September festivals and major events

Montréal’s famed festivals continue to entertain and delight throughout September, from the Labour Day weekend to the beginning of autumn! Explore car-free pedestrian streets well into the month, like Mont-Royal Avenue in the Plateau, Wellington Street in Verdun, de Castelnau Street near the Jean Talon Market, and main artery Saint-Laurent Boulevard, where the playful Festival BLVD closes the street to traffic from August 31 to September 3.

Downtown’s Quartiers des spectacles also transforms for its 20th anniversary, starting September 13 with multimedia creation Vibrer ensemble, 20 ans d'expériences mémorables and video projection 20 ans d'audace et de culture projected onto the façade of UQAM's Pavillon Président-Kennedy. Meanwhile, the always-anticipated Gardens of Light lantern installation transforms the Botanical Garden into a magical experience all month.

Festivals continue to entertain downtown and throughout the city – including performances and activities at outdoor venues, some of many free things to do this fall. See incredible street dance performances at the JOAT Festival international de street dance from August 29 to September 4 in the Quartier des spectacles. The Festival du nouveau cinéma presents open-air screenings at the Esplanade Tranquille from September 1 to 3 at 7 pm nightly, including Denis Villeneuve's first feature film August 32nd on Earth. And the literally massive Jurassic World Live Tour roars into Bell Centre from September 8 to 10.

See incredible contemporary dance performances during Festival Quartiers Danses, from September 6 to 17 at the Wilder Building downtown, the McCord Stewart Museum, Pointe-à-Callière Museum and in neighbourhoods across the city. Get out on the open-air dancefloor yourself with professional dance instructors during TEMPÉO, Dance and Music Festival, on the Esplanade of Place des Arts from September 14 to 16 and 21 to 23.

Also in dance, Les Grands Ballets presents classic fairy tale Cinderella, choreographed in 2011 by Jayne Smeulders and now with glittering new sets, from September 8 to 10 at Place des Arts. Danse Danse and Ballets Jazz Montréal present Essence, marking the company’s 50th anniversary with works choreographed by Crystal Pite, Aszure Barton and Ausia Jones, at Théâtre Maisonneuve from September 27 to 30. And Opéra de Montréal stages Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro from September 23 to October 1 at Place des Arts.

Literary festival Le Festival international de la littérature (FIL) features readings, workshops, exhibitions and more from September 20 to 30. Festival TRAD showcases music, art, dance and more from Québec’s traditional cultural heritage, from August 30 to September 3 at the Maison de la culture Ahuntsic. Catch short, family-friendly alleyway performances during Le FAR Festival des arts de ruelle from August 28 to September 10. And get the scoop on new fashion trends and runway looks at Montréal Fashion Week from September 18 to 24, with runway shows, shopping events, workshops and more.

Meet industry professionals at the very first edition of the Montréal International Film Festival, September 9 and 10, at the Beanfield Theatre and Château St-Ambroise.

All kinds of exceptionally great music, from indie-pop to classic soul, fills the city’s venues during POP Montréal International Music Festival, along with panel discussions, free kids activities, art shows, film screenings and more fun from September 27 to October 1. MAPP_MTL, Montréal’s international projection mapping festival, presents lively, light-filled digital projections and musical performances from September 28 to 30 at the Van Horne Skate Park in the Mile End.

The Montreal International Black Film Festival screens features and shorts from Québec, Canada and around the world, from September 27 to October 1. In comedy, Aussie comedian Jim Jeffries makes us laugh at Théâtre St. Denis on September 20, and Jeremy Hotz brings his Marquis De Sad Tour to Beanfield Theatre on September 30. And the Montreal Cannabis Expo touches down at Palais des congres on September 13 and 14.

Meanwhile, electronic dance music comes to Parc Jean-Drapeau every Sunday at Piknic Électronik – this month, dance to the beat of Misstress Barbara and Manu on Labour Day weekend, plus more high-energy producers throughout the month, like Ben UFO and Chaos in the CBD. Join OFF Piknic Electronik events too, like Kaytramine on September 7, deadmau5 on September 29, Ben Böhmer on September 30, and Berlin-based Italian electronic duo Tale Of Us at Olympic Park on September 2. Scroll down to our music section for all the live music in Montréal in September. All this and food festivals too – check the food section below for details!

From September 30 to October 8, the Festival CORRIDOR will combine art, music and heritage. This first edition of the festival invites you to discover those who bring Montréal and its culture to life.

