Things to do in Montréal this June 2024

June festivals and unmissable events

Montréal is off to the races with the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, from June 7 to 9 at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve racetrack, along Crescent Street downtown — plus all the parties of course, including performances by Pitbull and The Chainsmokers, and the Maxim Grand Prix Party with French Montana, NERVO, Sommer Ray and more.

Join the fun of Montréal’s famed summer festival season this month. Throughout the city, car-free pedestrian streets are the place to be for outdoor festivals, dining (keep your eye out for gourmet food trucks, especially at the First Fridays gathering at the Olympic Stadium every first Friday of the month!), shopping and socializing. Among the most fun road closures is Mont-Royal Avenue, the heart of shopping on the Plateau, which closes to traffic and turns into a street fair from June 6 to 9.

The 30^th edition of the Conference of Montréal happens from June 10 to 12, when decision makers from all spheres of society gather to address the most pressing issues of our time.

See some of the world’s — and Montréal’s — top graffiti artists create new murals before our eyes during MURAL Festival, coupled with block parties and live music along Saint-Laurent Boulevard and beyond from June 6 to 16.

Expect the unexpected at Festival TransAmériques, presenting innovative world-class theatre, dance and performance art on the city’s main stages and outdoors until June 5. At the same time, see even more live performances at the OFFTA festival. Festival Mtl en Arts, meanwhile, will spread its cultural effervescence throughout the Village and beyond from June 26 to 30.

On June 15 and 16, the Planétarium is hosting the fourth edition of AstroFest, a free event for the whole family full of activities, from face painting to workshops, crafting and interactive games. The theme this year: the sun! 

Let the St-Ambroise Montréal Fringe Festival surprise you with new theatre, dance, comedy and drag shows at affordable prices — plus a free outdoor stage (at the corner of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Rachel Street) in the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood — until June 16.

French-language music of every genre is on the program day and night during the 35th Francos de Montréal, in Place des Festivals downtown from June 14 to 22.

All of Québec celebrates on June 23 and 24 for La Fête nationale du Québec (also known as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day), a holiday known for live music concerts in the Quartier des spectacles downtown, neighbourhood BBQs and community gatherings in the sun.

The world-famous Festival International de Jazz de Montréal features nearly 1,000 concerts this year (it’s 44th!) by musicians from around the world, on outdoor and indoor stages, with dozens of free events from June 27 and into July.

Meanwhile, electronic dance music takes over Parc Jean-Drapeau every weekend this summer at Piknic Éléctronik. Speaking of music, June is also the month for the Montréal Chamber Music Festival — top-notch classical stylings from June 13 to 23. Scroll down to our music section for all the live music in Montréal in June.

Parc La Fontaine turns into a hive of activity thanks to the Robin des Bois Chalet, where fun is available for the whole family — from dance classes to art lessons to yoga to a drag brunch.

For a hit of light play, head to the Casino de Montréal to play on life-size arcade games at their ARcade by Moment Factory gaming experience: a fusion of multimedia and video game technology in two play areas that pits teams against each other in six interactive games. Each game combines motion-detection, projection technologies and videogame mechanics. 

Summer attractions & tours

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.

Explore the neighbourhood’s historic sites, as well, including the Sir George-Etienne Cartier National Historic Site, the only Victorian interior open to the general public in Montréal, comprised of two neo-classical houses with an adjoining coachway. A little further afield, in Lachine, history awaits at the Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site of Canada, where interactive installations will inspire you to imagine the bales of pelts, the stacked crates of goods and the barrels full of provisions that would have populated the space at the height of the 19^th century fur trade.

In the Old Port of Montréal, you can see incredible city and river views from the great Grande Roue de Montréal observation wheel, with its cozy heated cabins. Stroll along the glittering boardwalk to get a great view of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge aglow with colour-shifting light. 

Stroll around the illuminated shopping mecca of Sainte-Catherine Street and make a detour to see Claude Cormier et Associés’s massive The Ring installation aglow at Esplanade Place Ville Marie downtown. 

