The Main

Montreal's Cultural Directory

Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

Leave feedback

For partnerships and collaborations:

partnerships@themain.com

Content

  • Articles
  • Food & Drink
  • Arts & Culture
  • History Lesson
  • Bulletin
  • Events

Guides

  • All Guides
  • Best Restaurants
  • Best Cafés
  • Best Bars
  • Best Brunch
  • Best Bakeries

Explore Montreal

  • Browse Directory
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Cafés
  • Bookstores
  • Leaderboard
  • Editor's Picks
  • New Places

About

  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Advertise
  • Pitch us
  • RSS Feed

Legal

  • Terms of service
  • Membership Terms
  • Privacy Policy
Follow us
InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office

    Your cart

    Your cart is empty.

    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores
    • Leaderboard
    • Editor's Picks
    • New Places

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
    InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office

      Your cart

      Your cart is empty.

      --°C|Tuesday, May 19, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      |
      EN/FR
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Sections
      • Arts & Culture
      • Beyond Montreal
      • Design
      • Food & Drink
      • History Lessons
      • The Bulletin
      Explore
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      ShopWeather
      Subscribe
      Subscribe
      --°C|Tuesday, May 19, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      |
      EN/FR
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Sections
      • Arts & Culture
      • Beyond Montreal
      • Design
      • Food & Drink
      • History Lessons
      • The Bulletin
      Explore
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      ShopWeather
      Subscribe
      Subscribe

      More Arts & Culture

      The SAT Turns 30 With a Full-Building Celebration of Music and Digital Culture
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      The SAT Turns 30 With a Full-Building Celebration of Music and Digital Culture

      The Futurs Antérieurs celebration brings 30+ artists across three floors for two nights marking three decades of immersive art, electronic music, and technological experimentation.

      A Local's Guide to Little Italy
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      A Local's Guide to Little Italy

      The neighbourhood that turned a century of immigration into one of Montreal's most rewarding places to eat, drink, and spend an afternoon.

      Balls Up Wastes a Great Comedy Setup on Mark Wahlberg
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      Balls Up Wastes a Great Comedy Setup on Mark Wahlberg

      Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser’s World Cup farce revives the spirit of mid-budget studio comedies, but Peter Farrelly’s latest mistakes noise, repetition, and celebrity presence for actual chemistry.

      What To Do This Weekend (05.14–05.17)
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      What To Do This Weekend (05.14–05.17)

      From music festivals and playoff hockey to comic arts and punk rock: May 14 to 17, 2026.

      A Local's Guide to Mile End
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      A Local's Guide to Mile End

      The neighbourhood that keeps reinventing itself without losing the plot.

      Michael Turns the King of Pop Into a Corporate Tribute Act
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      Michael Turns the King of Pop Into a Corporate Tribute Act

      Antoine Fuqua’s long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic reduces one of pop music’s most complicated figures to a glossy impersonation stitched together from hit songs and approved mythology.

      More Arts & Culture

      The SAT Turns 30 With a Full-Building Celebration of Music and Digital Culture
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      The SAT Turns 30 With a Full-Building Celebration of Music and Digital Culture

      The Futurs Antérieurs celebration brings 30+ artists across three floors for two nights marking three decades of immersive art, electronic music, and technological experimentation.

      A Local's Guide to Little Italy
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      A Local's Guide to Little Italy

      The neighbourhood that turned a century of immigration into one of Montreal's most rewarding places to eat, drink, and spend an afternoon.

      Balls Up Wastes a Great Comedy Setup on Mark Wahlberg
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      Balls Up Wastes a Great Comedy Setup on Mark Wahlberg

      Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser’s World Cup farce revives the spirit of mid-budget studio comedies, but Peter Farrelly’s latest mistakes noise, repetition, and celebrity presence for actual chemistry.

      What To Do This Weekend (05.14–05.17)
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      What To Do This Weekend (05.14–05.17)

      From music festivals and playoff hockey to comic arts and punk rock: May 14 to 17, 2026.

