Updated mid-April 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 will only be held online, or in person; a few have pushed their dates later than usual in 2021, presumably hoping the outlook will be brighter by then for in-person events.
I’ve updated through June, although some of those events are not yet certain. The rest will be done later. Please ignore the material with a gray background – it’s there to reference how festivals were scheduled historically, but is not current after 2019.
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 was 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 – Covid update is from 2020
Anarchist bookfair – nothing 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 nothing beyond cancellation for 2020
Festival Go Vélo Montreal May 31-June 7, 2021
June
Suoni per il Popolo June 2021 – probably all online
Montréal Baroque June 17-21, 2021, offering a “hybrid edition”
St-Ambroise Fringe Festival website is down as of April 2021
Montreal Grand Prix 2021 edition uncertain as of April
Les Francos – “Édition 2021 | Date à venir” as of April
Montreal Chamber Music Festival no 2021 dates, some videos on the site
International des feux Loto-Québec nothing beyond the 2020 cancellation
Folk Fest sur le Canal – I’ve been told June 18-20, maybe online?
Fête nationale Saint-Jean June 23-24 – No festival in Montreal 2021
Montreal International Jazz Festival June 25-July 3, 2021
July
Canada Day July 1
Montréal Complètement Cirque July 8-18, 2021 in some format
Montreal Comic-Con July 9-11, 2021, supposedly at the Palais des Congrès
Les Week-ends du Monde July 3, 4, 10 and 11, 2021
July
Mtl en Arts
Festival international de Lanaudière July 5-August 4, 2019
Carifiesta paradeJuly 6, 2019 – Website is dead April 2021
Dragon Boat Race July 6-7, 2019, no event in 2020, no news for 2021
Festival Nuits d’Afrique July 9-21, 2019 – events dispersed throughout the calendar
Just for laughs/Juste pour rire Seems to be all online now
Zoofest July 11-27, 2019 – Nothing in 2020, claims it will be back in 2021
Fantasia Film Fest August 5-25, 2021
Kahnawake Pow-Wow cancelled 2020 and 2021 (per Ka’nhehsí:io Deer on Twitter)
Haïti en Folie July 22-28, 2019, nothing for 2021
HeavyMTL metal festival July 27 and 28, 2019, cancelled in 2020, no news for 2021
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 in 2020, scheduled Sept 24-26, 2021
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