One of the best ways to discover the city is with expert guides on Montréal tours: 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.

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 new murals from the current MURAL Festival and others.

PASSEPORT MTL

The easiest way to visit dozens of Montréal summertime 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 budding season.

Tsi niion kwarihò:ten, or "Our ways: Peel Trail," pays tribute to the Iroquoian peoples on the island of Montréal. The trail features bronze sculptures and aims to promote understanding between native and non-native cultures. It showcases the artistic dialogue between MC Snow, a Kanien'kehá:ka artist, and Kyra Revenko, a non-indigenous artist, inspired by the Kanien'kehá:ka thanksgiving ceremony. The trail was inspired by the discovery of a 14th-century Iroquoian village during archaeological digs from 2016 to 2019 on Sherbrooke and Peel streets.

June’s foodie adventures

Montreal’s many food festivals happen throughout the year. From June 13 to 16 don’t skip on YATAI MTL at Hangar 1825, a gastronomic festival starring the flavours of Japanese street food. Come buy a ton of amazing imports to-go, or enjoy food from one of the 25 kiosks, including karaage fried chicken, ramen, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakitori, mochi and (drool) so much more.

Montréal's 5th annual Polski Piknik takes place on June 15 in Parc Jeanne-Mance from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., a festival celebrating and promoting Poland, its culture, cuisine and artists, as well as the Quebec community. Meaning "Polish picnic", Polski Piknik presents an exceptional program featuring local and international artists. 

This month it’s all about outdoor dining, be it on a sidewalk terrasse (aka prime people-watching spots), a rooftop terrasse, a hidden terrasse or a green terrasse. We challenge you to compare-and-contrast them all.

Explore the city’s beautiful public markets, including Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy and Atwater Market in Saint-Henri, for a food-filled trek. Montréal’s smallest market, the Public Market of Lachine in the southwest, offers a scrumptious selection of products year-round.

When you want to go indoors, check out Montréal’s newest restaurants and “buvettes” and don’t miss a classic Montréal brunch. Also try some of Montréalers’ favourite lunch restaurants, from Old Montréal and downtown to Villeray or the South-West, and favourite French restaurants.

Explore more of Montréal’s renowned food scene at the legendary Eaton’s 9^th floor restaurant, freshly reopened as Île de France. Lovers of breakfast and brunch need to try Le Mezz, downtown — though it’s also open for lunch and dinner! And if you’re looking for Asian BBQ, from grilled pork belly skewers to BBQ chicken wings, head to Egina BBQ Montréal, also in the centre of town.

From 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 Québec 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 more of Montréal’s newest restaurants and buvettes, and don’t miss a classic Montréal brunch, whether you’re looking for elegance or comfort food.

June 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. Don't miss the Terrasse le Jardin, perfect to start the terrasse season in summer.

Downtown, explore the wide variety of excellent meals at gourmet food halls  including Time Out Market, Marché Artisans, Le Cathcart and Le Central. Get your caffeine fix at Montréal’s indie coffee shops — and 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 30 top cocktail bars, inventive Montréal microbreweries and late-night eats.

Summer sports and relaxation

June sports start off with a bang with the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, from June 7 to 9 at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve racetrack, but it’s also biking time thanks to Go Bike Montréal Festival until June 2, when cyclists of all ages bike together for the Tour de l’Île. 

From June 27 to 30, the world of athletics will unite in Montréal for the 2024 Bell Olympic & Paralympic Athletics Trials, to determine the teams that will compete at the Paris Games in athletics. It will also serve as the Canadian Track and Field Championship for U20, Open and Para Athletics competition.

Cheer on the CF Montréal team at home at the Saputo Stadium throughout the month, and the Montréal Alouettes at the Percival Molson Memorial Stadium as they start their regular season. If you can’t make the games in person, watch all the soccer, football, basketball, MMA and more at Montréal’s sports bars.

