Keeping Outdoor Festival Programming Free in the Quartier des Spectacles
PRESS RELEASE
Keeping Outdoor Festival Programming Free in the Quartier des Spectacles: Equipment Sharing and a Fundraising Campaign
Montreal, October 1, 2025 — The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership is pleased to share the conclusions of a report making five major recommendations aimed at securing the long-term future of festivals in the Quartier des Spectacles while maintaining free admission for their outdoor programming. The Partnership will support two projects stemming from the recommendations that redefine the festival funding model and experiment with new funding sources. The projects are part of a strategy for reducing festivals’ production costs through equipment sharing and for diversifying revenue sources through targeted fundraising campaigns. In order to maintain and expand festivals in the Quartier, contributions will be required from the business community and from audiences. Increased cooperation among festivals in managing the assets of the Quartier des Spectacles will also be needed. The first steps will be taken in the summer of 2026. The conclusions and actions are the result of an examination of the evolution of festival business models begun in April 2024, found in the report titled Pérenniser les festivals du Quartier des spectacles. Réflexion sur le modèle d’affaires des festivals extérieurs gratuits (Securing the future of festivals in the Quartier des Spectacles. An examination of the free outdoor festival business model).
The free festivals of the Quartier des Spectacles are a Montreal signature. Being free of charge helps them contribute to cultural vitality, solidarity and the spirit of Montreal. Each year, they attract between 5 and 8 million spectators. They make the city more dynamic and attractive to Montrealers, merchants, building owners, large companies and headquarters, and help boost the city’s international reputation. The beneficiaries and contributors to the new initiatives will be the festivals themselves, as well as spectators, governments, business and tourists.
Two Projects to Ensure the Viability of Free Festivals
1. Sharing of equipment and infrastructure by festivals operating in the Quartier des Spectacles. Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) is making a grant of $1,549,035 for the establishment of a shared-use pool of equipment and infrastructure what will enable improvement in six areas: the visitor experience; site and visitor security; festival operations and logistics; festival revenue optimization; adaptation to the environmental transition; and universal accessibility for festival sites.
2. Fundraising campaign: the business community will be invited to support the festivals by making significant donations, while audiences will be asked to make voluntary contributions during events. A coordinated communication campaign will be launched to build a culture of festival support. A donation-collection pilot project will be run in the summer of 2026.
A Unified Approach Based on Shared Challenges
Free festivals are an essential part of Montreal’s identity and brand, and they generate significant economic, social and cultural benefits. They attract tourists, support local talent and strengthen social cohesion, and they receive financial support from all three levels of government. These events contribute to the accessibility of culture and to community well-being. However, inflation has caused costs to grow faster than revenues. While public funding increased during the pandemic, current budgets are stretched to the limit. This critical situation was already apparent in 2019.
The Partnership therefore brought together numerous players in the ecosystem – the festivals, Culture Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, SDC Montréal centre-ville, the Ville de Montréal, the governments of Quebec and Canada, and experts in sponsorship – under the guidance of MCE Conseils. The study was made possible by the financial support of the Ville de Montréal, the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) and Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. Raymond Bachand, of Norton Rose Fullbright, chaired the expert committee.
Quotes
“Montreal is Quebec’s largest tourist gateway, and its many festivals are among its distinctive attractions on the global stage. It is important for the Government of Canada to support festivals in the Quartier des Spectacles, which produce important economic benefits in Quebec and across Canada. Thanks to the support of CED announced today and to the unified and coordinated efforts of the entire ecosystem, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership will be able to make its equipment available to all of the festivals held there. It is a concrete solution that reinforces the dynamic festival and tourism economy while promoting tourism and the international reputation of Montreal, Quebec and Canada,” said The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
“With its iconic public spaces and diverse festival programming, the Quartier des Spectacles is an internationally acclaimed tourist destination and Montreal’s true cultural heart. That is why our government is today announcing significant support that will allow the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership to pursue the collective efforts required to ensure the long-term viability of the festivals. By supporting the sharing of equipment, CED is helping make Montreal an essential cultural showcase and an economic driver for all of Quebec. By working together, we will help countless artists, entrepreneurs and organizations ensure that Montreal remains famous for its unique blend of cultures and openness,” said Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga–Rosemont-Est, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism).
“Through concrete measures like those announced today, we are able to provide real support to our festivals and ensure the viability of their cultural mission. The free festivals of the Quartier des Spectacles embody the spirit of Montreal: inclusive, creative, unifying. Their long-term stability is essential to showcasing our city locally and internationally. Each year, the Ville de Montréal invests in equipment and infrastructure that support the cultural vitality of our downtown core. Thanks to the support of Canada Economic Development, these acquisitions will be enhanced to meet the needs of the festivals, which are true drivers of attractiveness and economic growth. I also welcome the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership’s initiative to mobilize the business community, which I hope will lead to new partnerships and new revenue streams,” said Montreal mayor, Valérie Plante.
“The Quartier des Spectacles is, and must remain, Montreal’s leading district for culture and entertainment, thanks to the generous and accessible free programming presented by the festivals. We are very proud to have brought together so many voices and representatives around a constructive approach and to propose ambitious, innovative and collaborative solutions that will strengthen the festivals and promote our culture. These initiatives are essential for securing the future of the festivals and for keeping the heart of the city attractive to visitors and culturally vibrant,” said Éric Lefebvre, executive director of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership.
“Free festivals in the Quartier des Spectacles are a Montreal signature, a driver of tourist visits and a powerful symbol of our cultural identity. Tourisme Montréal salutes this ambitious collaborative initiative aimed at ensuring the long-term health of these marquee events, open to all. By supporting innovation, the pooling of resources and public participation, we are working together to strengthen Montreal’s position as an essential cultural destination on the international stage,” said Manuela Goya, Vice President, Destination Development, Public Affairs and Industry, Tourisme Montréal.
About the Quartier des Spectacles and the Partnership
The Quartier des Spectacles is the cultural heart of Montreal, boasting North America’s largest and most diverse concentration of cultural amenities. The Quartier’s 1 km2 of urban space delights audiences year round thanks to nearly 80 performance venues and creative spaces and 50 annual festivals. The district also showcases innovative urban installations and cutting edge digital art and lighting design. The Quartier des Spectacles positions Montreal as an international leader in urban animation, making it a prime destination for culture and tourism.
The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal.
– 30 –
PHOTOS
Please include full captions and credits.
MEDIA CONTACT
Mélanie Mingotaud
Communications Mingotwo
melanie@mingo2.ca
514 582-5272
SOURCE
Marie Lamoureux
Quartier des Spectacles Partnership
marie.lamoureux@quartierdesspectacles.com
514 923-6772
