Montréal Winter Cultural Calendar

POP MUSIC

Some highlights of upcoming national and international tours:

January 

After a jam-packed holiday season, January’s quiet spell ends on a high note with a two-nighter by French retro pop disco band L’Impératrice at MTELUS (January 21 and 22);  Grammy-nominated Canadian rockers Sum 41 at Place Bell (January 25); critically-hailed English rock band Wunderhorse at Le Belmont (January 28); and French rapper Médine at Théatre Beanfield (January 31).

February

Sarah Neufeld / Richard Reed Parry / Rebecca Foon at La Sala Rossa (February 2), RnB queen Jully Black brings her Songs and Stories Tour to Théatre Outremont (February 18), Canadian hardcore punk band Counterparts at Club Soda (February 18), Mexican pop princess Yuridia at the Olympia Theatre (February 19), French rapper Tiakola at Place Bell (February 20), and An Evening with Randy Blythe who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of Heavy Metal band Lamb of God, at the Fairmount Theatre (February 25).

The following entertainers all headline at MTELUS: American Idol Season 19 winner Chayce Beckham (February 6), indie artists Toro y Moi and Panda Bear (February 11), Finnish symphonic metal band Apocalyptica (February 12), Canadian indie pop band Peach Pit (February 15), and Leif Vollebekk (February 28).

March

Irish rock band Inhaler – whose vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson is the son of U2 frontman Bono – at MTELUS (March 2), Montréal electropop duo Milk & Bone at Espace SAT (March 7), Canadian rapper bbno$ at MTELUS (March 8), Swedish metalcore band Imminence at the Olympia Theatre (March 9), Canadian rock legends Our Lady Peace at Place Bell (March 10), iconic German pioneers of electronic music Kraftwerk at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (March 10), French drummer Manu Katché (who has worked with Sting and Peter Gabriel) at Le Studio TD (March 12),  and American progressive metal band Dream Theater at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (March 12).

American singer-songwriter Jack Kays at Bar Le Ritz PDB (March 13), Canadian folk singer-songwriter Basia Bulat at the Fairmount Theatre (March 14), hotly-anticipated American country-rock band The Red Clay Strays at MTELUS (March 15), Chicago Heavy Metal superstars Disturbed at the Bell Centre (March 19), Bedouin Soundclash at Le Studio TD (March 26), Québec tenor Marc Hervieux sings pop standards in Nostalgie La Suite at Théatre Outremont (March 30), and Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue at the Bell Centre (March 30).

Blue Skies Turn Black presents legendary Montréal indie band Wolf Parade who commemorate the 20^th anniversary of their 2005 début album Apologies to the Queen Mary, at Bar Le Ritz PDB (four concerts, March 6-7-8-9). These shows will sell out, so get your tickets early. 

Iconic British neo prog band Marillion are performing just eight Marillion Weekends around the world in 2025, including Montréal at the Olympia Theatre (March 28-29-30). Three consecutive evenings with three different concerts. Tickets are sold as a three-day pass. Click here for the official Montréal Marillion Weekend FB group page.

Local soul, jazz and hip hop

For those looking for dinner and a show under one roof, the city’s top soul and RnB musicians headline Le Balcon music hall and restaurant year-round. Regular headliners include music legends Freddie James, Kim Richardson, Dawn Tyler Watson and Michelle Sweeney.

Montréal’s premiere musicians and entertainers also headline live-music nightclubs Diese Onze and Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill, both ranked by DownBeat magazine as two of the top jazz nightclubs on the planet. Montréal’s top jazz, soul and blues divas headline both venues which also have dinner menus.

Le Cypher X organizes the city’s premiere hip hop concerts every Thursday at O Patro Vys while GrowveMTL presents jams featuring the city’s top musicians playing everything from disco to hip hop each Wednesday at Turbo Haüs.

IGLOOFEST

Dance under the stars to the best local and international DJs at the 17^th edition of Igloofest (January 16 to February 8) at the Jacques Cartier Pier in the Old Port. Dubbed “the coldest music festival in the world”, warm up on the dancefloor with such DJs as Michael Bibi (January 16), Steve Angello (January 31), and Four Tet (February 8).

DAVIS CUP

The best-of-five first-round Davis Cup tennis qualifier between Canada and Hungary will be played at IGA Stadium at Jarry Park on February 1 and 2.

