Montréal cultural calendar
Leisure activities Culture, arts and heritage The city
Blockbuster museum exhibitions, live music concerts, theatre and comedy are among the many live entertainment choices in Montréal this Winter 2026.
POP MUSIC
Some highlights of upcoming national and international tours:
January
February
Milk & Bone - Object of Fun
Alex Cuba at Fairmount Theatre (February 3), Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis brings his Epilogue World Tour to Place Bell (February 5), folk singer Meredith Moon (daughter of Canadian folk icon Gordon Lightfoot) at La Toscudura (February 6), 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, bluesman Matt Anderson at Club Soda, 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.
More concerts of note: Renowned Montréal soprano Sharon Azrieli stars in Sharon: A Musical Celebration Of A Somewhat Interesting Life! directed by Tony Award-winner Warren Carlyle, at La 9e Grande Salle on February 17; the Gaïa and Phbus choirs with the Oktoecho ensemble present the Inuit throat-singing concert Voix nordiques at the Church of Oka on February 21; the toast of Paris, Montréal crooner David Marino headlines a homecoming show at Salle Claude-Léveillée at Place des Arts on February 26; while the Aguas Trio – visionary Cuban pianist Omar Sosa, violinist-singer Yilian Cañizares and percussionist Gustavo Ovalles – headlines Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts on February 28.
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.
BAT OUT OF HELL
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 March 23.
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. Montréal music legend Paul Cargnello & The Truth kick off Cargnello’s new monthly residency at the Wheel Club on February 13.
CITY OF FESTIVALS
Montréal hosts many star-studded festivals each winter:
Since 2007, Igloofest draws thousands of music lovers to dance under the stars on the Jacques-Cartier Pier in the Old Port of Montréal. Featuring top DJs from around the world, plus the festival’s iconic Igloovillage and their Tackiest Snowsuit contest. Runs to February 7.
One of the largest winter festivals in the world, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE comes alive to the rhythm of the festival’s three signature components: gastronomy, concerts and winter activities from February 20 to March 7. The outdoor site in the Quartier des Spectacles features the Loto-Québec Skating Loop, the Intuit TurboTax Ferris Wheel and the LUMINO winter light festival. This year’s edition of Nuit Blanche all-nighter is on February 28. Nuit Blanche programming will be revealed in February.
The 4th edition of La Semaine du Neuf welcomes dozens of artists from around the world. Shaped by its 2026 theme “Music & Movement”, the new-music festival offers concerts, multi-disciplinary performances, an immersive installation, professional gatherings, and a youth program from February 27 to March 15.
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 44th edition of the International Festival of Films on Art (Le FIFA) is dedicated to the international promotion and distribution of films on art and media arts. Runs March 12 to 22 at various venues.
THEATRE
The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts in the west end presents Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning composer David Yazbek at the grand piano in his intimate one-man show David Yazbek: My Broadway. From The Band’s Visit to Tootsie and The Full Monty, Yazbek shares songs, stories, detours, and deadpan observations from a life in theatre. Runs February 21 to March 1.
Goblin: Macbeth
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.
BAT OUT OF HELL
The West End musical Bat Out of Hell: The Musical headlines Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on March 23.
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
Les Grands Ballets Canadienspresents 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 (March 20, April 17 and May 23) and Cinderella (February 28) at the Rialto Theatre. Both productions feature dancers adorned in luminous costumes.
Nuits d’Afrique presents Les Ballets Africains from Guinea at Théâtre Maisonneuve on February 22.
Sol Invictus
The prestigious Danse Danse series presents the best dance companies from around the world. Highlights this winter include 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 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
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.
Tangente Danse
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).
CLASSICAL STAGE
Some Orchestre symphonique de Montréal highlights this winter:
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 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.
Renowned Montréal soprano Sharon Azrieli stars in Sharon: A Musical Celebration Of A Somewhat Interesting Life! directed by Tony Award-winner Warren Carlyle, at La 9e Grande Salle on February 17 at 5 p.m.
Charles Richard-Hamelin & Marc-André Hamelin
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
The blockbuster Kent Monkman: History Is Painted by the Victors exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts features 40 iconic and monumental paintings by the famed Canadian artist and member of ocêkwi sîpiy (Fisher River Cree Nation). Runs to March 8.
