February winter wonders

Throughout February and across the city, winter shines bright in Montréal – especially at Montréal’s signature winter food and culture festival MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE. From February 16 to March 5, the festival welcomes visitors and locals alike to an outdoor site, culinary events and workshops, music and artistic performances and more! Ice skate on the raised Ice Skating Loop above Place des Festivals, ride the Ferris wheel, play with light and sound art installations, and enjoy all kinds of fun wintery activities – and amazing food! – outdoors and in restaurants, cultural venues and more. Don’t miss the best of winter nightlife on February 25 as the 20th anniversary of Nuit blanche boasts theatrical and musical performances downtown and in neighbourhoods across the city.

Also downtown, the Esplanade Tranquille is much more than a typical skating rink, with lighting displays, live music, performances, storytelling and sports activities, along with ice skating for all ages and levels – you can rent skates or bring your own, learn a few moves from instructors, and go “dancing” on DJ nights! At the rink and throughout the Quartiers des spectacles, experience illuminated artwork, activities and more as part of Les Moments lumineux du cœur de l'île, which includes this year’s Luminothérapie outdoor exhibition of illuminated interactive art that makes us all feel like kids again – follow the light and sound displays along Sainte-Catherine Street, in Place des Festivals and projected on building facades in the Quartier des spectacles until March 5.

A new – and free! – urban event this winter, Montréal Boréal : Le Jam du Nord happens from February 3 to 5 at Sir George-Étienne-Cartier Square in Saint-Henri – catch musical performances, games and activities for all ages and projection art programmed with Corridor Culturel. In Chinatown, see outdoor exhibition Dragons Chasing the Moon by artist Karen Tam – a multitude of floating panels inspired by traditional Chinese paper cutouts on De La Gauchetière Street at Sun-Yat Sen Park – and the Lunar New Year celebration continues this month with Spectacle du Nouvel An Chinois au Canada 2023 at Place des Arts on February 12. Also downtown, see The Ring installation aglow above Esplanade Place Ville Marie downtown. Stroll along the glittering boardwalk in the Old Port of Montréal – also where you’ll see a great view of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge aglow with colour-shifting light.

In the Old Port of Montreal, dance under the stars and in the snow at  one of Montréal's favourite winter festivals, Igloofest! The outdoor electronic music festival celebrates its 15th anniversary on the Jacques-Cartier Pier from January 19 to February 11 – dress in your best parka and join the winter party with Bob Moses, Black Tiger Sex machine, and more electronic producers! For more music, film and cultural festivals and events, scroll down to the stage, screen and music sections.

February city sights

In Old Montréal, walk the cobblestone streets to the Saint-Lawrence River and visit the peacefully illuminated square outside Notre-Dame Basilica – inside, see gorgeous multimedia show AURA. In the Old Port of Montréal, you can see incredible city and river views from the Observation Wheel. And you can’t miss the wintery sight of the Old Port of Montréal ice skating rink, where you can rent skates and glide next to the Saint Lawrence River under twinkling lights. Nearby, explore the Montréal Science Centre: see new interactive exhibition Dinosaurs Around the World, with 20 life-sized dinosaurs that move and make sounds, plus other hands-on activities and exhibitions – and on February 11, the Women and Girls of Science event features a talk by aerospace engineer Farah Alibay, an exhibition space, dog-robot Spot, plus workshops and scientific demonstrations.

Discover the city with expert guides on Montréal tours, set your own agenda with private walking tours, and take a free walking tour of the Quartier des spectacles too! MURAL Festival may be over, but you can still see murals from this year and years past on Saint-Laurent Boulevard and adjacent streets – find the murals and hear more about the artists on a street art tour with Spade & Palacio. By night, look for the history-illuminating tableaux projections of Cité Mémoire in Old Montréal. And for ultimate relaxation any time of the day, visit Bota Bota, spa sur l’eau on the Saint-Lawrence River in the Old Port and other world-class spas like Scandinave Spa Vieux-Montréal, Avie Spa & Coiffure, Rainspa and Strøm Nordic Spa.

