What's new in Montréal

Bundle up and don’t forget your mittens, because Montréal’s cultural calendar is packed all winter long, guaranteeing a winter adventure unlike any other. Here’s a few of the season’s top events you won’t want to miss.

• Throughout the holidays and beyond, a wealth of cultural activities for the whole family from eye-popping performances and choral concerts to visits with Santa that keep Montréal locals and visitors alike abuzz.
• Montréal is a North American capital of holiday markets all over the city. Expect some hand-warming hot beverages, tasty treats and the perfect stocking stuffer gifts made by Québec artisans and creators.
• Who says festivals should stop when the temperature drops? Montráel’s winter festivals include some of the city’s most popular destination events, including Igloofest, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE and Lumino!
• The Quai Jacques-Cartier transforms into party central on New Year’s Eve for Grand Minuit 2026, featuring an all-star lineup of performers including legendary Montréalers Pierre Kwenders and Patrick Watson.
• There’s few winter experiences quite so shiny and bright as a few spins around the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink with on-site skate rentals and a cozy café with a perfectly situated viewing perch too.
• While narrowing it down isn’t easy, here’s just 10 of our top reasons why the time for your winter Montréal visit is now! 

Montréal’s top-tier arts spaces present an exciting list of unmissable exhibitions and cutting-edge artistic premieres all winter long.

• Sharing a delicious piece of culinary and design history, the McCord Stewart Museum presents On the Menu—Montréal: A Restaurant Story, looking at some of the city’s long-gone but still sweetly remembered dining establishments and their role in shaping the city.
• The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA for short) hosts the epic Kent Monkman: History is Painted by the Victors exhibition September 27, 2025 to March 8, 2026 and From the Functional to the Fabulous: 600 Years of Decorative Arts and Design from September 13, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
   

Find more of the season’s must-see exhibitions and special events here.

Montréal has long been a gourmet’s paradise, with restaurants fêted by those in the know. And you don’t have to just take our word for it—earlier this year, the world-leading MICHELIN Guide awarded its first stars and bibs to some of the city’s favourite eating spots taking a well-deserved bow on the international stage.

MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE combines art and gastronomy into one of the year’s biggest outdoor events, transforming the Quartier des Spectacles and Place des Festivals into a winter wonderland of treats, eats, skating and amusement rides. Don’t miss the Village gourmand and the packed lineup of musical performers keeping crowds cozy and warm.

New restaurants join Montréal’s dining scene every season, and this winter there’s some new kids on the block opening their doors just in time for some cozy eats! See our list of new must-try spots here, and don’t worry about treating yourself—every day is cheat day during the holiday season!