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Summer in Montreal is when the city shines. Gorgeous weather. Lots of daylight. You can walk from one end of the island to the other and never run out of things to do. And let me tell you about all our festivals. Dance, music, theatre, art, food. It’s all here, all of Montreal and all the world. BONJOUR-HI!!!!

Art Souterrain: Voies – Voix Résilientes

April 2 – June 30, 2022
Montreal Underground + Satellite Locations

Get ready to go underground with a festival that puts art where the people are. Art Souterrain works with international art institutions to make visual art more accessible by putting it in the tunnels of the underground city. See it all at once or a little at a time. Follow the green arrows. More info can be found HERE.

Piknic Electronik

May 22 – October 2, 2022
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. This year the Boiler Room makes an appearance as well. Season tickets are available and student tickets are a merciful $100. Information HERE.

FTA (Festival TransAmériques)

May 25 – June 9, 2022

Dance, theatre, opera, and performing arts from around the world come to Montreal along with a few art exhibitions and musical pieces. Most pieces only show for a few days, but are usually high quality and thought-provoking. The world comes to us with this festival, so take advantage.  Tickets HERE.

OFFTA

May 16 – June 5, 2022

While the FTA (Festival Transameriques) takes place, the OFFTA showcases local works on the “fringes” of the festival. Some interesting things include the one-on-one piece Bedtime Stories (just 15 minutes!), Safia Nolin and Maryse Goudreau’s joint project Feu de forêt, and a 72 hour piece, Invisible, which takes place at LAVI. Watch HERE for details.

Festival Go Vélo Montreal

May 29 – June 5, 2022

Montrealers are dedicated bikers. Our bike paths are well maintained and ever more numerous. We are the proud home of the Bixi. Go Vélo encourages people to get out on their bikes and ride like the wind. The highlight for many is the Tour de l’Ile, when the goal is to bike part of the island along a specified route with many others. It’s like a mini-biking marathon. The Tour La Nuit does something similar on a route through the Plateau and Rosemont, but at night. Other events include the Metropolitan Challenge at Pointe Calumet. Information for events HERE.

Montreal International Musical Competition

May 31 – June 9, 2022
Salle Bourgie, Place des Arts

Classical musical competition this year has musicians from around the world compete before an international jury that includes respected musical directors and professors. This year features singers, with 32 singers performing in two divisions: Aria and Art Song. Winner takes home a fairly respectable $30,000 prize, but there are others to be won. The Montreal symphony orchestra accompanies the competitors during the final round and the winners during the gala concert. All info can be found HERE.

Montreal St. Ambroise Fringe Festival

June 1 – June 20, 2022

This is the most exciting theatre festival in the city. Local comedians, actors, dancers, magicians, clowns, improvisers, and performers join those from further afield (some of whom who do nothing but perform in Fringe Festivals around the world) to stage productions that clock in at around an hour or less. Many types of passes are available and the vibe is unbelievable in this happy mish-mash of crazy goodness and questionable weirdness. Art, music, and other events are generally part of this festival too. Information HERE. 

Les Premiers Vendredis

June 3, 4 – 11 p.m.
Parc Olympique

Get your food trucks here. Food trucks, food trucks, food trucks. And also always some good music. Every first Friday of the month, it’s your chance to sample what our trucks have to offer. There’s a taco theme going on in June with Andros el Tacos, Mi Corazon Food Truck, Tacos Frida invited as special guests. Details HERE.

Suoni Per Il Popolo

June 3 – 29, 2022

The experimental music festival is back, taking over places like Sala Rosa, Casa del Popolo, Entrepot 77, and other small venues. Find out what music everyone will be listening to next by checking it out HERE.

Yatai Festival

June 6 – 12, 2022
Marché des Possibles – Entrepôt 77
77 rue Bernard Est, Montréal

Yatai are itinerant stands in Japan. Now come and check out a whole bunch of yatai dedicated to all things Japan. Food, music, clothing, literature, and more. Definitely cosplayers. For info, click HERE.

Mural Festival

June 9 to 19, 2022

Paintings and projections on buildings and streets is raised to a new level in Mural Festival. New pieces go up every year from both local and international artists. In addition, St. Laurent’s street fest as well as Peel street includes music and swag There are even guided tours. Info HERE.

Festival Eurêka! 