Sights & adventures in Old Montréal

Walk the cobblestone streets of Old Montréal to the Saint Lawrence River and visit the peacefully illuminated square outside Notre-Dame Basilica (one of Montréal’s most famous icons) – inside, see gorgeous multimedia show AURA. By nightfall, the projections of Cité Mémoire illuminate history on Old Montréal building facades.

Also in the Old Port of Montréal, see views of the city and the river from Montréal’s Grand Quay, where you’ll find a cruise ship dock, marine history displays, green spaces and two new attractions: the Port of Montréal Tower, with amazing views of the river and Old Montréal, and the BONJOUR structure, a perfectly oriented photo op! Nearby, treat yourself to bird’s-eye views on La Grande Roue de Montréal Observation Wheel. Or boost your adrenaline while zipping over the water on the MTL Zipline.

Explore the river on beautiful boat tours with Navark, Croisières AML, Bateau-Mouche, and Petit Navire. For the adventurous, you can ride the river’s waves with Rafting Montréal, take jet-ski tours with Wet Set MTL or try jet boating on the Lachine Rapids throughout September and into October.

A must for families, climb high at adventure ropes park Voiles en Voiles, based around two history-inspired sailing ships, find your way through the SOS Labyrinth, and visit the Montréal Science Centre for hands-on exhibition Hockey: Faster Than Ever, with 30 interactive stations made for both hockey fans and science fans, until September 10 – also see incredible Animal Kingdom 3D: A Tale of Six Families at the IMAX®TELUS Theatre. And at historic Marché Bonsecours, see global events, hidden corners of the world and more through a photojournalism lens at the Expo World Press Photo Montréal.

September sports

The NHL pre-season kicks off at the Bell Centre as the Montréal Canadiens play the New Jersey Devils on September 25, Ottawa Senators on September 27, Toronto Maple Leafs on September 29, and Toronto again on September 30.

It’s also still soccer season, so don’t miss Major League Soccer team CF Montréal at Saputo Stadium against Columbus on September 2, Chicago on September 16 and Cincinnati on September 20. And CFL team Montreal Alouettes brings the game home at Percival-Molson Memorial Stadium on September 2 against the BC Lions and on September 16 against the Toronto Argonauts. If you can’t be at the games, watch hockey, soccer, football and other sports at Montréal’s sports bars.

Watch some of the world’s best cyclists compete in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on September 10 in Mount Royal Park, and stop by the fans village in Parc Jeanne-Mance at the foot of Mount Royal. Cheer at 3X3 basketball games, check out rap performances, graffiti and at urban sports and arts festival DISTRIX from September 1 to 3 in the Quartier des spectacles.

Watch extreme rock climbers tackle the challenge of Psicobloc, a hardcore free-climbing contest above the diving pool at the Parc Jean-Drapeau aquatic complex on September 2 and 3. And, just as sweaty as sports but with more horsepower, MONSTER SPECTACULAR XXVII brings the world’s best monster trucks to Olympic Stadium on September 30. Or if boats are more your jam, don’t miss the Salon du Bateau à Flots de Montréal boat show from Sept 22 to 24 in the Old Port.

For skateboarders, the Vans Skatepark on the Olympic Park Esplanade is the place to be – it’s also where you can try rock climbing at Nomad Bloc, and kids can play on the inflatable games of Îlots76. And, not quite a sport but definitely an adrenaline booster, La Ronde amusement park is open for another season of roller-coaster thrills under the sun.

Downtown sights and sounds

Along with festivals in the Quartier des spectacles, catch impromptu live music and other performances this month. Explore the area on a luminous pathway of video projections and lighting installations, including on the esplanade of Place des Arts, where you’ll see Montréal’s cultural institutions in a new light in Insitu, a visual poem projected on the facade of Maison symphonique.

Have a drink on the Esplanade Place Ville Marie, where by night massive art installation The Ring glows above you. Or take a break for live music and theatrical performances (and even a snack and a drink too) at Esplanade Tranquille at the corner of Clark and Sainte-Catherine Street and a few blocks away at Jardins Gamelin near Berri-UQAM metro. Nearby in the LGBTQ+ Village, see amazing Montréal drag shows at Cabaret Mado and Bar Le Cocktail.

Catch the annual drag show and cabaret Oh La La happening at Cabaret Mado on September 28. The event benefits Maison du Parc, a non-profit care home for those afflicted with HIV/AIDS.

