Montréal’s got game in urban sports
Sport activities
Montréal has hosted the world’s largest sporting event (the summer Olympics), boasts a massively successful hockey team (go Habs!) and hosts annual sporting events like the Canada Masters tennis tournament and the F1 Canadian Grand Prix that attract thousands of visitors. It’s no surprise we’re also a hotbed for urban sports.
What are urban sports?
They’re sports that were born and are performed in urban settings, essentially:
- Parkour: Running, jumping, vaulting through urban obstacles
- Skateboarding: Performing tricks on streets or in parks
- BMX: Biking and performing stunts on ramps and rails
- Streetball: Playing fast 3x3 basketball
- Urban climbing: Scaling urban walls
- Breaking: High-energy street dancing
- Calisthenics: Bodyweight strength building in parks
And they’re booming: skateboarding now claims 85 million riders globally, BMX is a $316 M market set to reach $493 M by 2032, and parkour participation has been consistently soaring, being implemented as a vald form of exercise everywhere from schools to old age homes. Climbing gyms jumped 25% in four years. With social media virality, new urban parks, and Olympic recognition, these high-energy disciplines aren’t just hobbies anymore.
Big overarching festivals
JACKALOPE
XP_MTL - Jeux Urbains
Jackalope
Annually in September
A blend of extreme urban activities, the thrilling Jackalope is the largest action sports event in Canada, as well as the only Canadian stop on the World Cup skateboard circuit. Beloved by adrenaline junkies young and old, Jackalope’s nail-biting action leaves everyone on the edge of their seats.
- BMX
- Base jumping
- Fixed gear riding
- Bouldering
- Skateboarding
Urban Games
Annually in March
This six‑day downtown festival blends urban sport culture, art, elite and local talent, community engagement and active lifestyle showcases at multiple central venues, including Place Ville Marie and Eaton Centre.
- BMX
- Urban dance
- Breaking
- 3x3 basketball
Other events and urban sports cred
🛼 Montréal has one of the top 10 ranked roller derby teams in the world and has been known to host the WFTDA Championships, the biggest battle for the title in the International Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.
🏅The Vans Skatepark is the first permanent skateboard facility to be installed at an existing Olympic site.
🛹 The clothing brand Dime — born right here in Montréal — is one of the most prominent urban sports brands, and consolidates fashion and skate brilliantly. They’ve been known to host a huge party and competition known as the Dime Glory Challenge — it made waves in 2025.
🏂 Empire is another local skate brand that’s world famous, partly for its recurring global snowboarding competition featuring pro competitions as well as demos, where the world’s best demonstrate their skills.
🧗 The Allez-Up climbing center is an architectural icon and the largest climbing gym in Canada.
🕴️Montréal Bungee boasts the highest urban jump in Canada, at 210 feet. Thrill-seekers can take the leap at the Quai des Convoyeurs in the Old Port from morning to night, 7 days a week.
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.