Wanna play? Head to the Eaton Centre downtown where the Playbox Centre has a game for everyone, from internationally renowned crane games to arcade games, skill games and VR attractions. If you’re feeling more artsy, Art Chaos is a fantastic family- or group-friendly activity in Mile Ex, where you can paint crazy creations on rapidly spinning canvases, for a truly interactive experience. And while you’re in the neighbourhood, stop into Boutique des 3 Sorciers 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.

As summer blooms, visit Montréal’s parks to take in all the flora. At the Epace pour la vie museums, stroll the Montréal Botanical Garden grounds and sprawling tropical greenhouse, 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 newly renovated Insectarium.

The West Island’s Ecomuseum Zoo is a wonderful place to glimpse local wildlife in their natural outdoor habitats and even have breakfast with some of them throughout June.

Among the many free things to do this summer, 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 around Parc La Fontaine, cross the river to Parc Jean-Drapeau for a riverside walk and a different view of the city. (While there visit the Biosphère too for environment-focused exhibitions and more.) At St-Michel’s Parc Frédéric-Back, don’t miss Grain de ciel, from June 7 to 9: it’s a kite festival that brings together experienced kite flyers from across Quebec, Canada, the United States, Switzerland and Austria. Bring your own kites or borrow one onsite and come fill the skies with colour!

For the ultimate relaxation session after a day of trekking (or just because you deserve it!), visit Bota Bota, spa sur l’eau, a spa in a moored boat on the St. Lawrence River, and other world-class spas like Scandinave Spa Vieux-Montréal, Avie Spa & Coiffure, Rainspa and Strøm Nordic Spa.

Summer in the shops

Find Montréal-made, eco-cosmetics at BKIND, which from June 6 to 9 is celebrating its Kind Days event, full of surprise discounts and deals.

Shop for some new summer wardrobe staples in Old Montréal’s boutiques, downtown along Sainte-Catherine Street and in the underground city malls. Discover the latest styles at Montréal Eaton Centre and Place Montréal Trust, including Uniqlo, Nike, Aritzia, Décathlon 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 and relaxing self-care staples and plenty of sparkly goods from the coolest Montréal jewellery stores. 

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.

June art and exhibitions

Summertime is in hyperdrive in museums and galleries around town, so get the full low-down in our overview. 

The Horizon of Khufu is an immersive journey into Ancient Egypt on the Old Port of Montréal. Throughout June you can explore the archaeological treasure of the Giza Pyramid, constructed over 4,500 years ago. The experience allows players to physically move and interact within a shared virtual reality space.

Visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts to see the last days of O’Keeffe and Moore: Giants of Modern Art (until June 2), as well as the contemporary exhibition Wanda Koop: Who Owns the Moon, Tōkaidō: Dreamscapes by Andō Hiroshige (a magical journey through historic Japan), and Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools: Three Hundred Years of Flemish Masterworks.

Enjoy the monthly offerings of performance art in the Embodied Space series at the PHI Foundation, inspired by the intimacy, vulnerability and a moment of contemplation that live performance has the capacity to deliver in facing the void of our impermanence. 

Among the Montréal museum exhibitions this season, go to Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal to learn about the Olmecs and the Civilizations of the Gulf of Mexico, throughout the month. You’ll also be near the kid-friendly Montréal Science Centre, where you can explore interactive exhibitions that investigate the scientific world.

The McCord Stewart Museum bridges past and present in its exhibitions, which throughout June includes a spotlight on fashion photograph, Norman Parkinson: Always in Fashion.

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. 

Travel back in time as you tour the rooms of Château Ramezay and visit historical site Chateau Dufresne near the Olympic Stadium, featuring works by artist Guido Nincheri until June 30. The Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal marks the bicentennial of Mount Royal Park’s creator, architect Frederick Law Olmsted with exhibition Our Mountain: Memories of Mount Royal.

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.