For a quick bite to eat downtown, you’ll find a variety of great food at gourmet food halls, including Time Out Market, Marché Artisans, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten and Le Central - Manger Montréal. Have a meal on Restaurant Bivouac’s terrace, where you’ll also be treated to a magnificent view of downtown Montréal, or try the new rooftop piano-bar-terrace Le Marie-Louise at Espace Saint-Denis with views of the Quartier Latin. Or head to Chinatown for noodles, dumplings and so much more.

City tours and pop-up events

Discover the city with expert guides on Montréal tours. Set your own agenda with private walking tours at your own pace. See the city like a local with MTL Detours. Take a free walking tour of the Quartier des spectacles to explore the heart of downtown – and even go on a tasting tour of the Latin Quarter. If you’re wondering about why Montréal has so many colourful murals, hear more about them and their artists on a street art tour with Spade & Palacio. Tour Montréal sights or take a day trip outside the city with N-Tours. Or take yourself on self-guided audio tours thanks to TourBird.

Montréal is known as a bike-friendly city, with hundreds of kilometres of bike paths – September is an ideal time to bike around and see the sights, especially as the leaves begin to turn colour in the parks. Rent a bike or bring your own to bicycle around the city, take a bike tour, or simply get from A to B (and back again) on a BIXI shared bike.

Enjoy entertainment, food and drink at the city’s summer pop-up spaces, many open throughout September, including the Old Port’s Marché des Éclusiers restaurant and farmer’s market and gourmet food truck event First Fridays (this month on September 1 with a Vietnamese food and culture theme) on the Olympic Park Esplanade. And if you’re looking around Mile End, stop by POP Montréal’s Marché des Possibles at l’Entrepôt77 on the weekends for live music, kid-friendly free activities, local food and drink.

Nature and relaxation

Among the many free things to do this fall, visit Montréal's parks, green spaces and cultivated gardens to experience an abundance of nature in the city. See incredible city views of the city from Mount Royal Park: take a walk through the park and up the stairs to the lookout, take a bus or drive up to Beaver Lake where you can row a boat on the water, or go on a guided discovery walk on the mountain, including forest bathing and sunset walks. And at the foot of the Mountain, take a guided tour of the Cité-des-Hospitalières monastery garden, the only way to see this longtime-secret garden.

Another picturesque sight, Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau neighbourhood is perfect for taking a stroll after shopping, a bike ride, or after a great meal and entertainment on Mont-Royal Avenue, St. Denis Street or Rachel Street. Cross the river to Parc Jean-Drapeau for a riverside walk and a view of Old Montréal – while there visit the Space for Life Biosphère’s environment exhibitions. Take a tour of Montréal parks on your own or with a tour guide like Héritage Montréal.

There’s much to see and do for all ages at the Space for Life museums. Stroll the Montréal Botanical Garden grounds and tropical greenhouse – experience the gardens at night all month at the wondrous Gardens of Light lantern installation. Experience several wild ecosystems at the Biodôme, where you’ll see penguins, otters and more animals of all kinds. Explore the mysteries of the universe in immersive films and exhibitions at the Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan. And learn about butterflies, moths and other insects at the Insectarium. See local wildlife in their natural habitats at the Ecomuseum Zoo. Visit dozens of Montréal attractions, museums and more at a discount with the MTL Passeport MTL!

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. If it’s hot on Labour Day weekend, go swimming at the Parc Jean-Drapeau’s aquatic complex or beach – or cool off at any of Montréal’s pools and beaches – most will close for the season after the weekend! On the other hand, you can always try ice skating indoors at Atrium Le 1000.

Local food and drink

Montréal’s many food festivals happen throughout the year and there are more than a few this month. Don’t miss food truck fest First Fridays on September 1 at the Olympic Parc Esplanade – this month’s theme highlights Vietnamese culture, featuring local gourmet food trucks, music and entertainment. Le Burger Week serves up original and exclusive burgers from dozens of participating restaurants from September 1 to 14. The city’s chefs create a variety of delicious tacos and spicy sides during Taco Fest from September 2 to 4.

The Martinique Gourmand Festival shares Martinique food and culture from September 12 to 24, including a free Creole Market with tastings, demonstrations and more on September 16 and 17 at the Grand Quay of the Old Port. Creative mixology and speciality spirits make Invasion Cocktail a must for cocktail connaisseurs and anyone who enjoys a fancy tipple, from September 13 to 30 at several Montréal restaurants and bars. And get a taste of rum from around the world and the cultures it comes from at Yulrumfest on September 16.

