 19 to September 6).

Click here for more English theatre in Montréal.

Click here for French-language theatre in Montréal.

DANCE

The timeless Les Grands Ballets Canadiens adaptation of Casse-Noisette (a.k.a. The Nutcracker) by Quebec choreographer Fernand Nault returns to Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for its 61st 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 Dina Gilbert. If you have never seen it, this famed production is a must. The Nutcracker runs to December 30.

Then Les Grands Ballets presents choreographer Uwe Scholz’s contemporary ballet The Creation, a visual interpretation of Joseph Haydn’s monumental oratorio, a work inspired by the creation of the world as told by the Book of Genesis. With choir and Les Grands Ballets Orchestra at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier from February 26 to March 1.

Ballet of Lights presents Sleeping Beauty (January 23, March 20, April 17 and May 23) and Cinderella (February 28) at the Rialto Theatre. Both productions feature dancers adorned in luminous costumes.

Following successful tour stops in Hong Kong and Barcelona, Mouvement Perpétuel –  the renowned Montréal-based dance filmmaking collective led by Marlene Millar and Philip Szporer – bring their award-winning screendance works home with their Mouvement Perpétuel: 25 Years of Creating Through Movement free screening at Mile End gallery Dazibao on January 8.

Nuits d’Afrique presents Les Ballets Africains from Guinea at Théâtre Maisonneuve on February 22.

The prestigious Danse Danse series presents the best dance companies from around the world. Highlights this winter include the Compagnie Hervé Koubi performing the renowned French choreographer’s Sol Invictus at Théatre Maisonneuve (January 13 to 17); Ballets Jazz Montréal’s much-anticipated La revue finale at Théatre Maisonneuve (February 17 to 21); the (LA)HORDE collective and Ballet national de Marseille fuse dance and digital culture in Age of Consent at Théatre Maisonneuve (February 27 to March 7); and Tout ce qu'il reste by choreographers Diana Léon and Paco Ziel – both artists with Vías which won the 2024 Prix Révélation by the Prix de la danse de Montréal – headlines Salle Bourgie (March 28 and 29).  

Founded in 1999 in the Plateau-Mont-Royal, the multi-disciplinary programming of “The MAI” (Montréal, arts interculturels) promotes hybrid and innovative practices in dance, theatre, visual arts, speech arts, performance. Dance-related highlights include the II. FTG series of music video-style tableaux presented as dance duets merging dance, francophone rap, and Afrobeats (January 21 to 24); the contemporary dance of Salvadorian-Canadian dancer-choreographer Irma Villafuerte in Xilopango (February 11 to 14); and the street-dance theatre of Beat Matched by the cross-disciplinary artist group Catch Step (March 11 to 14). 

Agora de la danse winter programming includes Holding Present which brings together choreographer Ula Sickle and the Brussels-based contemporary music ensemble Ictus (March 13 and 14). Click here for all Agora de la danse programming in the Wilder Building.

Also located in the Wilder Building, Tangente Danse winter programing includes Dulce which at the intersection of ballroom, myth and Black queer futurity explores how communities reconstruct themselves after their world is upended (February 19 to 22). Click here for all Agora de la danse programming.

CLASSICAL STAGE

The orchestral Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert returns to Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for a January 1 matinee at 2:30 p.m.

Some Orchestre symphonique de Montréal highlights this winter: 

The Orchestra According to Duke Ellington and Rachmaninov (January 21 and 22), Olympic Symphony (January 25);  The Flamboyant Barbara Hannigan (February 4), Pérusse symphonic : from the Snack bar to the OSM with François Pérusse and orchestra under the direction of conductor Simon Rivard (February 17 to 20), Mozart and the Elegance of Angela Hewitt with the pianist and orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin (February 26 and 28), The Music of Harry Potter presents melodies composed by John Williams (March 3 and 4), The Enchanting Firebird by Stravinsky with Canadian pianist sensation Jaeden Izik-Dzurko (March 5), Maestro Rafael Payare conducts the OSM in From Bartók to Mozart: Flute, Improvisation, and Symphony (March 11 and 12) and in The Marriage of Figaro (March 18 and 20), and Grammy-winning OSM Conductor Emeritus Kent Nagano headlines “A German Requiem” by Kent Nagano (April 3 and 4).

All OSM concerts presented at the Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts in the Quartier des Spectacles. 

The Orchestre Métropolitain presents Symphonic Tales of British Cinema: From Hercule Poirot to Harry Potter (January 23), Tchaikovsky’s Fifth with conductor Kensho Watanabe (February 27), and Echoes of the Forest with Grammy-winning OM Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin (March 31). All OM concerts presented at the Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts in the Quartier des Spectacles. 

Founded in 1939, Canada’s renowned Orchestre Classique de Montréal presents Marie-Josée Lord at the OCM with the renowned soprano lead by conductor Kalena Bovell for a Black History Month program of works by composers of African descent (February 5); and From Chopin to Weinberg: A Polish Classical Evening (March 12). Both concerts at Salle Pierre-Mercure.

The Opera de Montréal presents Clown(s) which draws upon the worlds of Sand, Fellini, Chaplin and Keaton to construct a “favola in musica” — a musical fable — created by Montréal composer Ana Sokolovic. Runs January 31 to February 8 at Théâtre Maisonneuve.

