September Festivals and Events in Montreal 2023
Distrix Festival. Photo Rachel Levine
Summer, please don’t leave us. Not yet! We need all your warm, sunny weather so we can keep on keeping on. And with the students back on campuses and the leaves starting to look ready to change, we are gonna take this last month of summer and soak up the long days while we have ’em and carry our extra layers for when the night cools off.
Piknic Électronik
May 21 – October 1, 2023
Plaine des Jeux
Everyone’s favourite outdoor dance party rages on every Sunday and a few other days here and there in conjunction with major summer events. Enjoy local and international DJs mixing beats on stage. Season tickets are available and student tickets are a merciful $100. Information HERE.
Jardins Gamelin
May 25 – Sept 17, 2023
Place Émilie-Gamelin
The park and its cultural and citizen-driven activities is one of the nicest spots to chill in the city. Things to do include karaoke, concerts, dance parties. This year check out bands like the Tupi Collective, Bel and Quinn, Velours Velours, and Voyage Funktastique Open every day with something happening most of the time, be certain to find out more HERE.
Marché des Possibles/Entrepôt 77
June 23 – Sept 24, 2023
77 Bernard Est
This weekend market that combines vendors with food with drink with performances and events run by the POP Montreal gang. The vibe is local and the offerings always delightful. Info HERE.players. Dance all night until 4 a.m. at the festival’s famous balls. More info HERE.
Ladyfest
August 27 – Sept 1, 2023
Various Venues
Women in comedy is serious business and what better way to support the female comics of Montreal than by attending a show at Ladyfest. Women, femme, non-binary, and women-identifying comedians take over at key venues for sketch, improv, and stand-up. Check out the shows HERE.
JOAT
Aug 29 – Sept 3, 2023
Club Soda and Place des Arts Esplanade
Hip hop, break, and popping — urban dance styles that seem to defy all the rules — are at the heart of this dance competition. The breaking battles to secure the 16 competition slots in Club Soda takes place in Place des Arts. But only one will win in each category. Find out more HERE.
Festival Arts Ruelles
August 28 – September 10, 2023
Various Ruelles
An alleyway near you will be featuring music, dance, theatre, poetry, podcasts, or another form of art during this festival. Different neighbourhoods get special attention each day with performers taking over the ruelles. Info HERE.
World Press Photo
August 30 – October 15, 2023
Marché Bonsecours
325 Rue de la Commune East
Challenge yourself with the gorgeous photojournalism on display at the World Press Photo exhibit. This prestigious exhibition features 150 prizewinning photographs that take the temperature of the world’s events, from politics to climate to people. There is always a secondary exhibition featuring local photographers. It never disappoints. More info HERE.
Montreal Trad Festival
August 30 – September 1, 2023
Maison de la Culture Ahuntsic
If trad music is your thing — and it should be if you haven’t sampled it yet — this is the festival you don’t want to miss. Fiddles, feet, voices… get ready for Quebec’s rootsy music plus dancing. Info HERE.
Montreal Fetish Weekend
August 31 – September 4, 2023
Various locations
In the kink and fetish friendly city that is Montreal, Canada’s largest international gathering of sex positivity takes place. There is a Fetish pride parade, play parties, workshops, marketplaces, and more. Details can be found HERE.
Estival du Nouveau Cinéma
August 31 – Sept 3, 2023
Quartier des Spectacles, Esplanade Tranquille
This event is tied with the Festival du Nouveau Cinema which takes place in October. This short, free event offers screenings at the Esplanade Tranquille Info HERE.
Les Premiers Vendredis: Festival Viet Montréal
September 1, 2023
Esplanade du Parc Olympique
4141 Pierre de Coubertin Ave
4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Pho sho you won’t want to miss the monthly gathering of food trucks and restauranteurs as they offer a bounty of goodness for purchase alongside a live performance by Clay and Friends. Info HERE.
Gardens of Light
September 1 – October 31, 2023
Botanical Garden
4101 Sherbrooke E
The Botanic Gardens light up with hundreds of intricate lanterns shaped to look like animals, flowers, and objects. The lanterns come from Shanghai and take three months to mount in the Botanic Gardens. Every year there are about 200 new lanterns added to the group. This is one of the most beloved fall seasonal activities in Montreal and anyone can enjoy it. More info HERE.
