Things to do in Montréal this April 2026

Unmissable April events

Throughout April, spring begins to bud in Montréal. Picture daffodils, crocuses, terrasses opening and bunnies hopping in the parks — or maybe that’s just for Easter weekend! There are so many things to do on (and before, and after) April 3 to 6 that you’ll want to extend the long weekend if you can. Don’t miss Easter brunch, it’s a bona fide Montréal must. 

You’ve got until April 3 to take in Art Matters, North America’s largest student-run

fine arts festival, which takes place every spring. Since 2000 Art Matters has hosted

exhibitions and events across Montreal, creating platforms and opportunities for undergraduate artists studying at Concordia University.

April is the month of the Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone, the city’s First Nations and Aboriginal art biennale shows in art galleries and museums throughout the city, from Art Mûr to the McCord Stewart Museum. Explore the programming as it develops here.

Let the arty spirit of Festival Art Souterrain animate you from April 25 to May 10, with a self-guided art trajectory that runs throughout the wonderfully weather-proof Underground City. It’s a feast for the eyes, ears — well, all of the senses.

For more art, look no further: dozens of art galleries from Montréal, Toronto, New York and beyond will show work at Plural Contemporary Art Fair at the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal, from April 10 to 12.

Send in the clowns from April 10 to 18 at the Montréal Clown Festival, featuring nine shows across seven venues, plus two cabaret shows and workshops, discussions and gatherings that stretch what clowning can be. 

From April 17 to 19, get bookish at the Salon du livre de Verdun, happening at the Notre-Dame-De-Lourdes Church. It will unite everyone from authors to illustrators to publishers to storytellers, and include activities on the weekend for the whole family. Come shop, read and enjoy.

Speaking of lit, the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival also returns with a full schedule of readings, workshops, discussions, children’s programming and more from April 23 to 26, including several free events in person and online. 

Springtime activities, attractions and tours

The easiest way to visit dozens of Montréal attractions, museums and more at a discount is by getting your own key to the city: Passeport MTL, whose special spring edition will help you experience the best of this fresh and fancy season.

We hope you make yourself at home in Montréal’s incredible hotels — there’s an accommodation option for everyone, from landmark hotels to family friendly hotels and boutique hotels galore. 

In Old Montréal, walk the cobblestone streets to the St. Lawrence River and visit the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal — see the gorgeous multimedia AURA Experience, a wonderful way to feel the grandeur of this landmark.

Downtown holds one of the city’s most lovely churches, the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, where you can admire the beautiful stained glass during services or during the regular organ concerts.

In the Old Port of Montréal, after shooting a selfie at the glimmering BONJOUR structure, see views of the city and the river from the Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal, where you’ll find a cruise ship dock, marine history displays, green spaces and a stunning attraction: the Port of Montréal Tower. Nearby, treat yourself to bird’s-eye views on La Grande Roue de Montréal observation wheel. 

Visit the esplanade of Place Ville Marie, where the massive art installation The Ring glints overhead. Or take a break for entertainment and a snack at the Esplanade Tranquille café at the corner of Clark and Sainte-Catherine Street. 

One of the best ways to discover the city is with expert guides on Montréal tours: set your own agenda with private walking tours at your own pace, or join pros and let yourself be guided. See the city like a local with MTL Detours, take a day trip outside the city with N-tours or call upon the experts at Guidatour. For an unparalleled taste of the city, savour one of the expert two- or three-hour walking tours given by Local Montréal Food Tours — they range from Mile End to Old Montréal.

If you’re wondering why Montréal has so many colourful murals, hear more about them and their artists on a street art tour with Spade & Palacio, including the murals from the last MURAL Festival. For an electric bike tour of the murals (weather permitting), look to Fitz Montréal — their tours cover anything from downtown Montréal to Jean-Talon Market. To enjoy Montréal after dark (also weather permitting), head out on the Montréal by Night Loop on GrayLine’s double decker bus! Enjoy the ambiance and watch as the city’s most vibrant districts come to life after dusk.
You can also devise your own self-guided art tour (or follow one of their expertly curated ones) thanks to Art Public Montréal, a fountain of information on Montréal’s hundreds of public artworks that are viewable for free year-round. Explore their selection of podcasts, too, for the inside scoop.

Spring sports and relaxation

Throughout April, mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games in Montréal at the McCord Stewart Museum, which is presenting an exhibition that celebrates this landmark event in the history of the city.

Cheer on the Montréal Canadiens as the last month of the NHL season rages on with lots of nail-biting matches happening on home turf at the Bell Centre. See the whole month’s schedule here. 

Also at the Bell Centre, catch the famous basketball tricksters Harlem Globetrotters on April 17 and 18. 

