Updated August 8, 2020
Festivals and shows were cancelled between March and August 2020 because of COVID-19, even if it isn’t noted explicitly.
As of August 5, festivals are once again permitted with gatherings of maximum 250 people and pandemic measures in place. Notes are below, but be aware that plans may suddenly change for any reason under the current conditions, and some festivals are holding some or all of their events online only.
Some of the dates below were still last year’s, because I stopped updating this page in March. The listings will be revived for 2021 if circumstances warrant.
Do you have an addition or correction for this page? Please email us.
If you maintain a website for a recurring festival, please do yourself and all of us a favour: include the year with the basic information on the front page.
Ongoing
Festival Nuits d’Afrique, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec and Montreal Chamber Music Festival used to do festivals, but now schedule events and performances around the calendar.
January
Wildside Festival January 7-18, 2020
Igloofest weekends January 16-February 8, 2020
Salon de l’Auto January 17-26, 2020
Fête des neiges weekends January 18-February 9, 2020
February
Black History Month all month, exhibits and events
Festival Montréal en Lumière aka High Lights Festival, February 20-March 1, 2020. Some flashing effects.
Montréal Joue spring break activities, February 22-March 8, 2020
Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois February 26-March 7, 2020
Nuit Blanche February 29, 2020
Art souterrain February 29-March 22, 2020
International Children’s Film Festival February 29-March 8, 2020
March
Festival Barbegazi March 7-8, 2020
The International Film Festival on Art March 17-29, 2020 – Changed to an online format
197th annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade March 22, 2020. Definitely cancelled.
Cabane Panache et Bois rond on Wellington Street, March 19-22, 2020. Definitely cancelled.
April
Vues d’Afrique international film fest, April 17-26, 2020
Croissant festival April 25, 2020
Accès Asie April 30-May 31, 2020
May
Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival, May 1-6, 2020. Definitely cancelled.
Vue sur la relève performance art festival, May 1-31, 2020
Montreal International Musical Competition May 4-14, 2020
Jane’s Walks May 1-2-3, 2020
24 Hours of Science May 8 and 9, 2020
Printemps numérique May 9-17, 2020
Festival musique actuelle Victoriaville May 14-17, 2020
Pouzza Fest May 15-17, 2020
Anarchist bookfair May 16-17. 2020
Festival TransAmériques May 20-June 4, 2020
Le Mondial de la bière/Beer Festival May 21-24, 2020
Festival des Arts Vivants OFFTA, May 22-31, 2020
Comic Arts Festival May 22-24, 2020
Classical Guitar Festival and Competition May 29-31, 2020
Montreal Museums Day Sunday, May 31, 2020
Festival Go Vélo Montreal May 31-June 7, 2020
(includes the Tour de l’Île and other cycling events)
June
Montréal Baroque June 1-30, 2020
Festival Mural public art fest, dates to come
St-Ambroise Fringe Festival June 10-21, 2020
Montreal Grand Prix June 12-14, 2020
Les Francos June 11-20, 2020 Cancelled April 3
Montreal Chamber Music Festival June 12-21, 2020
Montreal Folk Fest on the Canal June 18-21, 2020
International des feux Loto-Québec fireworks fest, June 20‑July 29, 2020
Fête nationale Saint-Jean June 23-24
Montreal International Jazz Festival June 25-July 4, 2020 Cancelled April 3
July
Canada Day July 1 – parade and events
Mtl en ArtsJune 1-5, 2020
Festival international de Lanaudière July 5-August 4, 2019
Montréal Complètement Cirque July 4-14, 2019
Montreal Comic-Con July 5-7, 2019
Carifiesta paradeJuly 6, 2019
Dragon Boat Race Challenge July 6-7, 2019
Les Week-ends du Monde July 6-7 and 13-14, 2019
Festival Nuits d’Afrique July 9-21, 2019
Just for laughs/Juste pour rire Postponed
Zoofest July 11-27, 2019
Fantasia Film Fest July 11-August 1, 2019
Kahnawake Pow-Wow July 13-14, 2019
Haïti en Folie July 22-28, 2019
HeavyMTL metal festival July 27 and 28, 2019
August
August is Archaeology month in Quebec, with various events
Osheaga music & arts festival cancelled
Rogers Cup tennis tournament – cancelled
Matsuri Japon Japanese festival, August 3, 2019
Montreal Highland Games August 2-6, 2020
Terres En Vue/Land InSights first people’s festival 2020
Île Soniq cancelled
Italian Week August 7-23, 2020
Otakuthon anime convention, August 15-16. 2020 – virtual festival
Festival Mode Design cancelled
Fantasia Festival – August 20-September 2, virtual festival
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Hot Air Balloon Festival starts August 8, 2020
Fierté Montréal Pride, August 10-16, 2020 – no parade, virtual events
MUTEK seems to have gone virtual
Montreal World Film Festival website is 404
18th-century public market online only, August 29-30, 2020
September
Jardins de lumière cancelled
YUL Eat cancelled
Quartiers Danses videos online September 11-20, 2020
Momenta Biennale – next in 2021
Montreal Marathon Cancelled
Festival international de la littérature September 18-27, 2020
Pop Montreal and Puces Pop September 23-27, 2020
Journées de la culture Quebec-wide culture fest, September 25-October 25, 2020
International Black Film Festival September 30-October 4, 2020
October
The OFF Festival de Jazz October 1-10, 2020
Festival Phénomena October 3-23, 2020
Festival du nouveau cinéma October 7-18, 2020
Burlesque Festival October 22-24, 2020
La Grande Dégustation booze fest, October 29-31, 2020
November
Cinemania French films subtitled in English, November 4-15, 2020
Rencontres internationales du documentaire November 12‑December 2, 2020
Expozine small press fair mid-November, dates to come
M for Montreal music showcase, November in some format or other
Salon du Livre November 12-15, 2020