Festival Distrix
September 1 – 3, 2023
Quartier des Spectacles
This festival celebrates 50 years of hip hop culture by offering dance competitions, 3X3 basketball competitions, rap battles, music, and after parties. Highlights include music by Benny Adam, Connaisseur, Izzy-S, and RYMZ. Info HERE.
Psicobloc
September 2 – 3, 2023
Aquatic Complex at parc Jean-Drapeau
If you’re gonna do risky free bouldering, might as well do it over a body of water. Two climbers will race up an 18 metre (65 foot) wall without any protective systems. Whether you fall or make it to the top, you still end up in the pool because dropping down is the only way to go. Info HERE.
Afro-Végane Festival
September 2-3, 2023
Maison du D´´veloppement Durable
Workshops and cooking demonstrations take place at this festival along with stalls offering vegan food that ties back to the African Diaspora. Black-owned, plant-based vendors will be selling various products. YUM! Info HERE.
Taco Fest
September 2 – 4, 2023
Clock Tower Pier
Who doesn’t love a taco? It’s the perfect hand food, no plate needed food. It’s simple… a bit of corn or wheat container stuffed with deliciously treated meat and/or vegetables and/or grains. Sample the whole range of variety at the taco fest. Info HERE.
Quartiers Danses
September 6 – 17, 2023
Dance isn’t just for snobby folks and it doesn’t come in one form. Quartiers Danses seeks to democratize contemporary dance and make it available for everyone. With a diversity of artists at different skill levels, dance is made accessible to all. This year expect to see ballet, urban, contemporary dance, and all the rest of the movement arts. More info on locations, free shows, and tickets, click HERE.
Montreal Electric Groove (MEG)
Sept 7 – 10, 2023
Get your dance shoes and glowsticks on at the MEG festival. With a line up of DJs that will keep you moving. Look for Ben UFO, Einmusik, and Nora en Pure and plenty more. For more information click HERE.
La Grande Rentrée du Quartier Latin
September 7 – 8, 2023
Rue St. Denis dans le Quartier des Spectacles
An outdoor festival in the Quartier des Spectacles up to Rue Saint Denis with visual art, food, drink, cinema, literature, performances, and lots of music as a way to welcome back the students. A few bars might be open until 6 a.m. if that’s your thing. More info HERE.
Art Tattoo Show
September 8 – 10 , 2023
Grand Quai du Port de Montreal
200 Rue de la Commune O
Thinking about inking. Well, a great place to see what you can do as well as what you might not want to do will be on display at the Art Tattoo show. Over 200 gifted tattoo artists from around the world (principally Canada and the US) will showcase their talents and offer their services. Some even compete. There are also seminars and lectures on the art of tattooing and its history. More info HERE.
Ukrainian Festival
September 9, 2023
Parc Maisonneuve
4601 Sherbrooke St E
Since Russia decided to invade, everyone is Ukrainian now. Listen to traditional music, eat delicious food (we all now know Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe), dancing, performances, exhibitions are all on offer. There’s a solid lineup of performers. Slava Ukraini! More info HERE.
Massimadi Festival
September 11 – 30, 2023
Various Venues
This festival celebrates all things black and queer. It includes art shows, film, and panels on topics related to being black and LGBTQ+. Among those appearing at the festival is beloved local actor, Barbada, who launches the festival and also will be appearing at Parc Daisy-Peterson Sweeny on September 17th with a storytelling event. Details HERE.
Martinique Gourmande Festival
September 12 – 24, 2023
Pavillon du Grand Quai du Port de Montréal
Martinique means rum and you can get your share of food goodness at this annual festival. Entry is free allowing you to spend more money on food. Among other things, there are competitions and a dominos tournament. Information HERE.
Tempéo Danse et Musique
September 14-23, 2023
Place des Arts Esplanade
Enjoy the roofless sky over your dance floor and join in dances from many different cultures: Bollywood, the 60s, Latin dance, indigenous dance. It’s free and open to all. Pros will be on hand to help you if you need some tips. Info HERE.
