Montreal’s nightlife is part of the city’s DNA. What happens after dark here defines how the city feels, sounds, and even sees itself.

And yet, the scene in the midst of a cultural mutation as bars close earlier, younger generations drink less, and the city’s underground fights to stay afloat between rising rents and tightening regulations. The Paris of North America ain't what it used to be, and between venues doing their darnedest to make this town feel alive and festivals trying to adapt what happens after dark, we're experiencing a referendum both spoken and not on how, and for whom, Montreal works.

Ahead of the 2025 municipal election, The Main asked every party how they plan to support the city’s nightlife economy, from bars and clubs to late-night cultural spaces. We also asked whether they’d extend metro hours, how they’d balance noise complaints with vibrancy, and what role the city should play in protecting Montreal’s after-dark culture.

Montreal’s nightlife is part of the city’s DNA. What happens after dark here defines how the city feels, sounds, and even sees itself.

And yet, the scene in the midst of a cultural mutation as bars close earlier, younger generations drink less, and the city’s underground fights to stay afloat between rising rents and tightening regulations. The Paris of North America ain't what it used to be, and between venues doing their darnedest to make this town feel alive and festivals trying to adapt what happens after dark, we're experiencing a referendum both spoken and not on how, and for whom, Montreal works.

Ahead of the 2025 municipal election, The Main asked every party how they plan to support the city’s nightlife economy, from bars and clubs to late-night cultural spaces. We also asked whether they’d extend metro hours, how they’d balance noise complaints with vibrancy, and what role the city should play in protecting Montreal’s after-dark culture.