The FILMharmonique Orchestra and the Choeur des Mélomanes and Les Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal choirs perform Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore’s epic score of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers In Concert performed live to the motion picture in HD (English with French subtitles) at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier from January 9 to 11.

The 15th season of Bourgie Hall of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts features more than 100 concerts, with half of its programming showcasing Québec and Canadian artists. 

Highlights include Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson (January 30 and 31), Dutch piano virtuoso Ramon van Engelenhoven (January 21), Strings and Saxophone with Steven Banks (February 13), Soprano Aline Kutan and pianist Michael McMahon present Schubert (February 22), About Don Quixote with Les Violons du Roy (March 6), and the much-anticipated Marc-André Hamelin and Charles Richard-Hamelin in Duet (March 30 and April 1 to 2), the first-ever joint recital in Montréal by the internationally-acclaimed piano virtuosos.

Click here for the full Bourgie Hall program.

MUSEUMS

Montréal’s Studio Shaman presents the virtual reality experience ROME, In Caesar’s footsteps at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, transporting audiences back 2,000 years to the assassination of Julius Caesar. A free-roam VR adventure, visitors explore a meticulously reconstructed Rome: Caesar’s private gardens, the Forum Romanum, the Curia of Pompey where the Senate vote takes place, military camps in Gaul, and the Circus Maximus. With hand-tracking motion capture, participants interact naturally with scenes—voting by raising their hands, handling objects, and influencing key moments. Two different endings are possible depending on the choices made along the journey. Opens on January 22.

Click here for more Montréal immersive exhibitions.

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

DISNEY ON ICE: Jump In! at the Bell Centre from March 5 to 8.

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

CINÉMA

The FILMharmonique Orchestra and the Choeur des Mélomanes and Les Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal choirs perform Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore’s epic score of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers In Concert performed live to the motion picture in HD (English with French subtitles) at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier from January 9 to 11. Looking ahead, the FILMharmonique Orchestra also presents Star Wars: A New Hope - In Concert at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on April 10 and 11 (English with French subtitles).

Founded by the Montréal-based online magazine Panorama-cinéma, the second annual Montreal Critics’ Week at Cinéma du Musée presents 26 films – short, medium, and feature length – from 14 countries. Each program is followed by in-depth conversations between filmmakers, writers, critics and the public. Runs January 12 to 18.

The Cinémathèque québécoise conserves Quebec and Canadian cinéma, as well as international animated film. Their mission is also to present these works and support cinematic art in all its forms. The Cinémathèque québécoise presents their 18-film Roberto Rossellini, Radical cycle from January 14 to February 28. 

The Montréal International Children’s Film Festival (FIFEM) uses cinema as a tool to stimulate young people's curiosity, promote critical thinking and informed dialogue. FIFEM screens international, North American and Canadian premieres from February 28 to March 8. 

The PARC AT MIDNIGHT cycle at the Cinéma du Parc offers nocturnal screenings in the great tradition of the famous rep-house “midnight movies” of the 70s.

The Montreal Cinéclub Film Society screens classic movies at various venues every second week. Click here for the full program.

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.

Looking ahead, the 42nd edition of the Festival international de cinéma Vues d’Afrique runs from April 2 to 11. The festival screens international features, documentaries and shorts by filmmakers from across Africa and the African diaspora.

LITERATURE

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.

Looking ahead, the 2026 edition of the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival runs from April 23 to 26 at the Hotel 10. Their online edition begins on April 13. Guest authors and panels TBA.

DRAG SHOWS

Montréal drag star Rainbow brings her French-language Le Bingo Show to Studio-Cabaret on January 8. 

A constellation of drag stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Canada’s Drag Race perform at WAR On The Catwalk at Théâtre St-Denis on March 13. Hosted by Alyssa Edwards, guest performers include Jewels Sparkles, Suzie Toot, Lexi, Bosco, Lydia B. Kollins and Daya Betty. 

Montréal drag superstar Mona de Grenoble headlines her French-language touring show De la poudre aux yeux at Studio-Cabaret on April 23.

Montréal is one of the drag capitals of the world. Located in The Village, drag icon Mado Lamotte’s Cabaret Mado and Michel Dorion’s 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.

American comedy superstar Matt Rife headlines Bell Centre (December 29).

Montréal queer comedians are taping their Just For Laughs submissions at their Queer Laughs event on January 11 at Bar Milton-Parc.

Egyptian-American comedian Ramy Youssef brimgs his ramy youssef: love beam 7000 tour to Club Soda on January 25.

French-Canadian standup-comedian Rachid Badouri brings his English-language show The Tale of the Syrian Dragon! to the Olympia Theatre on January 30.

Comic Tom Papa brings his Grateful Bread Tour to the Olympia Theatre on February 7.

A veteran of late-night TV, comedian Ian Bagg headlines Club Soda on February 22.

The Kids in the Hall comedy icon Bruce McCulloch at Théâtre Beanfield (March 8).

Emmy-winning comedy superstar John Mulaney headlines Théâtre St-Denis on March 28. 

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.