Meanwhile, in pro sports spectating: cheer on the Montréal Canadiens at home at the Bell Centre throughout the month. If you’re not at the game, watch hockey and other sports at Montréal’s sports bars. In a different sports arena, gamers gather in Montréal from February 17 to 19 for high-energy e-sports event SIX INVITATIONAL 2023, a world championship of the hit game Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege presented by Ubisoft from February 17 to 19 at Place Bell. And for pro wrestling fans, catch WWE Friday Night Smackdown and WWE Elimination Chamber at the Bell Centre on February 17 and 18.

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Winter in the city

Visit Montréal's snow-covered parks and cultivated gardens for a natural winter wonderland experience. Among the many free things to do this winter, see incredible city views of the city from Mount Royal Park: bundle up for a walk through the park and up the stairs to the lookout or bus or drive up to Beaver Lake, where you can also go ice skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. Another picturesque winter sight, Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau neighbourhood is perfect for taking a stroll or a skate around the park’s illuminated pond.

Cross the river to Parc Jean-Drapeau for a riverside winter walk and a different view of the city – while there visit the Space for Life Biosphère too for environment-focused exhibitions, the interactive Ecolab and more. And on snowy days, enjoy snowshoeing, ice skating, cross-country skiing and more outdoor winter activities along Parc Jean-Drapeau’s trails and skating paths, through the expanse of Frédéric-Back Park, and in many other city parks. Or try skating indoors at Atrium Le 1000 downtown!

At the Space for Life museums: stroll the Montréal Botanical Garden grounds and sprawling tropical greenhouse; experience several wild ecosystems at the Biodôme, where you’ll see penguins, otters and more; explore the mysteries of the universe in immersive 360° films and exhibitions (like new film Worlds of Ice) at the Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan; and learn about the thousands of butterflies, moths and other insects at the Insectarium. Or walk, snowshoe or cross-country ski around Parc Maisonneuve right next to the Botanical Garden. And visit the West Island’s Ecomuseum Zoo to glimpse local wildlife in their natural outdoor habitats.

Winter food and drink

Creative winter meals and food festivals warm every foodie’s heart this month in Montréal. Incredible food is on the menu at winter festival MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE from February 16 to March 5. The festival’s gastronomy programming from Québec and around the world includes events at over 40 Montréal restaurants and venues with international and local chefs and producers, as well as gourmet activities at the outdoor site downtown, in the Quartier Gourmand in Place des Arts and more. See just how diverse and creative Quebecois classic poutine can be during La Poutine Week, when restaurants around the city serve special poutine dishes from February 1 to 14.

For Valentine’s Day dinner, you can’t miss with Montréal’s variety of romantic dining options, from classic French and Italian to modern bistro. For something different, dine on a boreal meal together in a dome on Bivouac’s winter terrace: each dome has a speaker to play music, is heated, and offers a magnificent view of Montreal's winter effervescence. And add even more sweetness to your celebrations with treats from Montréal’s best chocolate shops.

Warm yourself to the core with the best hot food for cold days, from Indian dishes to Japanese ramen and Vietnamese pho. Discover the Montréal’s newest restaurants and “buvettes” and don’t miss a classic Montréal brunch, whether you’re looking for elegance or comfort food! Also try some of Montréalers’ favourite lunch restaurants, from Old Montréal and downtown to Villeray or the South-West. Dig into long-time Quebec classics like smoked meat, poutine and Montréal bagels. And check all the boxes on your “must-eat list” with these musts for foodies in Montréal. Any time of day, warm up with the best hot chocolate in Montréal!

It’s an excellent time to have dinner and see a show at the Casino de Montréal, all decked out in winter wonders: live music and cabaret shows entertain while incredible seafood and more is on the grill at Le Montréal, there’s a gourmet buffet at Pavillon 67, and quick delicious eats at L’Instant. Explore superb restaurants and cafés along Beaubien Street in the Rosemont-La-Petit-Patrie neighbourhood (also where you’ll find Little Italy). And enjoy dinner and a show at restaurant-cabaret Le Balcon.

