Montréal Pride

Montréal’s Gay Pride Week, including the annual Montréal LGBTA Parade, attracts hundreds of thousands every August.

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

For 11 days the heart of downtown explodes in jazz and blues during 650 concerts, most of them outdoors and free.

Just for Laughs Festival

Everyone gets giddy for two weeks at this international comedy festival with hundreds of shows, including free ones in the Quartier Latin.

Black & Blue Festival

This is one of Montréal’s biggest gay events, with major dance parties, and cultural and art shows, all in the second week of October.

Les FrancoFolies

This annual international showcase of French-language music and theater spotlights today’s biggest stars and those on the rise. Held over 10 days.

Montréal en Lumière

Created to help shake off the late-winter doldrums, Montréal en Lumière is a kind of wintry Mardi Gras with concerts, exhibitions and fireworks. Place des Arts becomes an illuminated fairground with a Ferris wheel and zip line. Most events happen downtown.

Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montréal

This festival highlights who is up-and-coming in feature films, documentaries, experimental shorts, videos, narrative features and electronic art forms during 10 days in early October.

Montréal International Dragon Boat Race Festival

Rowing teams from all over the world compete in Chinese dragon boats on Île Notre-Dame, punctuated by entertainment and gastronomic events. Held over one weekend in late July.

L’International des Feux Loto-Québec

This international fireworks competition features the world’s best pyrotechnics in 10 30-minute shows held at La Ronde each Saturday night during the competition.

Île Soniq

This is Parc Jean-Drapeau’s big electronic-music fest, which kicked off its first edition in 2014. It’s held over a weekend in mid-August.

Fantasia Film Fest

This leading genre festival in July and August features works from Asia and appeals to the manga-loving otaku (geek) set.

Cinemania

This November festival features films from French-speaking countries, all subtitled in English for non-native speakers.

Osheaga Festival Musique et Arts

On one weekend in early August, Parc Jean-Drapeau becomes a giant stage (actually four of them) for one of the city’s grand rock festivals. Some 70,000 fans typically turn up to the powerhouse lineup of performers, which in recent years has included Coldplay, Rufus Wainwright, Stromae, St Vincent, Gotan Project and many more.

Fête des Neiges

Montréal’s Snow Festival features some ice-sculpting contests, dog-sled races, snow games and costumed characters such as mascot polar bear Boule de Neige. It’s held over three consecutive weekends in late January and early February. A great place for sledding, ice skating, zip-lining, curling and skiing.

Montréal World Film Festival

One of the most prestigious film events in Canada, attracting 400,000 visitors to screenings from 70 countries. The stars come out, as well as the directors, producers and writers of the big screen. It’s held over 10 days in late August and early September.

Montréal Stop-Motion Film Festival

In late September or early October, fans of stop-motion animation gather to see painstakingly crafted works.

Vues d’Afrique

Held in late April and early May, this growing festival celebrates films about Africa.

Festival International du Film sur l’Art

A March festival devoted to films and documentaries about art from all over the world.

Les Rendez-Vous du Cinéma Québecois

In the second half of February, this event showcases the best of Québecois film.

Heavy Montréal

This rock- and heavy-metal fest happens in early August.