June 10 – 12, 2022
Old Port Montreal

For those who like to geek out into all things science and natural wonder, and for those parents who want their kids to get a STEM degree, check out this science festival. It’s family friendly. The Eureka festival includes events of programming, workshops, and demonstration. This year’s theme is water in all of its states. More info can be found HERE.

Francos de Montréal

June 10 – 18, 2022

Place des Arts is installing stage as I type this. The Francos are coming. Free music and shows that feature francophone artists from Quebec and abroad. This year includes a show called Bye Bye Bye Karim featuring many local faves, Loud Lary Ajust, Koriass, Louis-Jean Cormier, Juliette Armanet, Hubert Lenoir, Magdala, Larync, a DJ set by Choses Sauvages, Yann Tiersen, and Hippie Hourrah. Information HERE.

Annual Dragon Boat Challenge 2019

June 12, 2022, 8 a.m..
Écluse De La Côte Saint-Paul Lock

Row, row, row the dragon boat to raise funds for the Missing Children’s Network. If that sounds like fun, find out info HERE. 

Montreal International Portugal Festival

June 10-28, 2022
3861 Blvd St Laurent

If you like Portugal, you’ll love checking out this combination of art, music, food, and culture. Performers include Cordeone, Ruby Anderson, and Christovam. Info HERE.

Bloomsday Festival

June 11-16, 2022

James Joyce gets the party he deserves with walking tours, cooking lessons, academic panels, a Burgundy Lion brunch, films, music, and conversations. Geek out on reading Ulysses or enjoy poetry and song in the Joyce way. Check out this cool lit festival. More info HERE. 

Lebanese Film Festival

June 11 – 16, 2022

Programming is underway for this festival that aims to bring Lebanese cinema to Montreal and Ottawa. Screenings, workshops, lectures, discussions, and interviews are promised. For details, keep an eye on the website HERE.

Festival Grand Prix Sur Crescent

June 16 – 19, 2022
Rue Crescent

Most Montrealers claim to stay far away from this bash that takes over Crescent for a three day bros and hos display. If vaping, Red Bull, getting pumped, and photographing pricey sports cars is your thing, we know where to find you. It’s kind of fun just to walk through it if it isn’t your scene too. Seeing the cars race the track is cool. Info HERE.

Festival des Musiciens du Monde 

June 16 to 19, 2022

For this fifth edition, check out the return of Afghani rubab luth player Homayoun Sakhi, or many others such as Watanabe, Graham, and Pagé, or any number of album launches by Les Arrivants or the Ensemble Oraciones. Information on all programming and tickets can be found HERE.

Festival sur le Canal

June 17 – 19, 2022
Esplanade du Centenaire, Lachine Canal

Po Lazarus, Planet Smashers, Hanorah, San James, Frisco Lee and the Golden Gate, Vanwho, and others will be performing at this annual chillaxed family-friendly free event along the Lachine canal. Always a cool event. For info click HERE.

Montreal Kizo Festival

June 23 – 27, 2022
Bain Mathieu

Hope you like DJs because a bunch of them are coming to town for this event. It’s not just Kizomba, but also Urbankiz, Semba, Tarraxinha, and Afrohouse. Lots of social dancing, workshops. Info HERE and tickets HERE.

Montreal Baroque Festival

June 23 – 26, 2022

This year’s festival puts the focus on women: Cadence Féminine. 17th and 18th century dance, theatre, and music get plenty of stage time. Find out more HERE.

L’International des Feux Loto-Québec 

June 25 – August 6, 2022 (25 juin, 2 juillet, 9 juillet, 13 juillet, 16 juillet, 20 juillet, 27 juillet, 3 août et 6 août)

Fireworks just make the sky pretty. For about 45 minutes at a go, check out what every country has to offer in terms of display. You can get tickets to see it, or just hang out in the old port and watch for free. Info HERE.

Mtl en Arts

June 29 – July 3, 2022
Rue St Catherine

Multidisciplinary arts festival offers an open air art gallery along St. Catherine St. It has of course grown to include film, installations, live demonstrations, and much more. Details can be found HERE. 

Cinéma sous les Étoiles

June 29 – September 9, 2022
Various places/parks

If you like watching a film outdoors on a beautiful summer evening, the Cinéma sous les Étoiles will allow you to catch documentaries in parks around the city. For schedule and offerings, check out the website HERE.