The MMFA blockbuster Richard Avedon: Immortal. Portraits of Aging, 1951-2004 exhibition presents some 100 portraits that dramatize the universal experience of aging and how people confront the relentless advance of mortality. One of most influential photographers of the 20th century, Avedon sought to represent advancing age in the faces of artists, writers, politicians and performers — including Chet Baker, Samuel Beckett, Toni Morrison, Truman Capote, Duke Ellington, Patti Smith, Jean Renoir — as well as of everyday citizens. Runs February 12 to August 9.
Click here for more Montréal museum exhibitions.
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.
Click here for more Montréal immersive exhibitions.
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
DISNEY ON ICE: Jump In! at the Bell Centre from March 5 to 8.
Stars on Ice at Place Bell on April 30.
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
Specializing in contemporary circus, La TOHU presents Recirquel’s new circus-dance production Paradisum which explores the myth of rebirth after the silence of a destroyed world. Runs February 5 to 8.
Kintsugi by Machine de Cirque from February 19 to 22. Their 2 p.m. matinee performance on February 21 will feature live audio description for blind and partially-sighted people. Limited seating. RSVP at 514 525-3595 by February 9.
Seasoned improviser, master of slapstick, and accomplished juggler Philippe Trépanier's solo show Clip! returns after nearly 300 performances around the world. Runs March 3 to 7.
WOW: World of Words explores the transmission of knowledge, the meeting of cultures, and the magic of mutual respect. Runs March 26 to 29.
Looking ahead: after its record-breaking Montréal run drew more than 300,000 spectators in 2023, Cirque du Soleil is bringing back ECHO under the Big Top at the Old Port of Montréal next summer, from May 23 to June 28. Click here for tickets.
CINÉMA
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 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 44th edition of the International Festival of Films on Art (Le FIFA) is dedicated to the international promotion and distribution of films on art and media arts. Runs March 12 to 28 at various cinemas.
SAT Fest stands out as one of the few festivals in the world entirely dedicated to fulldome cinema in all its dimensions. SAT Fest 2026 takes over the Satosphere from March 24 to 28, screening 52 immersive short films from 14 countries.
The FILMharmonique Orchestra presents Star Wars: A New Hope - In Concert at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on April 10 and 11 (English with French subtitles).
Created with the blessing of the iconic rock band, Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon screens under the starry dome of the Planétarium on Fridays and Saturdays until June 21. This show merges the original musical score with spectacular visuals of the solar system and immersive effects in a surround-sound environment.
The Cinéma du Musée presents Surrealist Saturdays from February 21 to July 7. The series features cult classics and essential films of the genre such as Donnie Darko (February 21 and 24) and Blue Velvet (July 4 and 7). Click here for the full line-up.
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. Their Black History Month edition is on February 9.
Montréal author Marianne Ackerman launches her new book Oyster at Sparrow Bar on the Main on February 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. Leni Parker and other Montréal actors will read a short play clip adapted from the novel. Copies of Oyster will available for purchase on-site.
Spend An Evening With David Sedaris – America’s pre-eminent humourist and master storyteller – at Théâtre Maisonneuve on April 7.
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
Canada’s Drag Race Season 6 runner-up Eboni Labelle will perform at the Church of Bimbo at Le Monastère on February 27.
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.
Comic Tom Papa brings his Grateful Bread Tour to the Olympia Theatre on February 7.
Just For Laughs presents British comedian Ed Gamble at Club Soda on February 7.
Hosted by Ray Resvick, Queer Laughs features Montréal comic Tranna Wintour (The Traitors Canada, Just For Laughs), Matt Shury and others, at Co-op Bar Milton-Parc on February 8.
Co-hosted by Carmina Berbari and Raquel Maestre, Thursday Stand-Up? Cool! presents comedians Alasdair Tremblay-Burchill, Claudine Napoleon, Guled Abdi and Tranna Wintour at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine on February 12.
A veteran of late-night TV, comedian Ian Bagg headlines Club Soda on February 22.
Hosted by Shosho Abotouk, Crochet & Comedy: The Yarn Ball welcomes guest comics Serag Meletian, Sadie Moland, Ray Resvick and Walter Lyng, at the iconic Café Cleopatra on The Main, on February 28.
The 14th edition of Canada’s only all-Black comedy tour, The Underground Comedy Railroad Tour, headlines The Comedy Nest on March 1 with co-headliners Tamara Shevon, Daniel Woodrow, Keesha Brownie, and Montréal’s very own Rodney Ramsey.
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.
Richard Burnett
Richard “Bugs” Burnett is a Canadian freelance writer, editor, journalist, blogger and columnist for alt-weeklies, mainstream and LGBTQ+ publications. Bugs also knows Montréal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.