Downtown, explore the wide variety of excellent meals at gourmet food halls, including Time Out Market, Marché Artisans, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten and Le Central - Manger Montréal. Get your caffeine fix at Montréal's indie coffee shops – and fresh-baked doughnuts to go with it! Add more sweetness to your life with creations from Montréal's best bakeries and pastry shops, best chocolate shops and candy shops.

Eat plant-based with our ultimate guide to vegan eating in Montréal or join the debate over who makes the best pizza in Montréal or the best tacos. By night, discover the city’s 30 top cocktail bars, inventive Montréal microbreweries and late-night eats. Or mix Montréalesque cocktails at home with gin, vodka, rum and more specialty spirits from these Montréal specialty alcohol and spirit makers.

At The Burgundy Lion pub, get ready for a Caribbean evening to benefit the GOAL Initiatives Foundation and its 2023 beneficiaries: Soccer QC, Grassroot Soccer and Heart Shaped Hands on February 19 at 5 pm. Chefs Paul Toussaint and Michel Childe will prepare a mouth-watering menu, there will be music by Paul Beaubrun of Arcade Fire and DJ KOLO, plus an art exhibit by Darwin Doleyres. Tickets are available here.

New Year shopping

Go shopping for winter wardrobe staples and dinner-party glam in Old Montréal’s boutiques, downtown along Sainte-Catherine Street and in the underground city malls, or head to the Plateau and Mile End for unique finds. Keep your eye out for items made by Montréal designers, relaxing self-care staples and plenty of home decor. Add sparkle to your life at the coolest Montréal jewelry stores. Shop local and eco-friendly at the most fabulous vintage boutiques in the city. Pick out the perfect new books for friends and family from Montréal’s bookstores. And dive into a wide world of music at Montréal's excellent vinyl stores.

February exhibitions and experiences

Montréal’s museums and art galleries inspire all year – and there’s always something new to see. At the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, see blockbuster exhibition Seeing Loud: Basquiat and Music until February 19, as well as exhibition ᑐᓴᕐᓂᑐᑦ TUSARNITUT! illustrating the Inuit musical expression, and new collection 根付Netsuke Hands On, tiny, exquisitely detailed Japanese objects called netsuke, tucked away in the Stephan Crétier and Stéphany Maillery Wing for the Arts of One World, plus collections exhibitions Views of Within: Picturing the Spaces We Inhabit, Revelations: Prints by Albert Dumouchel in the Collection of the MMFA and Parall(elles): A History of Women in Design, opening February 18, shining a spotlight on the vital role women have played in the world of design.

The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal presents new previously unseen immersive works by Montréal artist Nelson Henricks, including a program of 15 Screen Tests produced by Andy Warhol between 1964 and 1966. On screen at home, explore immersive online exhibition Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything, a recreation of the MAC’s monumental show, and comprehensive new digital platform MACrépertoire.

Explore ideas of metamorphosis and mutation and rethink the values we live by at the International Digital Art Biennial (BIAN), a digital and immersive art exhibition presented by ELEKTRA at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal, until February 5. Also at Arsenal, experience a major audiovisual retrospective of Pink Floyd’s music and the band’s effect on art and culture in The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains extended until March 5. ELEKTRA also presents INTANGIBLE IN-BETWEEN, works at the junction of games and art at 5445 Avenue de Gaspé in Mile End.

Experience award-winning virtual reality at the Phi Centre in Horizons VR, as well as multi-sensorial experience Last Minute, focused on mourning, births and metamorphoses, new exhibitions featuring works from the PHI’s art collection, and Water Road, a motion-activated river appears on the Phi Centre facade on Saint-Pierre Street. A massive immersive art experience in surround sound and laser light, Oasis Immersion takes over the ground floor of Palais des congrès: don’t miss VAN GOGH-Distorsion, a 360° experience with surround sound, featuring 225 paintings, drawings and sketches by the Dutch-born painter, extended to March 12 – also see new Oasis virtual reality experience transformé! And experience 3D creation Lasting Impressions, inviting us to move into and through the canvases crafted by the impressionist masters, at Espace St-Denis until March 12.

