Things to do in Montréal this July 2025
Summer The city
Summer reaches new heights in July in Montréal, with festivals, family fun and fireworks, oh my! Bask in the sounds of the Jazz Fest, discover culinary creations at First Fridays and experience Cirque du Soleil under the big top. Whether you’re joining the exuberant crowds, enjoying drinks on a terrace or spending a quiet day in the gardens, at the spa or on a boat, Montréal will turn the heat up on your July.
Welcome to Montréal!
To enjoy the best the city has to offer during your stay in July, please don't think of yourself as a tourist, but as one of us. Whether you're here for a few days, a few weeks or a few years, we're counting on you to enjoy Montréal in a spirit of respect, responsibility and celebration!
July festivals and unmissable events
Join the fun of Montréal’s famed summer festival season this month. Throughout the city, car-free pedestrian streets (like the PlazaPalooza on Plaza Saint-Hubert and À l’ouest de la Dame! in Little Burgundy) are the place to be for outdoor festivals, dining, shopping and socializing. Keep your eye out for gourmet food trucks, too, especially at the First Fridays gathering at the Olympic Stadium every first Friday of the month!
On July 1, celebrate Canada Day in Montréal with family activities, music, food and fireworks in the Old Port of Montréal.
The world-famous Festival International de Jazz de Montréal features nearly 1,000 concerts this year (it’s 45th edition!) by musicians from around the world, on outdoor and indoor stages, with dozens of free events until July 5.
Expect the unexpected at circus festival MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE from July 3 to 13, featuring local and international circus shows of all kinds, with outdoor performances throughout the city.
Dance to the beat of Festival International Nuits d’Afrique from July 8 to 20, with dozens of incredible indoor shows and free stages right downtown. And a must for genre film fans, the Fantasia International Film Festival comes to big screens in the city from July 13 to August 3, 2025.
From July 17 to 20, celebrate Vietnamese food and culture at Chợ Đêm MTL, featuring a Vietnamese Street Food Market happening in the Peel Basin, while from July 24 to 27 it’s Korea’s turn: POCHA MTL will take over the Peel Basin with its mix of street food market and cultural fest, where you can enjoy Korean food faves like fried chicken, kogos, bibimbap and Korean tacos.
Fans and creators, actors and producers come together at Montréal Comiccon from July 4 to 6 at Palais des congrès de Montréal. Festival Haiti on Fire! presents live music, an arts fair and delicious food in Parc La Fontaine from July 23 to 27.
Electronic dance music takes over Parc Jean-Drapeau every weekend this summer at Piknic Éléctronik, when the whole family can spend the day dancing, eating from food trucks and generally basking in the sun. Speaking of family-friendly activities, head to SOS Labyrinthein the Old Port to swing from the rafters — literally! The adventure sports site also puts on special activities throughout the season, including the popular Blackout nights every Thursday, plus on July 24 and 25, they celebrate camper’s Christmas.
Montréal’s innovative chops will shine bright from July 9 to 11 during Startupfest, the world’s must-attend startup conference where entrepreneurs, investors, large enterprises, industry veterans and others participate in a variety of activities at the Tower of the Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal.
On July 19, think neon! Don your brightest outfit, your canoe or kayak, and enjoy Lock & Paddle, a free day of paddling to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Lachine Canal. Join the fleet of colourful paddlers and experience a lockage, plus lota of music and laughter.
Throughout July Montréal will have even more starry nights thanks to the International des Feux Loto-Québec, an international fireworks festival that lights up the sky from the Six Flags amusement park, La Ronde until July 31. Check out the many spots with great (free) views of the show.
And to crown the month and walk us into August with pride, July 31 kicks off Festival Fierté Montréal, with a ton of shows, events, happenings plus a big fat parade.
Summer attractions & tours
Find out what to do every day in Montréal (and throughout the province) on the Vitrinewebsite, or in person at their office at 2 Sainte-Catherine Street East in the heart of Place des Festivals. From plays to concerts to dance shows and beyond, it’s your go-to resource for cultural goings-on.
We hope you make yourself at home in Montréal’s incredible hotels — there’s an accommodation option for everyone, from landmark hotels to family friendly hotels and boutique hotels galore.
In Old Montréal, walk the cobblestone streets to the St. Lawrence River and visit the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica — see the gorgeous multimedia AURA Experience, a wonderful way to feel the grandeur of this landmark.
