Free things to do this fall in Montréal

In the heart of downtown Montréal, the Quartier des spectacles continues to surprise passers-by with spontaneous outdoor events, multimedia projections, and art installations throughout the year. Explore the area on a luminous pathway of video projections and lighting installations, including on the esplanade of Place des Arts, where you’ll see Montréal’s cultural institutions in a new light in Insitu, a visual poem projected on the facade of Maison symphonique, while on the Promenade des Artistes, the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 exhibition brings together images from the prestigious international photography competition that have captured the interest of the global public over the past year.

Take a break for live music and theatrical performances (and even a snack and a drink too) at Esplanade Tranquille at the corner of Clark and Sainte-Catherine Street and at Jardins Gamelin near Berri-UQAM metro, open until September 17. And get out on the open-air dancefloor with professional dance instructors during TEMPÉO, Dance and Music Festival, on the Esplanade of Place des Arts from September 10 to 15.

See incredible street dance performances – and learn a few moves too! – at several free activities during the JOAT Festival international de street dance, until September 2 in the Quartier des Spectacles. Find your way around and learn more about the area on a free walking tour of the Quartier des spectacles.

The Martinique Gourmand Festival shares Martinique food and culture on September 14 and 15,  including a free Creole Market in the Iberville Pavilion on the Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal.  Enjoy Ukrainian performances, art and cuisine at the family-friendly Montreal Ukrainian Festival from September 6 to 8 at Parc Maisonneuve.

Watch some of the world’s best cyclists compete in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on September 15 in Mount Royal Park, and stop by the fans village in Parc Jeanne-Mance at the foot of Mount Royal. And catch short, family-friendly alleyway performances during Le FAR Festival des arts de ruelle from August 26 to September 8.

See the city’s gorgeous murals on the sides of buildings, in parks and every neighbourhood thanks to MURAL, LNDMRK, MU and other expert Montréal mural artists and collectives. Meanwhile, downtown alleyways get a bright boost with the Murelles project’s incredible new mural art. Stroll the Old Port of Montréal riverside boardwalk, explore the history and beauty of Old Montréal by day, and at night use your smartphone to search out the historic projections of Cité Mémoire. And go to downtown’s Place Ville Marie after sunset to stand under massive, glowing art installation The Ring.

With city views, leafy forest paths and fresh air, a visit to Mount Royal is a must – look out on the city from the Kondiaronk Belvedere and the Mount Royal Chalet, and walk a little further for a closer look at the Mountain's illuminated cross. From the Mountain, follow the beautiful promenade between the river and the mountain, a path into downtown and all the way to the St. Lawrence River, featuring monuments, art installations and more along the way.

Explore more of Montréal's parks and green spaces, including beautiful Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau, expansive Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène, Frédéric-Back Park in Saint-Michel, and other green spaces (seasonally decked out in fall colours) in Montréal's liveliest neighbourhoods.

Peace and quiet also awaits in Montréal's many churches and sacred sites, from Old Montréal and downtown churches to Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Côte-des-Neiges. 

Ephemeral open-air market spaces Jardins Gamelin in the Village and the Old Port's Marché des Éclusiers feature live music, activities, food and drink throughout September and into October, while Montréal’s public markets, including Jean Talon Market and Atwater Market, always make for colourful browsing – pick up something seasonal to eat and go for a picnic in the park. Get there and everywhere on transit, by foot or by bike – check out our guide to bike paths, bicycle Rentals, Bixi and all things biking in Montréal.

Montréal is known for its high-energy summer festivals, while its fall festivals highlight the city’s arts and culture variety – and feature free activities too! 

MAPP_MTL, Montréal’s international projection mapping festival, presents lively, light-filled digital projections and musical performances from September 24 to 28 at the Van Horne Skate Park in the Mile End. 

Keep your eye out for pop-up musical performances, panel discussions, free Kids POP activities, art shows and more fun at POP Montréal International Music Festival, from September 25 to 29. Digital arts festival MTL Connect is both an exhibition arena and a conference with some free events, from October 15 to 18.

Cinephiles are spoilt for choice starting with the Festival du nouveau cinéma (October 9 to 20), followed by CINEMANIA (November 6 to 17) and RIDM | Montréal International Documentary Festival (November 20 to December 1). While the focus is on film screenings, these events also feature several free virtual and in-person activities and installations. Urban music festival M for Montréal is back in person and virtually from November 20 to 23, with both paid and free options. Mundial Montréal shines the spotlight on world music, and includes a handful of free events, from November 19 to 22. And the Montréal Bach Festival celebrates the composer’s rich catalogue of works, including some free performances, from November 16 to December 8.

Autumn art is all new at Montréal’s many museums and art galleries. Annual event Journées de la culture is one way to experience art for free in person and online, visit studios, join workshops and more from September 27 to 29. 

At the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, free for ages 20 and under and free on the first Sunday of every month, see Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools: Three Hundred Years of Flemish Masterworks and Ravel Ravel Interval by Anri Sala. 

Admission to the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal is free for children under 18. Discover Alanis Obomsawin: The Children Must Hear Another Story, a groundbreaking exhibition devoted to the work of Alanis Obomsawin, one of the world's most acclaimed Indigenous filmmakers, as well as the MACrepertoire, the MAC's comprehensive digital platform.

Stop by the McCord Stewart Museum to check out Museum Alley, a new haven of greenery downtown, then head inside to discover exhibitions the likes of Manasie Akpaliapik. Inuit Universe, To All the Unnamed Women, Costume Balls: Dressing Up History 1870-1927, as well as Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience.  Admission is free to ages 17 and under. Delve into more of Québec’s history, art and culture at a discount with the Passeport MTL.

Experience public art downtown and public art everywhere in the city, from open-air projection art downtown to Montréal's murals of Leonard Cohen on Crescent Street near the Sir Winston Churchill Pub and on Saint-Laurent Boulevard at Napoleon Street not far from Schwartz's. Wait until nightfall to watch the Living Connections light show on the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. Go on your own self-guided tour of Montréal's hundreds of public art works throughout the city. And follow our guide to Montréal's most famous icons to see more of the city's major sights and architecture.

At the Phi Foundation in Old Montréal, enjoy temporary exhibitions free of charge. At the nearby Phi Centre, check out the seasonal digital installation Chromatic Myriad in the building’s windows and facade. And watch for all kinds of free art, performances and other cultural activities at Montréal’s Maisons de la culture art centres.

Discover more of Montréal’s amazing art galleries in our Montréal guide to gallery hopping: drop by galleries along the cobblestone streets of Old Montréal and in the Belgo Building on Ste-Catherine Street such as Galerie Hugues Charbonneau, Skol, B-312 and SBC Gallery, check out Bradley Ertaskiran in St. Henri, visit Art Mûr on St. Hubert Street, Mile End galleries Centre CLARK, Dazibao, Optica, Daphne, Simon Blais, and many more – there’s new art to see in every corner of Montréal!

From fall festivals to outdoor activities and gallery excursions, Montréal’s free activities offer unique ways to explore the city this season.