Inside C2 Montréal 2025: What to expect, who to see, and how to make the most of It

It's the Montreal mind-meld that doesn’t feel like work.

Every spring, C2 Montréal pulls off a three-day business conference that feels more like a cultural experiment. Picture this: an internationally acclaimed slam poet opens for a Shopify executive. An urban planner debates an AI ethicist under the glow of an interactive art installation. You’re sipping coffee on the Saint Lawrence as someone pitches you a joint venture from a beanbag chair.

For its 14th edition, C2 is setting up shop once again at the Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal, turning the city’s waterfront into a full-blown playground for ideas. It’s part festival, part think tank, part very-productive-field-trip. Here to make a deal? Shift your perspective? Just see what happens when the creative and corporate collide?

This guide breaks it down, from what to bring and who to see to where to sneak off for a good meal. We’ve got you covered.

The Basics: When, where, what matters and why

• Location: Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal
• Dates: May 20–22, 2025
• Passes: Available now, with early discounts still live (for now)

This year’s C2 campus takes over the Grand Quay—an airy, light-filled venue on the edge of Old Montreal with views of the Saint Lawrence and just enough post-industrial grit to keep it from feeling too polished. It’s easy to get to by metro (see: Place d'Armes or Square Victoria-OACI stations), bike, or taxi, and the layout’s designed for mingling, recharging, and spontaneous hallway breakthroughs.

What makes C2 different from other business events? It’s not just the programming which blends panels, workshops, and immersive labs—it’s the collision of disciplines. One minute you’re talking brand identity with a TikTok designer, the next you’re in a workshop on circular economies led by an organic farmer and an architect.

Also: Don’t sleep on the C2 Experts. These are your on-site lifelines—think concierge, guide, and walking rolodex rolled into one. They can help you navigate the app, find the right session, or just point you to the good coffee.

Which C2 Pass Is Right for You?

C2 doesn’t just offer one-size-fits-all access. If you’re diving in for all three days or popping in for a high-impact hit of inspiration, there’s a pass that fits your bandwidth—and your budget.

Essential Pass (3 days)

Gives you access to all conferences, workshops, labs, and Braindates. This is the “do everything” pass, designed for people looking to go deep and wide—whether that means back-to-back talks or spontaneous rooftop strategy sessions. 

C2 Experience Pass (1 or 3 days)

Same full access, but with a more flexible option for those who can’t commit to the full three-day stretch. Good if you want a quick immersion without clearing your calendar.

Access Pass

A more affordable option designed for startups, nonprofits, and emerging professionals. Programming access is slightly limited, but it still puts you in the room—and in the network.

No, you can’t tag-team a pass with your co-founder or colleague. Each one is assigned to a single person, and with the C2 app tracking your sessions and profile, it’s built to be personal.

The good news? When the full schedule drops (which happens each year mid-April), you’ll be able to plan your agenda down to the minute. Just make sure your C2 profile’s dialled in, because people will actually read it at this conference.

The talks you’ll be quoting all year

C2’s conference lineup is big. Like, “three floors of simultaneous programming” big.

But certain sessions already stand out—not just for the names on stage, but for the questions they’re asking and the conversations they’re likely to spark long after the lights go down.

Noe that all of this is really just a taste. You’ll also find talks on branding, storytelling, city-building, fandom, failure, and the future of hockey. Feeling like you're missing out on something while having the time of your life is real at C2, so plan accordingly.

Here are a few that should be on your radar:

How Do You Turn a City Into a Stage—and a River Into a Story?

Tuesday, May 20 | 9:00–9:40 AM | Link

With: Thierry Reboul, Thomas Jolly, Anne-Marie Withenshaw

Olympic artistic directors dig into how cities become characters—and how storytelling shapes place, politics, and people.

Luna Luna: The Return of the World’s First Art Amusement Park

Tuesday, May 20 | 10:30–11:20 AM | Link

With: Michael Goldberg

The wild true story of resurrecting a lost 1980s art carnival—with original installations by Basquiat, Haring, and more. A masterclass in creative risk.

Winning in the Attention Economy

Tuesday, May 20 | 11:30 AM–12:00 PM | Link

With: Alec Chapados, Leo Ramlall, Anthony William Shannon

How do you actually get people to care? These founders are building tools—and brands—for a world where attention is currency.

Some Stories Aren’t Told. They’re Entered.

Tuesday, May 20 | 2:00–2:35 PM | Link

With: Félix Lajeunesse, Paul Raphaël, Sean Stanleigh

From VR to immersive journalism, this is about narrative that wraps around you. By the minds behind Felix & Paul Studios.

What Happens When We Stop Rushing—And Start Listening?