Downtown holds one of the city’s most lovely churches, the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, where you can admire the beautiful stained glass during services or during the regular organ concerts.
In the Old Port of Montréal, after snapping a selfie or three at the glimmering BONJOUR structure, see views of the city and the river from the Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal, where you’ll find a cruise ship dock, marine history displays, green spaces and a stunning attraction: the Port of Montréal Tower. Nearby, treat yourself to bird’s-eye views on La Grande Roue de Montréal observation wheel, where the four-season cabins are always the perfect temperature.
Visit the esplanade of Place Ville Marie, where the massive art installation The Ring glimmers above you. Or take a break for entertainment and a snack at Esplanade Tranquille at the corner of Clark and Sainte-Catherine Street.
One of the best ways to discover the city is with expert guides on Montréal tours: bundle up and set your own agenda with private walking tours at your own pace. See the city like a local with MTL Detours, take a day trip outside the city with N-Tours, call upon the experts at Guidatours, or take yourself on self-guided audio tours thanks to TourBird. For an unparalleled taste of the city, savour one of the expert 2 or 3 hour walking tours given by Local Montréal Food Tours — they range from Mile End to Old Montréal.
If you’re wondering why Montréal has so many colourful murals, hear more about them and their artists on a street art tour with Spade & Palacio, including the most recent murals from the last MURAL Festival. For an electric bike tour of the murals, look to Fitz Montréal — their comfortable cycling tours cover anything from downtown Montréal to Jean-Talon Market.
You can also devise your own self-guided art tour (or follow one of their expertly curated ones) thanks to Art Public Montréal, a fountain of information on Montréal’s hundreds of public artworks that are viewable for free year-round. Explore their selection of podcasts, too, for the inside scoop.
Passeport MTL
The easiest way to visit dozens of Montréal attractions, museums and more at a discount is by getting your own key to the city: Passeport MTL, whose special summer edition will help you experience the best of the magical season.
July’s foodie adventures
Cho Ðêm MTL
Taste all the varieties of Canada’s national food you could dream of at The Great Montréal PoutineFest, from July 16 to August 3, at restaurants and food trucks throughout Old Montréal. If you’ve ever wondered what BBQ ribs poutine or dumplings poutine tastes like, now’s your chance to find out!
Get a taste of Vietnamese food and culture at Chợ Đêm MTL from July 17 to 20 at Hangar 1825 in the Peel Basin, featuring a Vietnamese Street Food Market. Then from July 24 to 27 it’s Korea’s turn: POCHA MTL takes over the venue with offerings of fried chicken, kogos, bibimbap and Korean tacos.
More in an island mood? Head to the Clock Tower Quay in the Old Port for Taste of the Caribbean, from July 10 to 13. Enjoy mouthwatering flavours from all over the islands plus great reggae, free all day.
Discover dozens of gourmet food trucks at the First Fridays gathering at the Olympic Stadium, every first Friday of the month throughout the warmers months.
July in Montréal all about outdoor dining, be it on a sidewalk terrace (aka prime people-watching spots), a rooftop terrace, a hidden terrace or a green terrace. We challenge you to compare-and-contrast them all.
To fill up on fresh produce and local goods, explore the city’s beautiful public markets, including Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy and Atwater Market in Saint-Henri. Montréal’s smallest market, the Public Market of Lachine, in the southwest, also offers a great selection of products year-round to go with its quaint design.
Le vin dans les voiles is a natural, organic and biodynamic wine agency based in Montréal that offers fascinating wine tasting and educational events. Peruse the calendar here. The workshops happen in French, but hey — wine is a universal language!
Indulge in more incredible food at Montréal’s variety of restaurants, where there’s always something new and exciting to nosh on. Discover Montréal’s newest restaurants and buvettes, and don’t miss a classic Montréal brunch, whether you’re looking for elegance or comfort food. For some crowdsourced favourites, try Montréalers’ favourite lunch restaurants, from Old Montréal and downtown to Villeray or the South-West. Get a taste of long-time Quebec classics like smoked meat, poutine and Montréal bagels and keep on ticking the boxes on your must-eat list with these other musts for foodies in Montréal.
Explore superb restaurants and cafés along Beaubien Street in the Rosemont-La-Petit-Patrie neighbourhood (also where you’ll find Little Italy).
Stop for a bite at the beautiful COMMODORE in Hôtel HONEYROSE downtown, or clink oyster shells in your own private holiday seafood celebration at Maestro SVP in the Plateau.
