Top 13 Festivals and Events to Attend in Montreal, Canada (2024)
Are you looking for a perfect vacation escape to a city in Canada that is ablaze with festivals, events, and cultural vibes? If yes, Montreal is the right place to feed your desires by exploring its different festivals and events. Along with its French-Canadian culture, cobbled streets, dazzling nightlife, and quaint cafes and shopping places, the beautiful city in the Quebec province of Canada is also famous for its various festivals and events.
The vibrant celebrations in the city mark its fascinating and rich cultural heritage that has been passed on for many decades. Montreal is often referred to as “Canada’s cultural juggernaut,” and the city’s calendar is occupied with almost 90 festivals. If you are traveling to this city, you should never miss a chance to attend these festivals and events of Montreal.
Top 13 Festivals and Events to Attend in Montreal, Canada
We have listed some of Montreal’s top festivals, and events that you can participate in.
1. Festival International De Jazz De Montréal
Festival International De Jazz De Montréal is among the most lively festivals in Montreal that has been taking place for the last 40 years. The 10-day festival is held at the end of the month of June, attracting jazz performers and entertainers worldwide. The city is bright with lights during the festive time. The festival is marked as the biggest Jazz festival in North America and the world and is attended by locals, nationals, and international tourists. If you are someone who wants to cherish your day with entertaining jazz performances, you can plan your Montreal trip in June end or early July.
2. Oshega Festival
Are you traveling to Montreal in August? Then you must attend the Oshega Festival. The three-day music festival is popular as it draws focus on celebrities and emerging artists throughout the country. The lively musical performances include indie pop, hip-hop, electronic music, and rock. The primary event is organized at Parc Jean-Drapeau park. Other stages are used as well for musical performances. Thousands of locals and tourists visit the festival yearly to explore the Canadian city’s long musical tradition.
3. Just For Laughs Comedy Festival
Have you ever heard of a comedy festival? If not, then “Just For Laughs Comedy Festival” is a must-visit for your next Montreal trip. Nothing can be more fulfilling and exciting than this comedy festival. The festival’s history dates back to 1983, when it began only as a small event for two days. Over time, the festival emerged to become one of the top-rated comedy festivals in the world. The festival now takes place every month of July for 14 days.
4. Fetes Des Neiges de Montréal Winter Festival
Want to participate in exciting winter activities in Montreal? Then taking part in the Montreal Winterfest can be a great option to celebrate the chilling winters in the Canadian city. The four-week winter fest in Montreal takes place every year from mid of January to the middle of February. However, the fest remains open only for families on the weekends. Get prepped and wear your warmest clothes! Enjoy the fest and participate in amazing winter activities like ice skating, ice sculpting, and snow tubing.
5. MUTEK/ International Festival of Digital Creativity and Electronic Music
MUTEK, or International Festival of Digital Creativity and Electronic Music, holds audio-visual and musical performances by artists worldwide. The festival is dedicated to developing music, audio, audio-visual art, and sound. Taking place every August, the festival is worth visiting to explore the immersive rhythmic experience at its best. Initially, the music fest was only a small musical show. However, with time, it has become one of the most celebrated music festivals in North America. In addition to musical performances, MUTEK holds conferences, meetings, and panels to discuss current musical practices and technological development in musical genres.
6. Montreal Fringe Festival
Are you an admirer of theatrical performances? Then visiting the Montreal Fringe Festival is a must for you. Plateau-Mont-Royal, the primary center where the event in Montreal takes place, glitters with lined-up dance, musical and theatrical performances, and comedy shows. It is an enthralling sight to behold when the performers take the stage for two minutes and offer a glimpse of their upcoming performances. More than 800 performers attend the music festival. You can get the tickets for the event at $12 for each show.
7. Mural Festival
Do you want to explore the creativity of different artists and witness different art forms? Thanks to the Mural Festival Montreal, you can truly experience the celebration of artistic creativity and urban art’s democratization at the same time. You can explore numerous murals throughout the city’s walls and take guided tours to learn about different urban art forms displayed on the walls. You can also install an app on your android phone to explore the top mural art festival in the city.
8. The Circus Festival (Montreal Completement Cirque)
Are you in Montreal, and can you find silks hanging from the crane here and there? Then it is most likely that the Circus Festival or Montreal Completement Cirque is about to take place. The festival is held every July for ten days and is renowned for lively circus performances. The streets are crowded with performers, acrobats, and high-flying adventures.
9. Fierté Montréal/Montréal Pride
Fierté Montréal/Montréal Pride is the biggest pride festival in Canada. At the same time, it marks itself as the largest Francophone LGBTQ festival globally. The event takes 11 days, with amazing parades, performances, and panels as its primary attractions. Every year more than 2.5 million people attend the festival. Every street in the city teems with concerts, dance performances, and art shows. Several events are also organized at the Gay Village to commemorate the gay community.
10. Montreal World Film Festival
Have a keen eye for cinematography? If yes, attending the Montreal World Film Festival is a must-to-do-thing on your next Montreal trip. Montreal World Film Festival is one of the most celebrated film festivals attracting more than a million visitors across 70 countries. The world’s top actors, directors, cinematographers, producers, film critics, and more attend the event. The 10-day event occurs yearly from the end of August to the first week of September.
11. Festival International Nuits D’Afrique
The Festival International Nuits D’Afrique is among the top-rated musical events in Montreal. In its true sense, the event marks the amalgamation of African, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures. More than 700 performers from 30 countries join the event every year to share their passion and joie de vivre. The primary attractions of the event include outdoor and indoor performances, concerts, an open-air market, and numerous workshops.
12. First Peoples Festival
The First Peoples Festival is another famous film festival in Montreal. Several competing films are presented as the primary attraction of the film festival. Other exceptional events in the festival include concerts, dances, poetry, live performances, and more. The event is rather a multi-faceted celebration of the city’s ethnic diversity. The event is worth visiting to explore the native cultural roots and French history.
13. Montreal International Fireworks Competition
Montreal International Fireworks Competition, held every year in July or August, is often considered the latest fireworks competition globally. The most intriguing highlight of the summer season is the annual Montreal event attended by millions of national and international tourists. Watching the skyline lit up with a myriad of colors and sounds is an amazing sight. Each day of the event (every Wednesday and Saturday night) features 30 minutes of eye-soothing and ear-popping fireworks showcased by top pyrotechnic artists.
Final words
A trip to Montreal, the impressive and eclectic Canadian city, will always be incomplete without attending the festivals and events. Each celebration in the city marks its excellence and enriched culture, inspired by history and bilingual influence. So, if you are in Montreal, never miss attending the festivals and events in the city. Why wait to book your Montreal tour package? Book your Montreal tour today and get a cherishing experience for a lifetime.
