Your guide to Montréal’s amazing fall festivals

Phénomena (October 2 to 25, 2024)

Phénomena is a no-holds-barred interdisciplinary and bilingual festival created to give voice to unclassifiable, innovative and atypical artists. The fest hosts cabarets, theatrical and whimsical performances, puppeteering, artistic happenings, dance, installation art and more by both emerging and established artists.

Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (October 9 to 20, 2024)

Lively, bold and innovative are just a few of the words that describe this very popular annual event that has been giving cinephiles an eyeful for going on 53 years now. Every year, the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma screens over 200 works from 60 different countries, treating audiences to works of diversity and originality by emerging and major filmmakers.

Ramen Ramen Fes (October 14 to 27, 2024)

If you guessed that Ramen Ramen Fes is a festival dedicated to celebrating this iconic noodle dish from Japan, you’d be correct! During the nearly week-long event, ramen shops and pop-ups will be invited to showcase their own original ramen creations, and festivalgoers can vote for their favourites.

MTL connect (October 15 to 18, 2024)

Innovative ideas are in full bloom during this week-long showcase of digital installations, exhibitions and trends. MTL connect aims to look at burning questions related to digital development, focusing on its economic, social, cultural and environmental impact across sectors.

Montréal Burlesque Festival (October 18 and 19, 2024)

Bringing back the glitz and glam of bygone, Prohibition-era cabarets, the Montréal Burlesque Festival features two days and nights of razzle-dazzle sensuality, sugar and spice at the downtown Club Soda in the Quartier des Spectacles. A roster of top performers from around the world take you on a bedazzled journey of romance and seduction, showing off their best assets along the way.

MTLàTABLE (October 31 to November 17, 2024)

Tourisme Montréal is thrilled to announce the return of its popular restaurant week MTLàTABLE for a 12th edition this year. You won’t want to miss this flagship event of Montréal’s culinary scene, so follow MTLàTABLE on social media, or keep an eye on the event website, to see when the list of participating restaurants is revealed. More info to come!

CINEMANIA (November 6 to 17, 2024)

Go crazy for French film at CINEMANIA. This must-attend event screens the best of this year’s francophone cinema complete with English subtitles. Each edition includes feature fiction films, several documentaries, short films, masterclasses, conferences and special events.

Bach Festival (November 16 to December 8, 2024)

Lose yourself in the works of this musical giant in some of Montréal’s most prestigious venues when the Bach Festival presents a dozen concerts, a choir night and concerts for children over a three-week period, attracting more than 20,000 local and international festival-goers.

Mundial Montréal (November 19 to 22, 2024)

The world is your (musical) oyster at the annual Mundial Montréal, which showcases the best in new global music. Known as North America's World Music Summit, the annual music industry gathering features one-of-a-kind concerts, a conference and networking events while shining a spotlight on dozens of gifted musicians from every corner of the world.

image + nation (November 20 to 30, 2024)

Canada’s first LGBT2SQ film festival is an annual celebration of international LGBT2SQ cinema, image + nation that unveils big hits and hidden gems while striving to encourage connection and reflection, nurture queer storytellers and promote queer culture both locally and internationally.

Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) (November 20 to December 1, 2024)

One of North America’s leading documentary film festivals, the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) presents well over 100 Canadian and international documentaries that illuminate every corner of our world, pose thoughtful questions and mine reality’s emotional depths. The program is for filmmakers and audiences alike, featuring groundbreaking films, retrospectives, discussions, new technologies and special events.

Salon du Livre (November 27 to December 1, 2024)

A real page-turner, Montréal’s literary event calendar reaches its climactic conclusion with the Salon du Livre. Come and meet your favourite authors and discover new ones during the salon’s many events, including roundtable discussions, literary debates and public readings.

La Grande Dégustation de Montréal (November 28 to 30, 2024)

It’s tippling time! This three-day tasting event is a unique gathering where wine producers, distillers and brewers come together to share their passion with wine, beer and spirit lovers and connoisseurs. La Grande Dégustation de Montréal offers a rare opportunity to meet producers from all around the world and discover a vast array of great products.

Gardens of Light (until October 31, 2024)

Hundreds of colourful silk lanterns create evenings of pure enchantment during this extremely popular annual fall spectacle at the Botanical Garden. Much more than an illuminated path, Gardens of Light is an authentic gateway into three inspiring cultures (Chinese, Indigenous and Japanese).

Montreal Ukrainian Festival (September 6 to 8, 2024)

The Montreal Ukrainian Festival features performances by Ukrainian, Canadian and local Québec artists, singers, dancers, comedians and choirs. The festival also keeps festival-goers busy with a variety of kiosks featuring Ukrainian cuisine, folk art and crafts, local businesses and information booths. To keep the young ones entertained, the festival offers a supervised children’s area with games, face painting and other fun activities.

Martinique Gourmande Festival (September 10 to 22, 2024)

Indulge your Caribbean dreams at the Martinique Gourmande Festival, which unites chefs, mixologists, caterers and artisans from Martinique and Québec for a rich, multi-sensory culinary and cultural experience celebrating the flavours of the island.

Festival international de la littérature (FIL) (September 18 to 28, 2024)

Nearly 200 authors and artists from all disciplines and from all around the world gather in Montréal every year for the Festival international de la littérature (FIL). The jam-packed annual festival includes readings, dance performances, musical events, roundtable discussions and art exhibitions.

Montreal International Black Film Festival (September 25 to 29, 2024)

North America’s only bilingual Black cinema festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival is Canada's largest film event dedicated entirely to Black cinema. It offers a fresh new look at Black cinema from all four corners of the globe, and showcases many of the world’s finest film productions.

MAPP_MTL (September 24 to 28, 2024)

Montréal’s international projection mapping festival, MAPP_MTL, takes mapping (a projection technique in which video is mapped onto surfaces such as buildings) to a whole new level. The fest functions as an open laboratory that showcases local talent and invites festivalgoers to take an active part in the mapping at a series of mostly free indoor and outdoor events. 

POP Montréal International Music Festival (September 25 to 29, 2024)

The last major music fest before the cold weather rolls in, the POP Montréal International Music Festival is a wide-ranging exploration of indie rock, folk, electro, hip-hop, punk, R&B and new music that defies genres. With venues ranging from classic theatres to intimate local bars, and from rooftops to after-hours haunts, the festival traverses the city and its multiple music scenes.

Journées de la Culture (September 27 to 29, 2024)

Over the course of three days, an incredible range of artists, artisans and cultural workers invite you to more than 2,500 free activities throughout the province of Québec at the annual Journées de la Culture. Discover a fascinating array of arts and culture through experimentation, observation and exchange.