Downtown, explore the wide variety of excellent meals at gourmet food halls including Time Out Market, Marché Artisans, Le Cathcart and Le Central — or venture out to the de la Savane metro station to explore Le Fou Fou in the huge and tawny Royalmount mall.
Get your caffeine fix at Montréal’s indie coffee shops — and why not snag some fresh-baked doughnuts to go with it! Add more sweetness to your life at Montréal’s best bakeries and pastry shops, best chocolate shops and candy shops.
Eat plant-based with our ultimate guide to vegan eating in Montréal or join the debate over who makes the best pizza in Montréal — or the best tacos. Warm up with authentic Japanese ramen and Vietnamese pho.
By night, discover the city’s 31 top cocktail bars, inventive Montréal microbreweries and late-night eats. Or mix Montréalesque cocktails at home with gin, vodka, rum and more specialty spirits from these Montréal specialty alcohol and spirit makers.
May is also an excellent month to have dinner and see a show at the Casino de Montréal: live music and cabaret shows will entertain you and your date while you enjoy incredible seafood and more on the grill at Le Montréal, a gourmet buffet at Pavillon 67, and quick delicious eats at L’Instant.
Summer reaches new heights in July in Montréal
Summer sports and games
It’s always an exciting time when the dragon boats return! You won’t want to miss the
2025 Pan American Club Crew Championship from July 4 to 6 at the Olympic Basin in Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Don your brightest neon swim gear, grab your canoe or kayak, and head out for Lock & Paddle on July 19, a free day of paddling to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Lachine Canal. Join the fleet of colourful paddlers and experience a lockage, plus lota of music and laughter.
Cheer on the CF Montréal soccer team at home at the Saputo Stadium throughout the month, the Roses MTL female soccer team at various locations, the Montréal Alliance basketball team at various locations and the Montréal Alouettesfootball team at the Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. You can also catch the Royal de Montréal team compete in the Ultimate Frisbee Association games at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard. If you can’t make the games in person, watch all the soccer, football, basketball, MMA and more at Montréal’s sports bars.
Starting on July 26, come watch the world’s best female tennis players as they go had to head to secure their place on the world stage during the National Bank Open presented by Rogers at Parc Jarry. This year brings an exciting change of format: it’s a 12-day main draw that resembles the format of a Grand Slam, an expanded main draw featuring 96 athletes will offer even more action and thrilling moments.
The Grand Chelem Baseball Centre, located downtown, invites you to step up to the plate: whether you’re an elite player or a casual hitter, Grand Chelem offers baseball and softball training for all levels and any age.
Wanna play? Head to the Centre Eaton de Montréal where the PLAYBOX Centre has a game for everyone, from internationally renowned crane games to arcade games, skill games and VR attractions. Super Super at DIX30 in Brossard is another super lively, family-friendly option, while Royalmount has a very fun arcade at The Rec Room, next to the Cineplex cinema, where you can duke it out in VR games and more before munching burgers or nachos (with accompanying cocktails, for parents) at the onsite eateries. Montréal loves exploring the retro side of play with its selection of arcades.
Montréal Bowling is the perfect spot downtown to play a few rounds of bowling, play some pool, watch some sports, play some arcade games and grab some great snacks and cocktails.
Get swinging with a foray into the circus arts (since Montréal is a bona fide capital of circus) at the Montréal Circus Academy, where you can learn flying trapeze, pole fitness, exotic pole dance, aerial silks, aerial hammock, straps, handstands, flexibility and more.
If you’re feeling more artsy, Art Chaos is a fantastic family- or group-friendly activity in Mile End, where you can paint crazy creations on rapidly spinning canvases, for a truly interactive experience. And while you’re in the neighbourhood, stop into 3 Wizards Shop on Avenue du Parc — it offers an immersive foray into the magical world of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts sagas, with a selection of official products. You can take your quidditch to the next level.
Savour the glorious summer sunshine with a visit to Montréal’s parks, including the stunning Jardin du Monastère at the Musée des Hospitalières, where you can get guided tours of the garden and participate in activities. Plus, it’s at the foot of Mount Royal Park.
Among the many free things to do this season, see incredible city views from Mount Royal Park: head for a walk through the park and up the stairs to the lookout or bus or drive up to Beaver Lake. Stroll (or bike) around Parc La Fontaine, go to St-Michel’s Parc Frédéric-Back, or cross the river to Parc Jean-Drapeau for a riverside walk and a different view of the city. While there, visit the Espace pour la vie Biosphère too, for environment-focused exhibitions and more.