Montréal International Jazz Festival

June 30 – July 9, 2022
Place des Arts

Although it sometimes drifts into rock, funk, blues, and hip hop, Montreal’s beloved jazz festival has been racking up big names for 42 years. There will be jazz too. We promise. Come enjoy an afternoon or an evening in Place des Arts and check out the Roots, Pink Martini, Ludovico Einaudi, Bebel Gilberto, Tash Sultana, Wynton Marsalis, a. Info and tickets HERE.

Upcoming and Announced

TOHU – Montréal complétement cirque 

July 7 – 17, 2022

Send in the clowns. I think so. But also the aerial artisans, the acrobats, the jugglers, the magicians, and the other performers of the circus. St. Denis becomes an open air circus while beloved groups will perform in venues. Info HERE.

Comiccon 

July 8 – 10, 2022
Palais des congrès de Montréal

Are you a Marvel superhero or a DC one? Star Wars or Star Trek? Or is Crunchy Roll your thing? Whatever pop culture gets your motor running, Comiccon invites creators, authors, artists, producers, writers, and fans together for a multi-day bonanza. Info HERE.

Festival International Nuits d’Afrique 

July 12 – 24, 2022
Various venues

36 years of music, workshops, and events tied to the African diaspora. Performers from Africa, the US, the Caribbean, and Latin America make this an international delight. So far, some key names include Tiken Jah Fakoly, Moktar Gania, and Femi Kuti. Info HERE.

Just For Laughs

July 13 – 31, 2022
Various venues

They already booked Bill Burr and Kevin Hart at the epic-size Bell Centre. But you can also see Amy Schumer, John Mulaney, Trevor Noah, Maria Bamford, and Celeste Barber. There’s 100s of comedians and comedy podcast hosts. Maybe you’ll catch a live taping. And yes, expect the usual big galas such as the Nasty Show, Brit(ish), and the Ethnic Show. JFL puts a smile on your face even if (or in spite of, perhaps) you get heckled by the performers. Info HERE.

Zoofest

July 14 – 31, 2022
Various venues

JFL’s little brother, Zoofest, has even more comedy. How is this possible? It just is. Well, most performers are newer and just getting started. Be the first one to say, “I saw so-and-so when he won over the Theatre St. Catherine crowd.” For tickets and info, click HERE.

Festival Fantasia 

July 14 to August 3, 2022
Concordia University

Chills, thrills, spills, action sequences, hauntings, zombies, martial arts, horror. Pretty much anything that falls under the banner of genre cinema finds its home at one of the coolest film festivals I’ve ever been to (and I used to go to Spike and Mike’s thing so… I’ve seen a lot of cool film fests). The audience meows in anticipation. Literally. Info HERE.

Festival Arts Saint-Sauveur

July 28 – August 7
St. Sauveur

Since many people journey to the Laurentians in the summer, you might want to stop in the town of St. Sauveur to catch their arts festival. Dance is the focus. Check it out HERE.

Osheaga 

July 29 to 31, 2022
Parc Jean Drapeau

Three days of music, dancing, and energy makes this annual take over of Jean Drapeau’s gorgeous outdoor venues a blast. This year, Arcade Fire stepped in and everyone is losing their minds for it. But you can also see YeahYeahYeahs, Dua Lipa, A$AP Rocky, Caribou, and Mitski. Personally, I’m all about the electronic music tent for its three days of raving. Wear shoes you can move in. Or none at all. Details HERE.

The Montréal Highland Games 

July 31, 2022
Douglas Hospital, Verdun

If you’ve never seen a big man toss a big log, you haven’t lived. And he’ll do it in a kilt. Aside from caber tossing, there’s stone tossing and putting the stone. Also medieval combat, pipe bands, tug of war, and highland dancing. For all things Scotland (and a bit o’ Ireland too), come check it out. $15/ticket. Info HERE.

Anarchist Book Fair

August 6 – 7 , 2022
Usually at Georges Vanier Cultural Center (2450 rue Workman)

Celebrating something in the triad between proper anarchy, libertarianism, and social justice the anarchist book fair fills the Georges Vanier Cultural Center in St. Henri with vendors and activists. Workshops, panels, films, and artwork are also part of this event. It’s well attended and often a great place to learn about social justice issues both home and around the world. Free. Information HERE.

Previous Festival Calendars

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

Feburary

March

April

May