ART SOUTERRAIN

Artists from around the world are showcased in the 17^th edition of the Art Souterrain festival when part of Montréal’s famed Underground Pedestrian Network is transformed into a four-kilometre-long contemporary art gallery from March 15 to April 6. 

LUMINO

For its 15^th edition, LUMINO (formerly called Luminothérapie) transforms the downtown Quartier des Spectacles with more than 30 light and sound installations – 14 outdoors, 11 indoors, 7 video projections plus some surprise works – from the Esplanade PVM at Place Ville Marie to Place Émilie-Gamelin. Runs to March 9. Free and open daily from sunset to 11 pm. LUMINO interactive map: luminomtl.com.
 

MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE

The 26^th edition of the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE festival takes place in the Quartier des Spectacles from February 27 to March 9, with gourmet programming beginning on February 20. The festival’s main outdoor site is Place des Festivals where visitors can enjoy the Loto-Québec Skating Loop and the Ferris wheel. The 22^nd annual Nuit blanche is on Saturday, March 1.

THEATRE

Montréal’s two big English-language theatres – the venerable Centaur Theatre Company in Old Montréal, and the Sylvan Adams Theatre at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts in the west end – offer varied programming.

The Segal Centre presents The Secret Chord: A Leonard Cohen Experience, a concert tribute that celebrates the extraordinary life, music and poetry of the Montréal icon. The Secret Chord runs to January 12, 2025.

Then the Segal brings back the smash Off-Broadway musical Titanique, a hysterical musical fantasia as seen through the eyes of Céline! This hilarious all-Canadian production stars the superb Véronique Claveau as Céline Dion with show-stopping performances of such hits as “My Heart Will Go On” and “All By Myself” with a full band. Runs February 2 to 16. 

Centaur Theatre in collaboration with Théâtre Advienne que pourra co-present Strawberries in January – A Musical Fantasy based on the classic Québécois play Des fraises en janvier by playwright Evelyne de la Chenelière. This musical adaptation of the heart-warming comedy is about four singletons looking for connections and tripping on fate in Montréal. Runs January 21 to February 9.

The Centaur’s 56^th season also presents their brand-new cutting-edge Winterworks Theatre Festival (February 25 to March 15), curated by Rebecca Gibian. Winterworks replaces the Wildside Festival.

Canada’s oldest Black theatre company, Black Theatre Workshop presents Vierge which – with heart and humour – follows four Congolese-Canadian girls as they navigate Christianity, virginity and teenage hormones. Runs at the Segal Studio at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts (February 12 to March 2) as part of BTW’s 54^th season.

The home of indie theatre in Montréal, Mainline Theatre presents Penumbra Theatre’s remount of the Broadway musical comedy Amélie which – with an ensemble cast of veteran Montréal thespians – tells the story of an extraordinary young woman who lives quietly in the world but will have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart when a chance at love comes her way (February 20 to March 1).

As part of their 2025 professional season, the Hudson Village Theatre presents 9 to 5 The Musical, based on the hit 1980 movie, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (March 6 to 16). 

Evenko and Broadway Across Canada present the triumphant story of the Queen of Rock and Roll TINA – The Tina Turner Musical (February 4 to 9) at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.

The French-language crowd-pleasing smash hit musical La Cage aux Folles returns to the Studio-Cabaret at Espace St-Denis from February 5 to 23. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to see local drag stars warm up the audience.

Click here for more Montréal English-language theatre this winter.

DANCE

The prestigious Danse Danse series has programmed 16 shows for its 27^th season including The Mars Project starring charismatic tap dance legend Travis Knights – trained in Montréal from the age of 10 by Ethel Bruneau, “Miss Swing” herself – at Théâtre Maisonneuve (January 15 to 18); Hamlet, Prince du Danemark, inspired by Hamlet, by choreographer and principal dancer Guillaume Côté and theatre maker and director Robert Lepage, at Théâtre Maisonneuve (February 13 to 22); the off-the-beaten-track NIEBO HOTEL by Ballets Jazz Montréal at Hôtel Le Germain (February 18 to March 1); and Silent Legacy by French choreographer Maud Le Pladec, fusing krump and contemporary dance, at Cinquième Salle (February 25 to March 1). 