Enjoy Ukrainian performances, art and cuisine at the family-friendly Montreal Ukrainian Festival on September 9 at Parc Maisonneuve. And experience vegan cuisine, cooking workshops and demos, and more at the Montreal Vegan Festival at Palais des Congrès on September 30 and October 1. And downtown, Peel Street restaurants showcase their menus with tastings, workshops and more during the Peel MTL Foodies gourmet festival.

At Time Out Market, on Tuesday 26 September from 6-9pm, enjoy an evening of art, wine and community during Paint&Sip at the brand new wine bar in collaboration with Canvas Club, a Montréal-based art community that aims to stimulate your inner artist.

Outdoor terrasse dining continues throughout the warm days of September. Find out what’s happening on the city’s patios in this refresh on Montréal’s outdoor patios and this peek at Montréal’s most beautiful rooftop patios. Discover what Montréal’s newest restaurants are cooking up or grab a seat for a light meal at the city’s “buvettes.” Whether you stayed up way too late or are up early, don’t miss a classic Montréal brunch any day of the week! Also try some of Montréalers’ favourite lunch restaurants, from Old Montréal and downtown to Villeray or the South-West, and favourite French restaurants.

Among the many restaurants to check out, stop for a bite at newly reopened Café Constance in Place des Festivals, have a meal with a view at Muze lounge & terrace in Hôtel HONEYROSE downtown, and eat well at globally inspired Azalea restaurant and seafood specialists Maestro SVP in the Plateau. It’s also an excellent time to have dinner and see a show at the Casino de Montréal: 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.

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. By night, discover award-winning bars, 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.

Make the most of harvest season in Montréal by going apple picking and finding your way through the corn maze at Verger Labonté, a by visiting Montréal’s public markets, like the Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy and the Atwater Market in St. Henri, for fresh food, fruit and vegetables, coffee and more! Explore restaurants and cafés along Beaubien Street in the Rosemont-La-Petit-Patrie neighbourhood (also where you’ll find Little Italy and some of Montréal’s best Italian restaurants). And downtown, enjoy dinner and a show at restaurant-cabaret Le Balcon.

Dig into Quebec classics like smoked meat, poutine and Montréal bagels – and discover more classics with these retro places to stay, eat and drink. And check all the boxes on your “must-eat list” with these musts for foodies in Montréal. Go for Japanese ramen and Vietnamese pho. Eat the best of plant-based food with our ultimate guide to vegan eating in Montréal. And join the debate over who makes the best pizza or tacos in Montréal!

Shopping in Montréal

Go shopping for wardrobe staples and dinner-party glam in Old Montréal’s boutiques, downtown along Sainte-Catherine Street and in the underground city malls – discover the latest styles at Montréal Eaton Center and Place Montréal Trust, including Uniqlo, Nike, Aritza, Decathlon and many more boutiques (and remember to ask for a VIP Visitor Card at Guest Services for exclusive discounts only for tourists). Head further into Old Montréal and to the Plateau and Mile End for unique boutique finds: keep your eye out for items made by Montréal designers, relaxing self-care staples and plenty of home decor.

See what’s new in fashion trends and runway looks at Montreal Fashion Week from September 18 to 24, with shopping events, runway shows, workshops and more. Don't miss the M3/Mode Masculine fashion show on September 23 (at 5 p.m. at Cirque Éloize). If you’re planning a wedding, Le Grand Salon Let’s Get Married has everything from unique ideas to dresses, on September 4 at Palais des congres.

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.

September art exhibitions

Montréal’s cultural calendar is as packed as ever this month, and museums and art galleries are no exception. Momenta Biennale de l’image showcases cutting-edge artists from around the world at 15 of Montréal’s leading museums and galleries, including the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Galerie de l’UQAM, Vox and more, with many venues offering free entry from September 7 to October 22. At the end of September, art pops up in all kinds of spaces from galleries to boutiques during annual event Journées de la culture. And Art Tattoo Montréal brings tattoo artists from around the world to the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal from September 8 to 10.

At the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, see blockbuster exhibition Portable Universe: Thought and Splendour of Indigenous Colombia, featuring 400 works of Colombian art dating from about 1500 BCE to the present day, including gold pendants and masks. Also see award-winning master carver creations in Wolves: The Art of Dempsey Bob, new collections exhibition The Pop of Life! Pop Art in the Collection of the MMFA, and the colourful Inflorescence fresco on the pavement of Du Musée Avenue.

The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal presents Lili Reynaud-Dewar exhibition I Want All of the Above to Be the Sun at the intersection of sculpture, performance and video, as well as MOMENTA Biennale exhibition SocialSim, populated by 3D avatars, Anna Binta Diallo’s Fluid fossils and Cyprien Gaillard’s 3D film Nightlife. At home, explore immersive online exhibition Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything, a recreation of the MAC’s monumental show.