If you can’t make the games in person, watch all the hockey, soccer, football, basketball, MMA and more at Montréal’s sports bars. 

Join in the fun at Défi sportif AlterGo at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard starting on April 24 and reaching into May. Since 1984, this sporting event has hosted adapted

sports competitions. Today, this one-of-a-kind event brings together more than 6,000

participants both local and international every year.

Get swinging with a foray into the circus arts (since Montréal is a bona fide capital of circus) at the Montréal Circus Academy, where you can learn flying trapeze, pole fitness, exotic pole dance, aerial silks, aerial hammock, straps, handstands, flexibility and more. 

The Grand Chelem Baseball Centre, located downtown, invites you to step up to the plate. Whether you’re an elite player or a casual hitter, Grand Chelem offers baseball and softball training for all levels and any age. 

Wanna play? Head to the Centre Eaton de Montréal where the PLAYBOX Centre has a game for everyone, from internationally renowned crane games to arcade games, skill games and VR attractions. Super Super at DIX30 in Brossard is another super lively, family-friendly option, while Royalmount has a very fun arcade at The Rec Room, next to the Cineplex cinema, where you can duke it out in VR games and more before munching burgers or nachos (with accompanying cocktails, for parents) at the onsite eateries. Head to the Casino de Montréal to play on life-size arcade games at their ARcade by Moment Factory gaming experience: a fusion of multimedia and video game technology in two play areas that pits teams against each other in six interactive games. Each game combines motion-detection, projection technologies and videogame mechanics. Montréal loves exploring the retro side of play with its selection of arcades.

Montréal Bowling is the perfect spot downtown to play a few rounds of bowling, play some pool, watch some sports, play some arcade games and grab some great snacks and cocktails.

If you’re feeling more artsy, Art Chaos is a fantastic family- or group-friendly activity in Mile End, where you can paint crazy creations on rapidly spinning canvases, for a truly interactive experience. 

The West Island’s Ecomuseum Zoo is a wonderful place to glimpse local wildlife in their natural outdoor habitats and even have breakfast with some of them throughout the month.

Explore the many outdoor spring activities the city has in store, including the list of free things to do this season, see incredible city views from Mount Royal Park: head for a walk through the park and up the stairs to the lookout, or bus or drive up to Beaver Lake. Stroll (or cross-country ski, or skate) around Parc La Fontaine, go to Saint-Michel neighbourhood’s Parc Frédéric-Back, or cross the river to Parc Jean-Drapeau for a riverside walk and a different view of the city. While there, visit the Espace pour la vie Biosphère too, for environment-focused exhibitions and more.

Speaking of Espace pour la vie museums, enjoy the Jardin botanique’s sprawling tropical greenhouse environments, a welcome hit of warmth on these cold days. Experience several wild ecosystems at the Biodôme (there are penguins, otters, monkeys and more), explore the mysteries of the universe at the Planétarium, and learn about the thousands of butterflies, moths and other insects at the Insectarium. 

For the ultimate relaxation session after a day of trekking (or just because you deserve it), visit Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau, a unique spa in a moored boat on the St. Lawrence River in the Old Port, and other world-class spas like Scandinave Spa Vieux-Montréal, Avie Spa & Coiffure, Rainspa and Strøm Nordic Spa.

The cultural season is in full effect in museums and galleries around town, so get the full low-down in our seasonal exhibition overview. At PHI, starting on April 23 you can see Otherworlds, an immersive exhibition by Jakob Kudsk Steensen that examines contemporary ecological realities through virtual, sonic and video worlds, as well as Come check it out. Lies lies lies, Italian-born Paola Pivi’s first major touring exhibition in Canada. It features sculptural installations that question the authenticity of iconic symbols, such as the Statue of Liberty and the polar bear, which have come to stand in for ideas of freedom and climate change.

Visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts throughout April to see Richard Avedon: Immortal, featuring some 100 shots by the famous American portraitist and fashion photographer. Among the treasures, all about the theme of ageing, you’ll spy pics of celebrities Chet Baker, Toni Morrison, Truman Capote, Duke Ellington and Patti Smith.

The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is taking a little break in programming until it reopens in its vastly renovated original location at Place des Arts, but they have an exhibition of their recent acquisitions, called Comfort and Indifference, within the space of the MMFA.

Go to Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal to board the good ship D’Iberville to embark on an immersive and interactive seafaring adventure taking place in the days of New France, with their permanent exhibition Come Aboard! Pirates or Privateers? 