Galerie de l’UQAM presents new exhibitions Eshi uapatika ishkueuatsh tshitassinu / Regards de femmes sur le territoire with artists Marie-Andrée Gill, Sophie Kurtness and Soleil Launière, and Lynn Kodeih. Effacer voir ou le jour où j’ai arrêté de dessiner, opening February 9. Watch for local artwork in vacant downtown commercial spaces as part of Art souterrain’s Créer des Ponts project. See how street artists have made their mark on the city in Des street artistes qui ont marqué Montréal at L'Original Art Gallery in Old Montreal and 4455 St. Denis St.

Also see new exhibitions at Bradley Ertaskiran (featuring Never Odd or Even by Julia Dault) and Galerie Z Art Space (see Crozier/McKindsey featuring Canadian painters Nicole Crozier and Alexia McKindsey) in the neighbourhood of St. Henri, Darling Foundry in Old Montréal, Hugues Charbonneau, Galerie B-312, SBC Gallery (see group exhibition Here Comes the Sun) and Ellephant downtown, at Oboro, MAI in the Plateau, Centre Clark and Dazibao in Mile End, Galerie d'Outremont in Outremont (see David Farsi’s La Couleur du Récit this month) and many, many other amazing art galleries in every neighbourhood – find out more in our Montréal guide to gallery hopping and these affordable places to buy contemporary art. Take a Portrait Sonore sound walk downtown and on the Mountain to discover Montréal art and culture. And hunt for more public art everywhere in the city.

History past and present

Alongside Montréal museum exhibitions this winter, February is also Black History Month, featuring artistic and historic exhibitions, as well as performances, film and more at several venues. History buffs will love the current exhibitions at Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal: learn about the significance of headdresses in different cultures in Headdresses from Around the world: The Antoine de Galbert Collection; follow the story of Montréal through historic objects in Favourites! Our Collections on Display; see environmentally themed exhibition Frédéric Back: A Passion for the Planet; and kids of all ages can step into history in interactive display Come Aboard! Pirates or Privateers?

Go to the McCord Stewart Museum to witness Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience, experience Alexander Henderson: Art and Nature, and glean insights from new photography exhibitions Incipit - COVID-19 by Michel Huneault and Disraeli Revisited. At the Canadian Centre for Architecture, see Retail Apocalypse, examining the entangled worlds of architecture, fashion, business and art, and ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒧᑦ / Ruovttu Guvlui / Towards Home, an Indigenous-led exhibition and publication project exploring Arctic spaces.

Travel back in time in Old Montréal as you tour the rooms of Château Ramezay and historical site Chateau Dufresne. Climb aboard railway cars, learn about the history of the railroad and explore miniature railways at the Exporail the Canadian Railway Museum. Take a historic walking tour of Jewish Montréal, with the Museum of Jewish Montréal, relocated to 5220 Saint-Laurent Blvd. – see exhibition Public Intimacy by Berlin-based artists Sophia Hirsch and Johannes Mundinger. Explore the Afromuseum, representing the contributions of Afro-Canadians to the cultural landscape of Canada. Discover the vivid history and present of Québec ceramics at the Musée des métiers d'arts du Québec. And for another slice of Québec history, visit Montréal’s stunning churches and sacred sites.

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On stage in February

Montréal’s cultural calendar is packed this season, with entertainment for everyone on the city’s many stages. Circus is never in short supply in Montréal. At La Tohu circus centre this month see: two dynamic-duo shows in one in Compagnie 7B’s Diptyque (Instante & Lontano) with the dancers and acrobats Juan Ignacio Tula and Marica Marinoni from February 2 to 4; Circa’s Humans 2.0, a symphony of acrobatics, sound and light for 10 performers, from February 15 to 19; and Magie d'ombres et autres tours by Philippe Beau, wonderous sequences of shadows, magic and film excerpts, from February 27 to March 4. And secure your seats for Cirque du Soleil’s brand new show ECHO, celebrating its world premiere in Montréal from April to August 2023!