At the Phi Foundation, don’t miss multidisciplinary new solo exhibition Moridja Kitenge Banza: Inhabiting the Imaginary, painting, photography, video, drawing and installation work by award-winning Congolese Montréal-based artist, as well as local gentrification-focused project Forgotten Traces (both to September 3). Meanwhile, Banksyland Montréal occupies a mystery space in the Village from September 8 to 16. And you can see the works of renowned Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky at Arsenal art contemporain this month.

Also see new exhibitions at Bradley Ertaskiran in the neighbourhood of St. Henri, Darling Foundry in Old Montréal, Hugues Charbonneau, Patel Brown, Galerie B-312, SBC Gallery, McBride Contemporain and Ellephant downtown, as well as Pierre-François Ouellette art contemporain, Oboro, MAI in the Plateau, Centre Clark and Dazibao in Mile End, Art Mûr in La Petite-Patrie, 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. And hunt for public art everywhere in the city!

Digital and VR immersive experiences

Montréal is a hub for thought-provoking digital art throughout the year. Experience what it’s like to be on board the international space station in VR in Space Explorers: The Infinite, created by Montréal company Felix & Paul, continuing throughout the year. For more award-winning digital art and VR go to the Phi Centre for multisensory exhibition Sex, Desire and Data, a unique deep dive into the complex mapping of our sexualities as they merge with technology. Also at the Phi Centre, tune out the noise inside listening room Habitat Sonore and check out the seasonal digital installation Chromatic Myriad in the building’s windows and facade.

A massive immersive art experience in surround sound and laser light, Oasis Immersion takes over the ground floor of Palais des congrès, with the quirkiness of Sweet Folie and the return of immersive experience VAN GOGH - Distorsion. Under the 360-degree, surround-sound SAT dome, lose yourself in audiovisual experience Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon, celebrating the album’s 50th anniversary, or enter the psychedelic landscape of Recombination, created by fractal artist Julius Horthuis.

For a playful new virtual reality experience, converse with an AI built from professor, philosopher and social critic Noam Chomsky’s digital traces in CHOM5KY vs CHOMSKY at the NFB Space in the Quartiers des spectacles. And the newest addition that must be experienced to be believed, the Museum of Illusions Montréal has us questioning our perceptions, located at 54 Rue Saint-Antoine O. in Old Montréal.

September at the museum

Among the Montréal museum exhibitions this season, go to Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal to learn about not only the city’s history but cultures from around the world: explore 3000 years of history in major exhibition Egypt. Three Millennia on the Nile; follow the story of Montréal through historic objects in Favourites! Our Collections on Display; and kids of all ages can step into history in interactive exhibition Come Aboard! Pirates or Privateers?

The McCord Stewart Museum bridges past and present in its exhibitions. Outside, see Building Montréal, historic photographs on McGill College. Inside, see Momenta Biennale exhibition Mother Memory Cellophane by Séamus Gallagher; Becoming Montréal: The 1800s Painted by Duncan, artist James Duncan’s documentation of the city’s development from 1830 to 1880 alongside artist Iregular’s AI-powered digital reinterpretation of the paintings; Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience; and photographer and film director Joannie Lafrenière’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve – Evolving Montréal.

At the Canadian Centre for Architecture, see Visibly Iroquoian, an installation by interdisciplinary performing artist Ange Loft, Amancio Williams selected by Studio Muoto, dedicated to one of the key figures of modern architecture in Latin America, The Lives of Documents—Photography as Project, and archives exhibition File Under: Law and Policy.

Travel back in time as you tour the rooms of Château Ramezay and historical site Chateau Dufresne near the Olympic Stadium. See a wee bit of Scottish culture in Montréal as the Anciennes troupes militaires de Montréal (ATMM) presents musket firing, Highland music and dancing in the Old Port until September 3, from Wednesdays to Sundays at 11 a.m. at the Grande Roue de Montréal and at 2:30 pm at Place Royale, and on weekends at 2:30 p.m. at Parc Linéaire de la Commune. And the Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal marks the bicentennial of Mount Royal Park’s creator, architect Frederick Law Olmsted with exhibition Our Mountain: Memories of Mount Royal.

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. Take a historic walking tour of Jewish Montréal, with the Museum of Jewish Montréal, and learn more about Montréal’s Jewish culture, food and more. 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.