FIL (Festival International de la Litérature)
September 20 – 30, 2023
Various locations
Montreal celebrates the world of French writers, writing, and literature at the FIL. Readings and a pop up bookstore make this a delight for those into all things literary. Listen to Catherine Ringer, Colette, and lots more. Info HERE.
A Varning From MTL Fest
September 21 – 23, 2023
Various venues
With punk and experimental music at its heart, the A Varning festival attracts those who really like it loud and wild. Performers come from Montreal, Japan, New York, and other places. This three day festival might require a few earplugs. Just saying. Tickets HERE.
Beneva Marathon
September 22 – 24, 2023
One of the biggest running events in the city, this is a race worth participating in or watching. Try anything from the 1K to the full marathon. Training usually helps. You can always watch and cheer the runners on. More info HERE.
Foire aux Vinyls
Sept 23, 2023
Église Saint-Denis, 454 avenue Laurier Est
One day where over 30 vendors of vinyl records come together to get you together with the disk you need on that turntable. What you can expect? Plenty of rare/hard to find records. Info HERE.
MAPP MTL Festival
Sept 27 – 30, 2023
Skatepark Van Horne
Bringing a digital block party to the Van Horne Skatepark, 60 second digital projections will be featured from different creators. Also, electronic music, food, and local merchants. It all makes for a party atomosphere. Information HERE.
Montreal International Black Film Festival
September 27 – Oct 1, 2023
Various venues
This festival celebrates black participation in the film industry as well as films that look at international black realities. Awards are given to documentaries, shorts, and feature films. Ground-breaking cinema, some of which will never have commercial release on the big screen, is shown. Films to watch out for are Lovely Jackson, the opener, and Tropique de la Violence, the closer. More info HERE.
POP Montreal
September 27 – Oct 1, 2023
Various Venues
The folks at POP Montreal deliver on the musical culture and culture more generally year round in the city, but their big moment is the diverse and challenging music festival, POP Montreal. The festival brings together both no-names and big-names for a mash-up of concerts, symposiums, art, film, and of course, parties. It’s the Eton Mess of music festivals — spontaneous or chaotic, depending on your sense of random. More info HERE.
Queer Tango Festival / TQF
September 28 – 29, 2023
Various venues
Queer tango holds a place in the hearts of its practitioners – the beauty, the drama, the closeness, the subversiveness, the sensuality. It offers a safe space for LGBTQ+ people to practice and elevate their love for dance. Info HERE.
IF3 Festival
September 29 – 30, 2023
Le National
1220 St Catherine St E, Montreal, Quebec H2L 2G9
Freeski, freeride, and snow sports have their festival. This year’s version has screenings, activities, and an after-party. More details HERE.
Les Journées de la Culture
Sept. 29 – October 1, 2023
Province-wide Québec’s culture gets its spotlight with the Journées de la Culture. The people of Montreal will be out in full force showing their talents in public spaces. This is a voluntary activity and artists and performers register their activities. Expect everything from performance to workshop to conference. More info HERE.
100 Thousand Poets for Change Festival
September 30, 2023
TBD
This global event brings together poets with the intent of demonstrating and celebrating as a way to promote peace, sustainability, and to promote social, environmental, and political change. Global website can be found HERE.
Montreal Vegan Festival
September 30 – October 1, 2023
Palais des Congres (1001 Place Jean-Paul Riopelle)
Eat and taste your way through aisles of animal-free products. There is plenty of food, but also booths for activists and more. All totally free too. Click HERE for more info.
Upcoming Events
Ramen Ramen Festival
October 9 – 22, 2023
Whether you slurp or daintily sip, ramen prepared in as many ways as you can imagine is the focus of this delicious festival. Info HERE.
Montreal Burlesque Festival 2022
October 13 – 14, 2023
Club Soda
Scarlett James hosts the annual burlesque festival where taking it off is what it’s all about. Although, burlesque is so much about the journey AND the destination. Enjoy some of the best performers in the city and those from elsewhere. Info HERE.
Montreal Heels Festival
November 16 – 19, 2023
Sheraton Hotel
A festival dedicated to Heels, a new style of dance that combines jazz, burlesque, groove. Take classes or watch performers, and learn about this hot crave. Info HERE.
Monthly Festival Links
September
For Montreal Rampage’s daily events calendar, click HERE. If you have an event you would like to include, send an email to [email protected]