At the Espace pour la vie museums, enjoy the Montréal Botanical Garden’s sprawling tropical greenhouse environments or its slowly burgeoning outdoor space. Experience several wild ecosystems at the Biodôme (there are penguins, otters, monkeys and more), explore the mysteries of the universe at the Planétarium, and learn about the thousands of butterflies, moths and other insects at the Insectarium.
The West Island’s Ecomuseum Zoo is a wonderful place to glimpse local wildlife in their natural outdoor habitats — and you can even have breakfast with some of them throughout the month of May.
For the ultimate relaxation session after a day of trekking (or just because you deserve it), visit Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau, a unique spa in a moored boat on the St. Lawrence River in the Old Port, and other world-class spas like Scandinave Spa Vieux-Montréal, Avie Spa & Coiffure, Rainspa and Strøm Nordic Spa.
Summer in the shops
Shop for some new summer style staples in Old Montréal’s boutiques, downtown along Sainte-Catherine Street and in the Underground City malls. The Centre Eaton de Montréal and Place Montréal Trust are full of the latest looks from the hottest shops, including Uniqlo, Nike, Aritza, Decathlon and many more boutiques (and remember to ask for a VIP Visitor Card at Guest Services for exclusive discounts only for tourists).
Keep your eye out for items made by Montréal designers, relaxing self-care staples and plenty of sparkly goods from the coolest Montréal jewellery stores.
Find foodstuffs from local artisans as well as imported delicacies at Montréal’s public markets, and shop local and eco-friendly at the most fabulous vintage boutiques in the city. Pick out the perfect new books for friends and family from Montréal’s bookstores, and dive into a wide world of music at Montréal’s excellent vinyl stores.
Forgot to pick up souvenirs? Fear not, Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) has got you covered. The focus on local goods in both the domestic and the international zones range from foods to goods, including scarves and bags from m0851, yoga gear from Lolë and novels by local authors. Start your foray at Découvrir Montréal.
July art and exhibitions
Summertime is alive in museums and galleries around town, so get the full low-down in our seasonal exhibition overview
At PHI, experience the story of a Quebec filmmaker shaped through music in the exhibition Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape, until July 6. With the participation of Marc-André Grondin, Evelyne Brochu, Denis Villeneuve, Reese Witherspoon, Vanessa Paradis, Laura Dern and others, it’s a multimedia journey into the memory and work of the director for whom emotion was a rich territory, lived, felt and expressed through music. While there, also take in Lap-See Lam: Shadow Play and Nico Williams: Bingo..
Explore the art of globally acclaimed, Montréal-based artist Jana Sterbak in the admirably curated solo exhibition Corpus Insolite, happening throughout July and beyond at the Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal. Throughout her career, Sterbak has explored power, desire and the fragility of existence in works that often incorporate unconventional materials, so this pairing of her work with objects from the hospital museum’s own collection is particularly prescient and playful.
Visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts to enjoy Bad Girls Only this month, an exhibition of rarely seen works from the museum’s collection of early modern prints and drawings showcasing northern European depictions of “sinful” women. On view you’ll also find Berthe Weill, Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-garde and Worlds of Wonder: The Surrealist Journey of Alan Glass.
At the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal in Place Ville Marie, catch the exhibition Skyscrapers by the Roots, running throughout the month. It explores the long life of late modernism in the field of architecture by bringing together a series of works created over the last decade by Shannon Bool, Kapwani Kiwanga, Rachel Rose and Jonathan Schouela, a new film installation by David Hartt, as well as works by Lynne Cohen and François Dallegret produced in the 1960s and 1970s.
Go to Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal for their summer exhibition Knights, bringing these legendary figures back to life through an exceptional selection of objects, including the collection of European weaponry and armour from the Stibbert Museum in Florence, Italy. Also on view throughout the month, Building Montréal is a testament to the men and women who shaped the city, from the past to the present. Explore Montréal’s history in this astonishing exhibition that offers a uniquely captivating and engaging experience.
You’ll also be near the kid-friendly Montréal Science Centre, where you can explore interactive exhibitions that investigate the scientific world, like the permanent exhibition Human: a voyage to the very heart of human evolution through a fully interactive and highly energetic environment.
