Updated February 27, 2021
Festivals and shows were mostly cancelled through 2020. As of now, it’s unclear how things will go in 2021. Uncertainty means many festival sites are cagey about whether their events are only online, or will be held in person; a few have pushed their dates later than usual in 2021, presumably hoping the outlook will be brighter for in-person events.
I’ve updated through May, although some of those events are not yet certain. The rest will be done later.
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.
January 2021
Wildside Festival online January 12-31, 2021
Fête des neiges is cancelled in 2021
February 2021
Black History Month all month, online only
Salon de l’Auto February 20-26, 2021, see article on online features
Igloofest – there’s a program listing for dates in February and March 2021
Montréal Joue spring break activities, online, February 20-March 7, 2021
Art souterrain February 20-April 30, 2021
Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois February 26-March 7, 2021
International Children’s Film Festival February 27-March 7, 2021
March
Festival Montréal en Lumière aka High Lights Festival, March 4-28. Nuit Blanche will be on March 13.
The International Film Festival on Art is usually in March. Not seeing any new schedule for 2021.
What would’ve been the 198th annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade is cancelled.
Cabane Panache et Bois rond on Wellington Street. Online only this year.
April
Vues d’Afrique international film fest, April 9-18, 2021. Website says it will be partly online, partly screenings.
Montreal International Musical Competition all online, April 26-May 14, 2021
Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival, April 28-May 2, 2021. At least partly online.
May
Vue sur la relève – May 2021, but holding out on details.
Jane’s Walks held online, May 7-8-9, 2021
24 Hours of Science May 7 and 8, 2021
Festival musique actuelle Victoriaville at outdoors locations in Victoriaville, May 17-23, 2021
Pouzza Fest May 21-23, 2021, holding out on details
Anarchist bookfair – no details yet on 2021
NDG Porchfest – who knows, the front page mentions “this year” but doesn’t say which year they mean
Festival TransAmériques May 26-June 10, 2021
Festival des Arts Vivants OFFTA, May 28-June 6, 2021
Classical Guitar Festival and Competition website still says simply “2020 Cancelled/Annulé”
Montreal Museums Day site still says cancelled for 2020
Festival Go Vélo Montreal (includes the Tour de l’Île and other cycling events) – site still says 2020 events are postponed to 2021, but no info yet about 2021
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
Le Mondial de la bière/Beer Festival October 7-10, 2021
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