It’s Festival Season in the Quartier des Spectacles

June 12 to 20, 2026

Orelsan, Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Marie-Mai, Lorie, Pierre Lapointe, Ariane Roy, Gab Bouchard, Groovy Aardvark (turning 40!), Choses Sauvages, Klô Pelgag: the biggest names in francophone music will be appearing in the Quartier des Spectacles this summer! Plus, there’s a grand tribute to Jean Leloup’s classic Le Dôme and all kinds of other great reasons to come out and catch a few shows. 

June 25 to July 4, 2026

With everyone from Kamasi Washington, Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire to Angine de Poitrine, Diana Krall, Flore Laurentienne and St. Vincent, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal presents jazz and so much more: for many years it has put together crowd-pleasing programs with something for everyone, including pop, hip-hop, rock and world music.  

July 2 to 12, 2026

Acrobats, jugglers, mimes: everything you see during MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE has the potential to blow you away, because “circus knows no impossible.” Discover the Défis Déjantés performed by English company Three Legged Race, inspired by the wacky game shows of the 80s. For kids, Monsterrrrr (Drôle de monstre) by New Zealand’s Trygve Wakenshaw is a hilarious celebration of the joy of breaking the rules.

July 7 to 19, 2026

A festival dedicated to the music of Africa and the African diaspora, Nuits d’Afrique is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year! Featuring both African and African-descendant artists, the event’s headliner this year is Oumou Sangaré, from Mali. Another key date is a unique artistic encounter: Iranian musician Kiya Tabassian on stage with his collaborator, Senegalese kora virtuoso Ablaye Cissoko.

July 9 to 12, 2026

If you love a powerful voice that goes straight to your heart, be sure to visit Le Balcon in its incarnation as a true temple of soul, funk and disco. The program includes the infectious grooves of DTW & The Jamm, party classics with Disco Chic and, topping the bill, the legendary Kim Richardson. Simply wonderful!

July 15 to 26, 2026

A festival that shows us countless ways to see the lighter side of life! There’s Guy Jodoin hosting the induction of iconic TV show La petite vie into the festival’s hall of fame, Europeans in the spotlight with Kev Adams and Élodie Poux, Adib Alkhalidey and his excellent lineup of guests for his show Un esti de line-up, and the not-to-be-missed closing concert with the iconic “Weird Al” Yankovic and his Bigger & Weirder tour – your abs will never be the same!

July 23 to 27, 2026

The 20^th edition of Haïti en Folie showcases the best of Haitian culture, sharing its richness, splendour and diversity through music, film, theatre, dance, food, literature, lectures, storytelling, crafts, painting… it all adds up to the biggest multidisciplinary festival of its kind outside Haiti. Don’t miss the festival’s hot evening in Les Jardins Gamelin!

July 24 to 26, 2026

The young Festival ludique international de Montréal (FLIM) is back for a second year of table-top gaming in an immersive and inclusive setting in the heart of the Quartier Latin. Come play!

July 31 to August 9, 2026

Fierté Montréal Festival is a big party, with the Pride Parade as its centrepiece. It’s a celebration in human rights gains for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities as well as a spotlight on local talent—and it’s been running for 20 years! Once again this year, the festival includes Les Jardins Gamelin, with a DJ session from Calamine among other activities.

August 4 to 14, 2026

The First Peoples’ Festival has been highlighting Indigenous art, history and traditions since 1990, exploring traditional and contemporary cultures through film, music and exhibitions. This year’s program will be announced soon!

In August 2026

Founded in 1996 by graffiti artists Seaz and Flo, this is North America’s biggest and longest-running event of its kind. With murals, artworks on street furniture, live music, street dance competitions and more, the event highlights community, creative freedom and positive development for youth.

August 20 to 23, 2026

M.A.D. amplifies creativity and self-expression through fashion, art and entertainment. It’s a playground for bold souls who see creativity as the path to self-expression and self-knowledge. You’ll find everything from designers and runways to markets and shows.

August 25 to 30, 2026

MUTEK is not only a festival, it’s also a professional conference and a series of installations and activities. But above all, it’s an internationally acclaimed showcase for the latest trends in electronic music. This year’s highlights: A Guy Called Gerald, Jeff Mills, Matthew Herbert, Kali Malone, Fennesz & Lillevan and local talents Poirier, Kara-Lis Coverdale, Honeydrip and Patche.

September 1 to 7, 2026

The JOAT International Street Dance Festival is dedicated to street dance in its three main forms: breaking, hip-hop and popping, along with live music, cyphers, workshops, exhibitions and talks. Don’t say we didn’t warn you—it’s incredibly fun!

September 9 to 12, 2026

In the mood for a binge? Montréal Séries is North America’s first festival 100% devoted to television series and miniseries. Celebrating local creativity with world, international and North American premieres, the event also features exclusive gatherings, master classes and an “XXL red carpet”—it’s a welcoming, joyful and crowd-pleasing event.

September 9 to 19, 2026

Festival Quartiers Danses takes a multidisciplinary approach to dance reflected in its shows, performances, installations, films, exhibitions, gatherings, round tables and cultural mediation workshops. The festival’s mission is to democratize contemporary dance, making it accessible to all audiences in its various pure and hybrid forms: because bodies in motion always have something interesting to say.

September 16 to 20, 2026

TEMPÉO, Festival Danse et Musique, is a series of evenings where you can get an introduction to various dance styles with the guidance of professional dancers and musicians. Don’t be shy, come out and have fun! There’s everything from funk and Asian pop to country, Afro-pop and salsa. And it’s all free, on the Place des Arts Esplanade!

September 23 to October 3, 2026

Since 1994, the Festival international de la littérature (FIL) has been a sort of living library, presenting authors of all disciplines, generations and perspectives in their bold, original and constantly reinvented forms. An essential part of the fall cultural calendar, the FIL is quite simply a grand celebration of words.