Located in The Wilder Building, Agora de la danse highlights include Replica by Andrea Peña & Artists (February 26 to March 1), and The Brutal Joy which “wields the materiality of Black Vernacular line dance and Black sartorial gesture” (March 26 to 29). Click here for their full schedule.

The Wilder is also home to Tangente which since its foundation in 1980 has championed emerging choreographers and offers contemporary dance programming through May. Click here for Tangente’s full schedule.

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens present Sleeping Beauty, choreographed to the magnificent score of Tchaikovsky, with Les Grands Ballets Orchestra under the direction of Dina Gilbert, February 19 to 23 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.

The Revolution All Stars, the ultimate tour features dancers from Québec’s Revolution TV dance show, at Théâtre St-Denis (February 20 to March 9).

CLASSICAL STAGE

The Orchestre Métropolitain presents Russian Dolls with conductor Louis Langrée and cellist Bryan Cheng (January 26); Fiery Flight showcases Austrian Maestro Christoph Koncz conducting Stravinsky’s The Firebird (February 9); and Soulful Greats sees Gammy-winning Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin interpreting Schubert’s Symphony No. 9  “The Great”  (March 26). All concerts at the Maison Symphonique.

Under the artistic direction of Maestro Rafael Payare, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal presents Mahler’s Sixth Symphony With Payare with guest mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor (January 16-17-18); Voïvod symphonique with legendary Québec metal band Voïvod teaming up with the OSM for two concerts conducted by Dina Gilbert (January 29 and 30);  Ravel and Prokofiev With Weilerstein and Payare showcasing the artistry of cellist Alisa Weilerstein and Rafael Payare (February 12 and 13); Charles Richard-Hamelin and Andrew Wan in Duo performing Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin and Piano (February 27 and March 1); the OSM and Québec pop icon Robert Charlebois return for additional performances of Charlebois symphonique, featuring his greatest hits and a few surprises (March 5-6-7); and for Angélique Kidjo Sings Glass, the iconic African diva joins the OSM (March 19). All concerts at the Maison Symphonique.

Winner of the 2024 JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year, the Orchestre Classique de Montréal presents Distant Echoes of Africa, a Black History Month concert celebrating composers and artists of African descent featuring Cameroonian-Canadian soprano Suzanne Taffot and Panamanian-American conductor Kalena Bovell (February 6); and Jazz & Jeans co-starring trumpeter Paul Merkelo (principal trumpet for the OSM) and renowned jazz pianist Matt Herskowitz (February 25). Both concerts at Pierre-Mercure Hall.

The Opéra de Montréal presents Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, an opera for the whole family at Théâtre Maisonneuve (February 6 to 9). 

The 14^th season of Bourgie Hall of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts features some 90 concerts, with half of its programming showcasing Québec and Canadian artists. Highlights this winter include Mozart and the Clarinet performed by chamber musicians of the OSM (January 24); Another side of Chick Corea performed by classical chamber music ensembles (February 6); and enjoy Bach, Haydn and Mozart at Clavecin en concert: Classical Trios for violin, cello, and keyboard (March 1). Click here for the full program.

MUSEUMS

The PHI Centre in Old Montréal presents the hotly-anticipated exhibition Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape, a multimedia and sound journey into the memory and work of the famed Montréal film director for whom mixtapes were an essential part of his creative process. With the participation of Marc-André Grondin, Evelyne Brochu, Denis Villeneuve, Reese Witherspoon, Vanessa Paradis, Laura Dern and others. Runs February 13 to May 4. Free admission but reservations required. 

Embark on the Life Chronicles immersive expedition exploring our planet’s major evolutionary phases covering 3.5 billion years of the Earth’s history and the living organisms that inhabit it, including dinosaurs and the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex. Equipped with a virtual reality headset, visitors experience the past brought to life with stunning visuals and sounds grounded in meticulous scientific accuracy.

Life Chronicles is located in the Old Port next door to the Montréal Science Centre. Children under 8 not admitted. The 45-minute immersive experience runs from February 19 to October 13.

The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts in the Golden Square Mile presents the world premiere of the retrospective Joyce Wieland: Heart On which celebrates the subversive and politically engaged work of Wieland (1930-1998). Through some 100 works, it delves into her multifaceted practice – covering drawing, painting, experimental film, textile and plastic assemblages – that spanned some 40 years.  Runs March 26 to August 10.