Explore the Afromuseum, representing the contributions of Afro-Canadians to the cultural landscape of Canada. 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.

Experience a massive immersive art experience in surround-sound and laser light at Oasis Immersion, where Root for Nature extrapolates on biodiversity in all its splendour and  Dreaming Asia explores Chinese and Japanese cultures in a big way.

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.

On stage in June

Experience family-friendly cinematic shows on the domed screens of the Planétarium, including Starmap to the Unseen Universe, until June 21 — a show that will take you past the limits of our solar system and our galaxy to encounter undreamed-of splendours — and Rouge 2100: A Martian Adventure. The Montréal Science Centre’s IMAX cinema puts nature on the giant screen in all its glory — you can see the incredible Wings Over Water until June 8.

Enjoy a larger-than-life (or certainly larger-than-screen) experience with the immersive Pink Floyd: The Dark side of the Moon, an overall-multisensory performance set in the SAT’s impressive Satosphere, until June 22.

See independent features, family films, documentaries and more at Montréal’s indie cinemas including Cinéma Moderne, Cinéma du Parc (including late-night cult classics at Parc at Midnight screenings), Cinéma du Musée at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, and the iconic Cinémathèque québécoise in the Quartier des spectacles.

Explore the city through cinema in these Hollywood movies made in Montréal.

Live music in June

It comes as no surprise that Montréal’s famed summer festival season is cause for celebration! Catch the last of Asian Heritage Month, when the Festival Accès Asie ends its annual celebration on June 2 with live music, dance, art exhibitions, film screenings, culinary workshops and more.

At the Bell Centre this month, catch FEID on June 1, Aventura on June 8, Snoop Dogg on June 9, Chris Brown on June 20 and Brooks & Dunn on June 21.

On the afternoon of June 15 catch Trajectoires musicales: le parcours souvenir d’un Petit Chanteur,a choir concert at the Saint-Pierre-Apôtre church in the Village, featuring more than 100 singers aged 10 to 17. From Ave Maria to Moon River, expect a greatest-hits of choral music.

At Place des Arts, there’s Carmina Burana performed by Chœur Metropolitain at Maison Symphonique on June 1; Requiem de Fauré et Dompierre at Maison Symphonique on June 7 and 8; and Lel Farah at Théâtre Jean-Duceppe on June 8. Violin lovers won’t want to miss Soirée virtuose — Obsession violon at Salle Bourgie on June 13, whereas on June 14 it’s Pour l’amour du violoncelle! Music of the Night takes over Théâtre Maisonneuve on June 14 as well, and on June 16 you can hear Mahler’s Sixth at Maison Symphonique. Kid Koala plays The Storyville Mosquito from June 27 to 29, and on June 28, make way for the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band. See the complete programming here.

You’ll find all sorts of fun music shows at MTELUS including Roísín Murphy on June 8, Hollow Coves on June 13, Galaxie on June 15, Le Roi, La Rose et le Lou[p] on June 15, Xavier Rudd on June 16 and 17, Josman on June 18 and 19, and Zaho de Sagazan on June 22. Ocean Alley, Deluxe and Kurt Vile and the Violators round out the month on June 27, 28 and 29 respectively.

At Théâtre Fairmount in Mile End, catch Zoë Keating on June 3, Agents of Time on June 6, Yuston XIII on June 8, TWRP on June 12, David August on June 13, Pallbearer on June 22, and a bevy of dance parties ranging from disco to Broadway rave to pink metal that’ll make you ache for a night on the town.

At Beanfield Theatre, you can catch a whole bunch of shows over the month including Rawayanaon June 14 and Skillet on June 22.

The world’s best EDM artists come to New City Gas to get you moving, which in June includes Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté at the decks on June 6, Kaskade on June 7, Sam Blacky, SONA and Medusa on June 8, and Don Diablo on June 9 as the official F1 post- race after-party.

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. 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 lineup at Le Ministère, 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 has a night off.

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.