Halfway through September, the city continues to throw event after event, with plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Montreal’s rich artistic, athletic, culinary, and musical worlds.
The best things to do this weekend in Montreal will see professional cyclists compete for the gold, with plenty of adjacent programming, including apparel collection launches, lectures, and parties, emerging from the occasion. It’s also the de facto season of vernissages, as galleries across the island welcome new exhibitions and artists to their grounds. For those who would rather consume their art sonically, treat your ears to a range of music, from the beats of RuPaul to 18th-century organ songs.
For food, there’s no lack of options. New spots include two smashburger joints and a pizzeria, while Oktoberfest takes over a good chunk of culinary programming, and cafés, a Southern European, and an Eastern European restaurant celebrate birthdays.
Find the full lineup below, along with where to grab a meal along the way.
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Activities, parties, points of interest, art exhibitions, you name it: These are the weekend events you don't want to miss.
Thursday
🖼 Muralist Kevin Ledo throws a pop-up exhibition tracing four years of work, with a vernissage at Galerie Le 1040.
🎬 Montreal’s three-day animation film festival, Animaze, kicks off with an opening reception and screenings.
🚴 Le Club hosts a collection launch party for the UCI World Championships 2026 collaboration between visual artist Le Bicar and cycling apparel brand Le Braquet.
🎭 Portraits, a tragicomedy play about a Quebec family, has its second night onstage at Théâtre Duceppe.
📐 Join the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) for a talk by architect and CCA research resident Nana Biamah-Ofosu, exploring counter-histories and material culture.
🖼 Bref hosts a pop-up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of mural art organization MU, featuring 12 limited-edition posters each depicting a different mural.
🛋️ Galerie Maya opens its temporary showroom, offering a selection of hand-knotted rugs, furniture, objects, art and clothing, plus housemade food and drinks.
🖼 Fonderie Darling hosts a vernissage, presenting its fall programming and exhibitions, Après la pluie, la boue by Christopher Varady-Szabo and Solar Lamentation by Shanie Tomassini, with music, art, and drinks.
Friday
🎧 Ferias throws a block party at Mario Park, in collaboration with Marché des possibles and POP Montreal. Free and open to all.
⚽ VITA, Montreal’s two-day family-friendly sports festival, arrives at Olympic Park with tons of free activities, including sports try-outs, live music, games, workshops, and more.
🖼 Dennis Juneau’s D’espace et de couleur continues its exhibition at Galerie Simon Blais, tracing six decades of creative work.
🖼 50 years, 50 posters. Foil Gallery hosts a vernissage, uniting 28 studios and designers to celebrate and exhibit Quebec graphic design half a decade after the ‘76 Olympics.
🕺 Le Balcon throws a Back to the 80’s party, with Prince, Madonna, Bowie, and more.
🎧 New City Gas has its second Nuits Bazart, transforming into a celebration of Mediterranean music, art, and nightlife.
Saturday
🏒 The Habs preseason begins with split-squad games against Toronto.
👜 The Montreal Vintage Market returns with clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home decor, with 50+ vendors, a vinyl DJ, and more
📸 Regards Croisés sur l’Inde, a photo exhibit by photographer Justin Nault, comes to Brasserie Ayawan. Enjoy butter chicken and a set from DJ Iang in addition to Nault’s striking visuals.
🎹 Church of the Visitation presents its 2026 Commemoration Concert, with organist Marc-André Doran and the Montreal quintet Choros presenting works spanning the 18th century to the present day.
Keep reading “What To Do This Weekend (09.17-09.20)”
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