Wednesday, May 21 | 1:15–1:45 PM | Link

With: Alexandra Stréliski, Jean-Martin Fortier

A minimalist composer and a regenerative farmer walk into a conference. A rare, meditative pause on creativity, attention, and slowness as strategy.

The Butterfly Effect of AI on Society and the Planet

Thursday, May 22 | 2:30–3:15 PM | Link

With: Sasha Luccioni, Sandra Rodriguez

Where tech meets climate meets ethics. This one’s for the realists and the futurists, and the blurry space in between.

Labs, installations, and the 'weird' side of business

At most conferences, you sit. You watch. You clap politely. At C2, someone might hand you a blindfold and ask how fear shapes your leadership style. Or drop you into a multi-sensory room built to test your decision-making under pressure. Or ask you to prototype a better economy out of scrap cardboard and coloured string.

This is the Labs experience—part workshop, part creative sandbox, part corporate therapy. They’re designed to get you out of your head and into a new mode of thinking. Expect to be challenged, disoriented, and occasionally inspired by what your own brain comes up with when a strategist, a neuroscientist, and a circus performer hand you a prompt and say “Go.”

C2 doesn’t just put people in the same room—it structures collision. Whether it’s a curated Braindate, a facilitated workshop, or a chance encounter over espresso at the Grand Quay, the setup invites actual exchange. Not just “What do you do?” but “What are you working on that actually scares you a little?”

The best connections at C2 often happen in the gaps—between panels, during a pause, after something weird. The programming is rich, but the in-between is where a lot of the magic lives. Come with a plan, but leave space to follow the conversation wherever it goes.

Where to eat, stay, and decompress between sessions

C2 may take place in its own ecosystem of ideas and installations, but it’s still happening in Montreal—a city that doesn’t really do bland, especially when it comes to food, hotels, or after-hours energy. Between sessions, you’re going to want a break. Here’s where to go when you need good coffee, a proper meal, a soft bed, or a reminder that there’s a world beyond your name tag.

Because C2 is immersive. But Montreal is expansive. Make room for both.

Where to eat

You’re steps away from some of the best food in the city—whether you’re grabbing bánh mì between panels or sitting down for oysters and orange wine after a long day of talking. Our full guide has options for all budgets and timeframes.

• Read: The best restaurants in Montreal

Where to stay

Staying close to the Grand Quay makes everything smoother, but a few metro stops can open up better views, better vibes, and better rates. Boutique hotels, design-forward digs, and business-class comfort—our hotel guide has it all.

• Read: The best hotels in Montreal

Where to explore

If you’re building in an extra day—or just want to decompress with a walk, museum, or pop-up show—we’ve rounded up the best things happening in the city this month.

• Read: The best things to do in Montreal during May

FAQ — What First-Timers Always Ask

Can I share my pass with a colleague or friend?

Nope. Each pass is assigned to one person only. This isn’t a gym membership—your C2 experience is tied to your profile, your sessions, and your connections.

Is C2 only for entrepreneurs or startup founders?

Not even close. You’ll find creatives, execs, policy makers, scientists, restaurateurs, and people figuring it out as they go. If you’re interested in what’s next—for business, culture, cities, or tech—you’ll fit.

Do I need to speak both French and English?

No. Many sessions are bilingual, and others are clearly marked as either French or English. There’s a solid balance, and most attendees are used to switching between both.

What should I wear?

Whatever makes you feel like yourself—on your best day. You’ll see everything from sneakers and blazers to bold fits and low-key linen. Comfort is key, especially if you’re moving between Labs.

Will I actually meet people?

Yes. If you show up, fill out your profile, and say yes to the awkward-but-interesting stuff (Braindates, workshops, asking someone where they got their jacket), you will.

Do I need to book sessions in advance?

Some Labs and Braindates fill up, so once the schedule opens in April, it’s worth locking in your picks early. Otherwise, go with the flow—but move quickly if something catches your eye.

Why C2 Montréal works

It’s easy to roll your eyes at conferences. Especially ones that talk about “disruption” and “innovation” while handing out branded tote bags.

But C2 Montréal tends to disarm even the most skeptical attendees—not because it’s perfect, but because it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s messy, ambitious, over-the-top, and occasionally absurd. And somehow, that’s the point.

You’re not here to collect bullet points. You’re here to hear something that jolts you awake. To meet someone who shifts your thinking. To remember that ideas are built in conversation—not just in keynote slides or Slack threads.

What makes C2 work isn’t the scale or the speakers (though both are impressive). It’s the fact that it creates the conditions for real exchange—between industries, disciplines, languages, and people who don’t usually sit at the same table. And in a city that thrives on that kind of cross-pollination, it makes perfect sense.

Show up curious. Leave your script at the door. Something always happens.