You’ll also be near the kid-friendly Montréal Science Centre, where you can explore interactive exhibitions that investigate the scientific world, like the permanent exhibition Human: a voyage to the very heart of human evolution through a fully interactive and highly energetic environment. Explore – Life-Sized Science is a permanent exhibition that explains the wonders at work behind motion, air, light, water, geometry, matter and code via interactive games involving giant soap bubbles, water tables — even a crane.

The McCord Stewart Museum bridges past and present in its exhibitions, which throughout April includes On the Menu – Montréal: A Restaurant Story: witness the evolution of Montréal’s restaurant scene in all its forms since the 1960s. Also on view until April 12, Aunties’ Work: The Power of Care is a heartfelt tribute to the support systems created by the matriarchs of Montréal’s Black communities.

Visit MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises, a cutting-edge museum dedicated to the voices of Montrealers presiding over the corner of Boulevard Saint-Laurent and Rue Sainte-Catherine. Throughout the month you can catch Detours – Urban Experiences, an immersive exhibition that takes you into the world of Montrealers with singular backgrounds, and the permanent exhibition MONTRÉAL: which highlights the diverse experiences that have contributed to the city’s distinctive characteristics while bringing its story to life on a human scale.

Travel back in time as you tour the rooms of Château Ramezay and visit the historical site of Château Dufresne near the Olympic Stadium. The Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréalexplores the history of medical care and its relationship to do-gooding with its temporary exhibition, Medicine and Charity. Stained glass windows, sculptures, paintings, furniture, tapestries, everyday objects related to patient care, and archives will allow visitors to discover the extraordinary richness of French hospital heritage, as well as that of Quebec. 

Not far from the city, climb aboard railway cars, learn about the history of the railroad and explore miniature railways at the Exporail the Canadian Railway Museum.

Discover the vivid history and present of Quebec ceramics at the Musée des métiers d’arts du Québec, and Canadian arts and crafts at large at La Guilde in the Golden Square Mile. Experience a massive immersive art experience in surround-sound and laser light at OASIS Immersion, where Root for Nature extrapolates on biodiversity in all its splendour.

Speaking of immersive experiences, the Fabulous FAB Exhibition is an all-around trippy space spanning three floors in the Centre Eaton de Montréal, where you can experience no less than 20 extraordinary worlds. And don’t forget Montréal’s plethora of small, independent art galleries, from Bradley Ertaskiran to Hugues Charbonneau, Galerie B-312, SBC Gallery and Ellephant downtown, Oboro and MAI in the Plateau, Centre Clark and Dazibao in Mile End, Galerie d’Outremont in (you guessed it) Outremont and many, many others in every neighbourhood.

Passeport MTL

The easiest way to visit dozens of Montréal attractions, museums and more at a discount is by getting your own key to the city: Passeport MTL, whose special winter edition will help you experience the best of the magical season.

Onstage this April

Montréal’s cultural calendar is packed this season, with entertainment for everyone on the city’s many stages. Among the world-class theatre, dance, opera, circus and more gracing the city’s stages throughout April, you’ll find Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake’s Manifesto, featuring nine dancers, nine drummers and nine drum kits. From April 1 to 4 at Théâtre Maisonneuve, let the grandiose spectacle sweep you along on an irresistible wave celebrating the consummate joy of being alive.

Catch the Grand Ballets Canadiens’s The Blue Hour at Place des Arts’s Théâtre Maisonneuve, from April 23 to 26. The blue hour is that fleeting moment between day and night when the sky veils itself in a diaphanous blue — that’s the sense of suspension that’s at the heart of this double program featuring works by choreographers Anne Plamondon and Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya. 

Also in dance, Compagnie Virginie Brunelle bring Sans quoi nous crèverons to Cinquième Salle from April 14 to 18. The piece tackles themes of chaos and dehumanization, featuring five performers embodying a collective force, moving through tension and release, surges of energy and pauses, in a succession of dynamic tableaux.

On April 7 enjoy A Night with David Sedaris at Théâtre Maisonneuve, America’s pre-eminent sardonically comedic author and master storyteller whose razor-sharp wit and outrageous, true-to-life tales will make you squirm as you chuckle.

Also at Place des Arts, catch the kiddos’ favourite, Raffi, back at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on April 18 and 19. Raffi is a singer, songwriter, producer, author, lecturer, and tireless advocate for children whose string of gold and platinum-selling recordings includes his iconic song, Baby Beluga.

For a laugh, head to Bell Centre on April 19 to catch “the nicest man in stand-up” Nate Bargatze on his Big Dumb Eyes World Tour.

Starting on April 12, Soulpepper returns to the Segal Centre with another electrifying musical journey: Detroit: Music of the Motor City. From the Motown Sound to jazz, hip-hop and rock, witness Detroit’s history come to life through the rhythm of the assembly line, the echoes of abandoned factories and the unstoppable pulse of a city that still sings.