The McCord Stewart Museum bridges past and present in its exhibitions, which throughout the month of July include Pounding the Pavement, a fascinating look at the history of street photography in Montréal. Featuring over 400 photographs, the exhibition explores different facets of the street: as a public arena, a site of protest, an assertion of collective identity, an architectural environment, a setting for local culture, or simply a place where things — sometimes incredible things — happen.
Visit MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises, a cutting-edge museum dedicated to the voices of Montrealers presiding over the corner of Boulevard Saint-Laurent and Rue Sainte-Catherine. During the summer you can catch A Mile in My Shoes, an exhibition by the Empathy Museum featuring a re-imagined shoe shop where every pair of shoes has a story to tell, relayed in an audio portrait of a significant moment in the life of the shoes’ owner.
At the Montréal Planétarium, tickets to any of the shows gets you access to Rouge 2100: A Martian Adventure, an exhibition running throughout the month that offers a journey in five chapters and as many rooms, where we realistically imagine the first steps of a rare humans in 2100 on the fascinating red planet. A fantastic world that also questions the place of humans in our universe and the fragile balance that must be maintained if all species are to prosper.
Experience a massive immersive art experience in surround-sound and laser light at OASIS Immersion, where Weightlessness will lift you up and give you a unique and transportive sensory refuge. You can also dive headfirst into the work of Van Gogh or see Root for Nature, which extrapolates on biodiversity in all its splendour.
Travel back in time as you tour the rooms of Château Ramezay and visit historical site Château Dufresne near the Olympic Stadium.
Not far from the city, climb aboard railway cars, learn about the history of the railroad and explore miniature railways at the Exporail the Canadian Railway Museum.
Discover the vivid history and present of Québec ceramics at the Musée des métiers d’arts du Québec. And for another slice of Québec history, visit Montréal’s stunning churches and sacred sites.
And don’t forget Montréal’s plethora of small, independent art galleries, from Bradley Ertaskiran to Hugues Charbonneau, Galerie B-312, SBC Gallery and Ellephant downtown, Oboro and MAI in the Plateau, Centre Clark and Dazibao in Mile End, Galerie d’Outremont in Outremont and many, many others in every neighbourhood.
TO GET AROUND TOWN
To get where you’re going hassle-free, public transportation is the way to go. The STM has special offers on fares and a handy tool to plan your trip quickly and efficiently. You can also download the Transit and Chrono apps for up-to-the minute bus schedules.
Onstage in July
Montréal’s cultural calendar is packed this season, with entertainment for everyone on the city’s many stages. Among the world-class theatre, dance, opera, circus and more gracing the city’s stages throughout July, you’ll find a fun-packed show by drag queen extraordinaire Rita Bagga and guests at the breathtaking cabaret space Canf’Conc. With shows on July 3, July 17 and July 31.
ABBA lovers, you’ve got until July 5 to enjoy an ABBA Celebration at Espace Saint-Denis: this dinner-and-a-show extravaganza features 13 talented musicians and dancers in a venue that you’ll see transform into a giant disco ball, as legendary hits sound one after the other.
In the cultural centre of Montréal at Place des Arts, July will be bopping all month long with the Montréal International Jazz Festival, but there are a few non-musical shows as well. Catch illusionist Luc Langevin throughout July and into August at Théâtre Maisonneuve.
Part of Just For Laughs Montréal, When Literature Takes to the Stage is a FREE two-person stage show in an interactive atmosphere, where spectators explore the secrets of writing in all its forms. It’s a funny, heartfelt show perfect for aperitif hour. There are many other comedy shows over the month presented in French, for those interested! In English, catch the Roy Wood Jr. Gala and the Michelle Buteau Gala on July 25, and the Mikey Day Gala and Fortune Feimster Gala on July 26, all at Théâtre Maisonneuve.
Onscreen in July
An unmissable high point of the year for genre film fans, the Fantasia International Film Festival comes to big screens in the city from July 13 to August 3, 2025. Discover unseen releases on the big screen in Montréal for the first time and expect the wonderfully weird.
Lovers of Asian cinema will get more to see this month with the Festival International du Cinéma Canada Chine, presented at Cinéma Impérial starting on July 11 and running into August.
Running throughout the month, catch FREE outdoor screenings of interesting indie and local movies all over town thanks to the Cinéma sous les étoiles fest. Bring your own deck chair and snacks!
You can also catch a FREE screening of the film Wicked at the Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay within the context of the Festival de Lanaudière.