Make the most of your visit and save big on museums and other attractions with the Passeport MTL: discover five Montréal attractions for one low price, and get discounts at many more! And don’t miss these top 10 attractions to see with the Passport MTL.

On screen in September

The Montréal International Black Film Festival screens features and shorts from Québec, Canada and around the world, as well as panel discussions and more from September 27 to October. The Massimadi Afro-queer film & arts festival celebrates its 15th anniversary this year with vibrant in-person events and a free online program of films throughout September. See Karen Cho’s documentary Big Fight in Little Chinatown on September 28 at the Chinatown Reimagined Forum 2023.

Experience family-friendly cinematic shows on the domed screens of the Planétarium de Montréal, including Starmap to the Unseen Universe, Worlds Beyond Earth and more for all ages. The Montréal Science Centre’s IMAX cinema puts nature on the giant screen in all its glory – this month see the incredible Animal Kingdom 3D: A Tale of Six Families.

See independent features, family films, documentaries and more at Cinéma Moderne. Discover new art house films and more from Montréal indie cinemas' programming at Cinéma du Parc (including late-night cult classics at Parc at Midnight screenings), Cinéma du Musée at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, and the iconic Cinémathèque québécoise in the Quartier des spectacles. Explore the city through cinema in these Hollywood movies made in Montréal. And see the art world in a whole new light thanks to the International Festival of Films on Art year-round ART FILM program.

Classical music

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal conductor Rafael Payare kicks off the orchestra’s 90th season with Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring from September 12 to 14 at Maison Symphonique, and Payare conducts the OSM and pianist Alexander Malofeev in Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto and Mahler’s “Titan” Symphony on September 21 and 23. And the OSM presents Holst’s The Planets and Nicole Lizée’s Blurr is the Colour of my True Love's Eyes on September 27 and October 1.

Enjoy a A Viennese Evening: Songs, Waltzes & Romance at Maison Symphonique on September 8. The Orchestre classique de Montréal performs concert Across The Americas with Marc Djokic on September 21 at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours chapel. Clavecin en concert presents concert French Music in the Time of the Builders at Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Secours on September 22. And settle in for a blend of classical and rock at cine-concert Led Zeppelin Symphonic on September 12.

More live music

From festival stages to the city’s classic venues, any time of year there’s plenty of live music in Montréal, with many can’t-miss concerts this season.

The Teskey Brothers come to L'Olympia and Jai Wolf is at Le Studio TD on September 1. Catch British rock band Arctic Monkeys at the Bell Centre on September 2, while Wax Motif plays Beanfield Theatre. K-pop group Dreamcatcher thrill fans at Place des Arts on September 3. On September 4, it’s time to rock with Interpol at MTELUS and Hatebreed at L'Olympia. Bastille is at MTELUS on September 5. Grammy winner Bebel Gilberto (daughter of bossa nova legend João Gilberto) performs at the Rialto Theatre on September 7.

Steel Panther stalks into MTELUS on September 9, where Mr. Bungle shows up on September 12. Legendary musician and songwriter Peter Gabriel plays the Bell Centre on September 13 and The Tallest Man on Earth performs at Beanfield Theatre. Black Veil Brides play MTELUS on September 19, followed by the fab Janelle Monáe on September 20. Duran Duran let loose with all the hits at the Bell Center and Hozier plays Place Bell on September 20. And The Australian Pink Floyd gets psychedelic at Place Bell on September 30.

At the Phi Centre, see Montréal duo Pelada present new album Ahora Más Que Nunca on September 16, while new Asian Underground DJ Yung Singh performs on September 23. See these shows and more co-presented by Evenko, 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.

Every Sunday afternoon and into the night, outdoor dance party Piknic Éléctronik keeps the beat going at Parc Jean-Drapeau with producers like Ben UFO and Chaos in the CBD, plus two days of music on Labour Day weekend with Misstress Barbara and more. Join OFF Piknic Electronik events too, whether on Fridays or Saturdays at Parc Jean-Drapeau (like Kaytramine on September 7, deadmau5 on September 29, and Ben Böhmer and Christian Löffler on September 30) or at outdoor dance party at Olympic Park on September 2 with Berlin-based Italian electronic duo Tale Of Us and openers A-Drift Radio and Molyness. Dance through Labour Day weekend at Festival Produktworld at New City Gas with electronic producers Armand Van Helden, Sebastian Ingrosso, and more. On weekends this month, dance all night under the SAT’s Satosphère surround-sound dome at Dômesicle parties, where eclectic electro party music matches 360° visual projections.

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.