Starting on April 15 at Centaur Theatre, catch Seeker, a hard-hitting sci-fi drama that follows a pair of exes hired by the US military to solve a mystery that could have consequences for all of humanity.

Onscreen in April

From April 2 to 11, Festival international de cinéma Vues d’Afrique will display African and Creole realities and their diasporas onscreen and beyond, through arts and culture. 

Catch the Festival des films du Japon à Montréal at Caf’Conc this April, where you can discover Japanese films never before seen in Quebec and experience a complete immersion with shows, gastronomy and Japanese culture.

Les Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma runs from April 22 to 30 at Cinémathèque québécoise in Quartier Latin. Thousands of cinephiles come to this big celebration of Québec cinema presenting hundreds of films featuring numerous premieres, festive evening events and a multitude of free activities with the most inspiring filmmakers, actors and artisans.

Film lovers will get a kick out of the live classical music concert accompanying a screening of Star Wars: A New Hope. Join the FILMharmonique Orchestra on a journey to a galaxy far, far away and experience a live-to-projection performance of one of the most iconic films of all time.

The Montréal Science Centre’s IMAX cinema puts nature on the giant screen in all its glory — this month you can see the incredible T. REX 3D: Greatest of all Tyrants throughout April, where you can discover the most gripping and scientifically accurate portrait ever made of this titan and its formidable carnivorous cousins.

See independent features, family films, documentaries and more at Montréal’s indie cinemas including Cinéma Moderne, Cinéma du Parc, Cinéma du Musée at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, and the iconic Cinémathèque québécoise in the Quartier des Spectacles (the city’s entertainment district).

Explore the city through cinema in these Hollywood movies made in Montréal.

Live music in April

We’ve got the perfect overview of Montréal’s big, can’t-miss concerts of 2026 so you can plan your highlights of the year.

Classical lovers have a world of choice at Place des Arts this month, with concerts ranging from A German Requiem by Kent Nagano to The Intense Leningrad Symphony by Shostakovich.

Catch the West Island’s Festival de la voix in various venues from April 4 to 26, and enjoy music spanning from around the globe in this festival celebrating the power of the human voice.

At the Bell Centre this month, don’t miss Lady Gaga on April 2, 3 and 6, Florence + The Machine on April 15, Lewis Capaldi on April 12, Bring Me the Horizon on April 29.

You’ll find all sorts of fun music shows at MTELUS, including Kai on April 5, Naïka on April 7, Aswell on April 10, Health x Carpenter Brut on April 15, Vincent Vallières on April 16, The Last Dinner Party on April 21, Calema on April 23, Gab Bouchard on April 24, RSKO on April 25, and Calum Scott on April 26 and 28.

At Théâtre Fairmount in Mile End, catch Die Krupps on April 2, Malevolence + Guilt Trip on April 3, Converge on April 8, The Wedding Present on April 10, Cupcake on April 11, Chameleons on April 13, Jenn Grant on April 15, Drinkurwater on April 17, Gabriel Rutledge on April 22, Trauma Ray + Glixen on April 23, Clan of Xymox + Cold Cave on April 27 and Front Line Assembly on April 30.

The world’s best EDM artists come to New City Gas to get you moving, including HoneyLuv on April 2, Infected Mushroom on April 4, Will Sparks and Showtek on April 10 and the Martinez Brothers on April 11. See the full programming here.

At the SAT this month, don’t miss FCUKERS on April 21 and CRI on the AMI Tour on April 24 and 25, among other fun happenings. See the full programming here.

Want to experience music and entertainment in a sparkling, velvet-clad theatre? Look no further than Caf’Conc, within the Marriott Château Champlain de Montréal. Find the programming here. 

Groove to live soul, disco, jazz, funk, salsa, Cuban music Fridays and more at Le Balcon, where you can have dinner with a show, go dancing, and enjoy a gospel brunch on weekends. Find the full program for the month here.

Hear live jazz nightly at Montréal’s amazing jazz and blues clubs, like Diese Onze and Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill. And go out dancing late into the night at Montréal’s dance clubs.

Indie venues Casa del Popolo and Sala Rossa have chock-a-block full monthly programs featuring both local and visiting bands, which you can find here. Look here for the many live events at hole-in-the-wall Barfly. Same for Bar Le Ritz PDB, where there’s a show nearly every night. Explore the lineups at Le Ministère and Turbo Haüs, and follow L’Escogriffe on Facebook to stay on top of all their upcoming shows. L’Hémisphère Gauche, up in Little Italy, is packed with music lovers for their nightly shows, as is Quai des Brumes on the Plateau — it never takes a night off.