The Montréal Science Centre’s IMAX cinema puts nature on the giant screen in all its glory — this month you can see the incredible T. REX 3D: Greatest of all Tyrants throughout July, where you can discover the most gripping and scientifically accurate portrait ever made of this titan and its formidable carnivorous cousins.
See independent features, family films, documentaries and more at Montréal’s indie cinemas including Cinéma Moderne, Cinéma du Parc, Cinéma du Musée at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, and the iconic Cinémathèque québécoise in the Quartier des Spectacles (the city’s entertainment district).
Explore the city through cinema in these Hollywood movies made in Montréal.
Live music in July
We’ve got the perfect overview of Montréal’s big, can’t-miss concerts in 2025so you can plan your highlights of the year.
At Place des Arts this month, classical music shines throughout July with events like Ben Harper performing live on July 2, the Violent Femmes on July 4 and Beck accompanied by the Orchestre Métropolitain on July 16, all at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.
For classical music lovers, July offers everything from Carmina Burana by Payare and the OSM on July 4 to Yannick and Yuja: Explosive! at the Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay within the context of the Festival de Lanaudière.
At the Bell Centre this month, catch Matt Rife on July 13, Tyler, The Creator on July 22, Karan Aujla on July 26 and Katy Perry on July 30.
Parc Jean-Drapeau hosts The Weeknd for two nights on July 24 and 25 for an unforgettable outdoor show within his After Hours Til Dawn tour.
You’ll find all sorts of fun music shows at MTELUS, including The Cat Empire on July 2, George Thorogood & The Destroyers on July 3 and Pixies on July 8 and 9. See full schedule here.
The world’s best EDM artists come to New City Gas to get you moving, which in July includes MoBlack on July 4, Made By Pete on July 11, James Mac on July 18 and HOAX (BE) on July 25.
At the SAT throughout July, don’t miss the Dômesicle Summer 2025 event, a series of awesome music and immersive art performances taking place in the magical dome-shaped space on their roof. On July 26, catch All Nightwith Juan Atkins, the godfather of Detroit techno, as he kicks things off with a legendary all-nighter that’s slated to be a veritable masterclass in partying — not to be missed under any circumstances. Until July 5, you’ll also find an immersive artistic experience making homage to the sorely missed Québec painter Jacques Hurtubise.
At Théâtre Fairmount in Mile End, catch Samira L’Oranaise on July 5, Wavves on July 9, Jean Jean Roosevelt on July 10, Daby Touré on July 11, Tripping Daisy on July 12, Saïd Mesnaoui & Transe Gnawa Fusion on July 18, WHIRR + NOTHING on July 19 and strongboi on July 22.
On July 3, 8, 10, 15 and 17, head to Parc Lahaie on Boulevard Saint-Laurent corner Laurier Ouest for Musiques sous un arbre, a ridiculously lovely open-air world music concert series, featuring amazing local musicians ranging from Dicko Fils to Sema Gültekin to the Altiplano ensemble. It happens from 6 to 7 pm, the perfect summery happy hour.
Groove to live soul, disco, jazz, funk, salsa, Cuban music Fridays and more at Le Balcon, where you can have dinner with a show, go dancing, and enjoy a gospel brunch on weekends. From July 12 to 15, don’t miss SOULFEST MTL 2025, featuring four days of killer soul performances including lots of freebies: on the forecourt of Saint-James Church, enjoy FREE performances by Sylvie Desgroseilliers and her son Nino Flamenco, Slim Williams and guests, Disco Queen, Rachel Jeanty, Rémi Cormier and more.
Hear live jazz nightly at Montréal’s amazing jazz and blues clubs, like Diese Onze and Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill. And go out dancing late into the night at Montréal’s dance clubs.
Indie venues Casa del Popolo and Sala Rossa have chock-a-block full monthly programs featuring both local and visiting bands, which you can find here. Look here for the many live events at hole-in-the-wall Barfly. Same for Bar Le Ritz PDB, where there’s a show nearly every night. Explore the lineups at Le Ministère and Turbo Haüs, and follow L’Escogriffe on Facebook to stay on top of all their upcoming shows. L’Hémisphère Gauche, up in Little Italy, is packed with music lovers for their nightly shows, as is Quai des Brumes on the Plateau — it never takes a night off.
Isa Tousignant
Isa Tousignant is an editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. (All were transformative.) Her favourite things include discovering new flavours and celebrating the creativity that defines her hometown, Montréal.