In theatre, Centaur presents Steve Galluccio’s play At the Beginning of Time, from February 21 to March 12, an autobiographical story of a gay man in his late 50s who must reimagine his life. Unique new performances that challenge the conventions of theatre are on the program for The Wildside Festival, including Ukrainian theatre work Planting an Apple Tree, screenings of Theater for One, and Confabulation storytelling event Me, My Selfie and I: Stories of the technology that completes, complicates, and controls us, at Centaur Theatre to February 11. The National Theatre School of Canada’s graduating class presents Middletown by Will Eno at the Monument-National from February 28 to March 4.

In contemporary dance, Danse Danse presents Compagnie Marie Chouinard’s «M», an ode to life featuring 12 dancers in motion with poetry, drawing, photography, cinema, installation art and new technology at Place des Arts from January 31 to February 4. Red Sky Performance shares the strength, beauty and resilience of First Nations in Miigis: Underwater Panther, from February 14 to 18 at Place des Arts. And Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch performs Palermo Palermo, a danced portrait of the city right before the Berlin wall fell, from February 23 to 25 at Place des Arts. And in a city where burlesque has been celebrated for a century, burlesque queen Dita Von Teese brings the world’s biggest burlesque show Glamontrix to Théatre Maisonneuve on February 7.

Haitian-Canadian composer David Bontemps and the Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM) present the world premiere of chamber opera La Flambeau, inspired by Haitian Vodou culture and its origins in West African mythology, on February 7 at Salle Pierre‑Mercure, as part of Black History Month. See Ivo Dimchev’s Halal performance work on February 6 and 7, as well as three Queer Happenings featuring live music, drag, performance art and burlesque at MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels) from February 16 to 18. As part of La Chapelle’s Queer Performance Camp this year, see Fathermother’s Black Moon on February 1 and 2, and Vivek Shraya’s How to Fail as a Pop Star from February 6 to 8. Discover new contemporary dance and interdisciplinary works presented by Agora de la danse (including KOROS virtual reality experience), Tangente, and Danse Cité.

On screen in February

Film festival Les Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma brings together film lovers with filmmakers and industry professionals to celebrate Québec cinema from February 22 to March 4: see feature films, shorts, documentaries and more, as well as talks and special events. Experience the wide world of cinema made especially for children and families at the Montréal International Children’s Film Festival, featuring animated and live action films in several languages, from February 25 to March 5.

In the Society for Art and Technology’s 360° Satosphere dome, immerse yourself in Parallèles program of 10 immersive short films, from microscopic views to cosmic landscapes that invite you to discover the limitless possibilities of the mind and the universe, until February 17. The SAT presents Allison Moore’s CLOUD BODIES, a generative immersive experience in the Satosphere combining dance and technology, until February 3. See independent features, family films, documentaries and more at Cinéma Moderne in person and online. See the art world in a whole new light thanks to the International Festival of Films on Art year-round ART FILM program.

Discover new art house films and more from Montréal indie cinemas' programming at Cinéma du Parc, Cinéma du Musée at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, and Cinémathèque québécoise in the Quartier des spectacles. The Montréal Science Centre’s IMAX cinema puts nature on the giant screen in all its glory – including Dinosaurs of Antarctica 3D. And explore the city through cinema in these Hollywood movies made in Montréal.

Classical music

Classical music is both grand and understated in February. Jordan de Souza conducts the OSM with works by Verdi and Tchaikovsky for three performances of Tchaikovsky and The Force of Destiny on February 8 and 9. Adam Johnson conducts the OSM in the first segment of the Riopelle Symphonic Experience, a multimedia show presented as part of the Jean Paul Riopelle centenary celebrations, from February 16 to 18. Beloved OSM Conductor Emeritus Kent Nagano returns to conduct the OSM and young French pianist Alexandre Kantorow, gold medalist of the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition, in Nagano and Kantoro: From Sibelius to Tchaikovsky, from February 22 to 26. Daniela Candillari conducts the Orchestre Métropolitain in concert Electric Revolution on February 10 at Maison symphonique, and OM premieres Denis Gougeon’s Double Concerto for Cello and Harp with harpist Valérie Milot and cellist Stéphane Tétreault on February 17 at Maison symphonique.