The exhibition Witches: Out of the Shadows (Sorcières : de l’ombre à la lumière) at the Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal explores the little-known history of witches with more than 400 objects from European and American collections. Pendulums, crystals, tarot cards, herbariums and interactive elements enable visitors to explore such practices as divination, spells, healing, and protection rituals, and examine the beliefs, symbols and fascinating practices of witchcraft. Runs to April 6.

Click here for more Montréal museum exhibitions.

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

Hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse bring audiences on an expedition across raging seas, snow covered mountains and the marigold bridge in DISNEY ON ICE presents Into the Magic featuring Disney’s Moana, Frozen, Coco and Beauty and the Beast with other Disney characters at Place Bell from January 9 to 12.

Disney On Ice presents Let’s Dance! features Disney characters Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy who have become DJs remixing Disney tunes into colourful stories in an all-new ice show which includes stories from Frozen 2, Wish, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Moana. Runs March 6 to 9 at the Bell Centre.

The children-friendly permanent exhibitions at the Montréal Science Centre are all open, while its IMAX cinema screens films for all ages, including Australia 3D: The Wild Continent.

Click here for the screening schedules of the latest films.

Children of all ages can also discover new worlds at Montréal Espace pour la vie, the largest natural-sciences museum complex in Canada which comprises the Botanical Garden, Planetarium, Biosphere, famed Biodôme and Insectarium. Purchasing fixed-time tickets online is highly recommended.  

CIRCUS ARTS

The only presenter specializing in contemporary circus in North America, La TOHU in their state-of-the-art circular performance hall presents HA HA HA by the funny clownish duo OKIDOK until January 5 (for ages 5+); Australian company Circa reinterpret the classic Swan Lake in Duck Pond (February 5 to 9); Maputo-Mozambique fuses movement, juggling, singing and percussion (February 19 to 23); Vertical is an ice show produced by Le Patin Libre, the only contemporary skating company in the world (March 4 to 8); and Belgium’s NDE Company presents their “dance-juggling” show JUVENTUD Manifeste Jonglé (March 12 to 16). 

Montréal’s Cirque du Soleil presents the return of LUZIA under the Big Top in the Old Port from May 15 to June 29. Tickets are now on sale.

Montréal is the circus hub of North America. For the latest Montréal circus arts and concert news, click here.

CINÉMA

Dina Gilbert conducts the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for the Red Violin film concert where the OSM performs Corigliano’s Oscar Award-winning music composed for The Red Violin, a drama directed by Québec filmmaker François Girard. The film will be screened during the film-concert at the Maison Symphonique (January 7).

The Montreal Critics’ Week unveils its first edition, screening 19 films – short, medium, and feature-length – bundled together over seven distinct evenings and the course of seven double and triple-billed programs, at the Cinémathèque québécoise and Cinéma Moderne (January 13 to 19). Each program is followed by in-depth conversations between filmmakers, writers, and the public. Click here for listing of all films being screened, and to purchase tickets.

Experience the multi-Academy Award winning 1984 motion picture Amadeus on a vast HD screen while Mozart’s most celebrated works are performed live in-sync by a full orchestra and choir, in Amadeus Live in Concert at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (January 24 and 25).

The 43^rd edition of The International Festival of Films on Art (Le FIFA) runs from March 13 to 23 in theatres in Montréal. The festival is dedicated to the international promotion and distribution of films on art and media arts.

Experience the magic of Disney with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Fantasia, the timeless animated film that journeys through the enthralling world of classical music, at the Disney’s Fantasia OSM concert and film screening at the Maison Symphonique (April 2 and 3).   

The PARC AT MIDNIGHT cycle at the Cinéma du Parc offers nocturnal screenings in the great tradition of the famous rep-house “midnight movies” of the 70s. Click here for updates.

The Montreal Cinéclub Film Society screens classic movies at various venues every second week. Click here for the full program.

The IMAX cinema at the Montréal Science Centre screens films for all ages, including Australia 3D: The Wild Continent. Click here for the screening schedules of the latest films.

LITERATURE

Church of Books lecture with authors Michelle Syba and Daniel Allen Cox at the Westmount Public Library on January 29 at 7 pm. This conversation between an ex-Jehovah’s Witness and an ex-Pentecostal explores “how reading literature can shake up fundamentalist ways of thinking.” Copies of the authors’ books will be available for sale.