The FILMharmonic Orchestra performs concert Music at the Movies featuring iconic film music, at Maison symphonique on February 3. Hear choral works by Scandinavian composers performed by Ensemble vocal Katimavik in Skadi on February 12 at Maison symphonique. The Société de musique contemporaine du Québec presents daring and inspiring festival Montréal / Nouvelles Musiques (MNM), from February 23 to March 4, with over 20 concerts, an electroacoustic laboratory, an international colloquium and more, including works by Indigenous composer artistic director of the Dead of Winter ensemble Andrew Balfour. Relaxed and acoustically refined, Bourgie Hall at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts is also a source of beautiful concerts, including From Bach to Bowie on February 17 inspired by the eclectic tastes of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Move live music

During winter and any time of year, there’s plenty of live music in Montréal. As part of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE’s arts program, see The Kingdom Choir on February 19 at Place des Arts, cinematic concert Les Triplettes de Belleville with Benoît Charest's orchestra on February 26 at Place des Arts, Jacques Kuba Séguin on February 16 at Le Studio TD followed by Kimbra on February 18, Bedouin Soundclash on February 25 at Le Studio TD, Tiakola on February 17 and 18 at MTELUS, followed by Bon Entendeur on February 20.

Igloofest celebrates its 15th anniversary this year with weekends packed with electronic dance music on the Jacques-Cartier Pier from January 19 to February 11 – afterwards, hit up the Igloofest after-parties, including 25 Après-Ski evenings in Old Montreal venues the PHI Centre, Auberge Saint-Gabriel, Francesco's and Soubois, as well as the Society for Arts and Technology downtown.

Toronto rock quartet Sloan returns to perform at Café Campus on February 1. Alicia Moffet comes to MTELUS on February 2, while îLESONIQ presents electronic producer Wooli at MTELUS on February 4, Aussie hitmaker Vance Joy is at MTELUS on February 10 and 11, and Osheaga presents Tove Lo on February 13 at MTELUS. Hear pop hits in choir formation as Choir! Choir! Choir! performs at Le Studio TD on February 11.  Two of the UK’s most enduring and best-loved bands The Charlatans UK and Ride co-headline Corona Theatre on February 3. Canadian singer-songwriter Lights plays Fairmount Theatre on February 17, and Australian rockers Dune Rats are at Foufounes Électriques on February 22. And Thomas Rhett thrills fans at the Bell Centre on February 24. See these shows and more co-presented by Greenland, Blue Skies Turn Black, I Love Neon, and other show promoters at venues citywide, including Fairmount Theatre, Corona Theatre, Bar Le Ritz PDB, Casa del Popolo and Sala Rossa, L’Escogriffe and elsewhere throughout the month.

In the SAT’s Satosphere dome, dance late into the night every weekend at now-legendary Domesicle dance parties, featuring stunning immersive visuals and techno and house by a lineup of talented DJs from by RE:UNION, Temple Records, bontempo, Éditions Appærent and Making time. Also dance the nights away at Newspeak, featuring electronic music by Mau P on February 3, D Unity on February 4, Genix on February 10 and more producers, and at New City Gas with Jauz on February 3, Blasterjaxx on February 4, Steve Aoki on February 22, Paul Van Dyk on February 24 and more.

Groove to live Motown, soul, disco, jazz, salsa, Cuban music and more at Le Balcon, where you can have dinner with a show, go dancing, and enjoy a gospel brunch on weekends ‒ or have meal and drinks on Le Balcon’s new terrasse right on Sainte-Catherine Street downtown. 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.