Argo Bookstore in Shaughnessy Village hosts the January Japan Book Club on January 29 at 5 pm, then presents H. Nigel Thomas In Conversation with Nalini Mohabir on January 30 at 7 pm, to launch Thomas’ new book A Different Hurricane (this event is free, but space is limited, so RSVP on ​TicketSource).

The Atwater Library Book Club is led by renowned author Mary Soderstrom. Upcoming events: Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton (February 5), and Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (March 12).

The Violet Hour Book Club, a reading group moderated by renowned author Christopher DiRaddo, is devoted to classic and contemporary works of LGBTQ literature. Up next: Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, A Biomythography by Audre Lorde, at the Archives gaies du Quebec, on February 8 at 3 pm. 

Librairie Paragraph Bookstore downtown presents an author talk and signing with Gloria Blizzard for her book Black Cake, Turtle Soup on March 6 at 5 pm. Free admission.

Lectures LOGOS Readings is a series of monthly multicultural readings hosted by award-winning author H. Nigel Thomas and renowned human rights advocate Maguy Métellus at the UNIA Hall in Little Burgundy.

DRAG SHOWS

Montréal drag sensation Rainbow hosts Le Bingo Show at Studio TD (January 19). 

Accompanied by her band, Montréal drag superstar Rita Baga brings her SPRAYNET musical tour – including numbers from her upcoming début album – to the Olympia Theatre on February 26. 

Montréal is one of the drag capitals of the world. Located in The Village, drag icon Mado Lamotte’s Cabaret Mado and Michel Dorion’s classic Bar Le Cocktail both book the best drag performers in the city nightly. Both venues are also two of the most popular nightclubs in The Village.

COMEDY

Montréal’s local comedy scene is enjoying a renaissance with flourishing comedy nights in clubs throughout the city, and touring national and international comedians selling out large venues.

Los Angeles-based comic Martin Amini headlines the Rialto Theatre (January 24).

Taiwanese-American stand-up comedian Atsuko Okatsuka headlines the Olympia Theatre (January 29). 

An emergency room nurse from Montréal’s South Shore, TikTok sensation Nurse John (a.k.a. John Dela Cruz) headlines the Olympia Theatre (February 1). Two shows: 7 pm and 9:30 pm.

American stand-up Jared Freid headlines the Beanfield Theatre (February 1).

Canada’s first and only all-Black comedy tour, the 13^th annual The Underground Comedy Railroad Tour headlines The Comedy Nest (February 2) with co-headliners Tamara Shevon, Daniel Woodrow, Keesha Brownie and Montréal’s very own Rodney Ramsey.

American comic Joe List headlines the Fairmount Theatre on February 7. Two shows: 7 pm and 9:30 pm.

Host of the Arab satirical talk show El Duplex, famed puppet Abla Fahita headlines the Olympia Theatre (February 16).

The Hyprov: Improv under Hypnosis show starring legendary improvisational comedian Colin Mochrie and master hypnotist Asad Mecci headlines MTELUS (February 21).

Powerhouse out comedian Jessica Kirson headlines the Olympia Theatre on February 28.

American comic David Cross headlines the Beanfield Theatre (March 6).

“America’s favourite husband” Steve Trevino headlines the Beanfield Theatre (March 7).

Canadian comic Anthony Kavanagh headlines the Olympia Theatre (March 11).

American magician and improv artist Michael Carbonaro headlines the Olympia Theatre (March 21).

Comedy legend Lewis Black brings his Goodbye Yeller Brick Road, The Final Tour to the Olympia Theatre (March 22).

Internationally-celebrated Laval hometown boy Rachid Badouri headlines an English-language show at the Olympia (March 27). 

Comedy superstar Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias headlines the Bell Centre (March 28).

Stand-Up St. Henri is a weekly comedy show highlighting women and LGBTQ+ comedians every Tuesday at Montréal Improv. 

Some of the city’s best stand-up comics perform at Double’s Comedy Club, a bilingual comedy night held the last Wednesday of each month at 9 pm, at Double’s Late Night, a contemporary dive bar in the heart of Montréal’s Mile-End. 

The Montreal Comedy House downtown presents local and national comics on Saturday nights. Friday night shows begin on January 31.

Support local, national and international comics at Montréal’s venerable The Comedy Nest nightclub located in the historic Montréal Forum. Click here for full programming.