      A Local's Guide to Mile End
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      A Local's Guide to Mile End

      The neighbourhood that keeps reinventing itself without losing the plot.

      Michael Turns the King of Pop Into a Corporate Tribute Act
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      Michael Turns the King of Pop Into a Corporate Tribute Act

      Antoine Fuqua’s long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic reduces one of pop music’s most complicated figures to a glossy impersonation stitched together from hit songs and approved mythology.

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Project Hail Mary Makes the Case That Cooperation Beats Survival
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      Project Hail Mary Makes the Case That Cooperation Beats Survival

      Hope isn’t a quality most blockbusters lean on anymore. Project Hail Mary builds an entire mission around it, and against all odds, it works.

      Your Guide to Grand Prix Weekend in Montreal
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      Your Guide to Grand Prix Weekend in Montreal

      What to watch, where to eat, and why this city makes the Canadian Grand Prix unlike any other stop on the F1 calendar.

      A Local's Guide to the Plateau
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      A Local's Guide to the Plateau

      A complete guide to the neighbourhood that launched a thousand opinions (and earned every one of them).

      Gore Verbinski's Gloriously Unhinged AI Movie Is a Mess Worth Making
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      Gore Verbinski's Gloriously Unhinged AI Movie Is a Mess Worth Making

      Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die both comments on and replicates technological overload in this unhinged sci-fi comedy about an AI gone rogue.

      Your 2026 Guide to Palomosa
      Arts & Culture
      The Main

      Your 2026 Guide to Palomosa

      MGMT, Fakemink, Hannah Diamond, and more at Parc Jean-Drapeau this May.

      Our Picks of the Best Shows for this year's Jazz Fest
      Arts & Culture
      The Main

      Our Picks of the Best Shows for This Year's Jazz Fest

      From three jazz centennials to J Dilla, Willow, and UZEB at 50, the 2026 festival's best bets across free stages and ticketed venues.

      Arts & Culture

      Things to Do in Montreal This May

      From cider crawls and kimono parades to DJ-fuelled Sundays and neighbourhood street festivals—Montreal in May doesn’t slow down.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      May 1, 2026 · 6 min read

      Things to Do in Montreal This May
      Photograph: Café Collectif / Official

      The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

      Spring’s in full swing, and May is when Montreal officially remembers how to party. Things have warmed up, literally and figuratively, as locals and tourists can both enjoy the rising action of deep spring before the climax of summer.

      Sounds hyperbolic, we know, but it really ain't.

      Anyway: One look at this round-up of things to do in Montreal during May, and it's clear: The sun’s got stamina, the festivals start stacking, and every park bench suddenly looks like a runway. This is when terrasses fill up before noon, porches double as stages, and even the alleys feel like venues in disguise. Whether you’re sipping saké during Japan Week, catching reggaeton at Fuego Fuego, or shopping local at Marché ASIASIE, the city’s energy shifts from thawing out to showing up.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Comments

      1
      1 comment loaded

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      All Comments

      A
      Anonymous
      Apr 30, 2026

      MCAF is actually May 15-17, as per their website.

      Loading replies...
      Follow on Google

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Project Hail Mary Makes the Case That Cooperation Beats Survival
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      Project Hail Mary Makes the Case That Cooperation Beats Survival

      Hope isn’t a quality most blockbusters lean on anymore. Project Hail Mary builds an entire mission around it, and against all odds, it works.

      Your Guide to Grand Prix Weekend in Montreal
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      Your Guide to Grand Prix Weekend in Montreal

      What to watch, where to eat, and why this city makes the Canadian Grand Prix unlike any other stop on the F1 calendar.

      A Local's Guide to the Plateau
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      A Local's Guide to the Plateau

      A complete guide to the neighbourhood that launched a thousand opinions (and earned every one of them).

      Gore Verbinski's Gloriously Unhinged AI Movie Is a Mess Worth Making
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      Gore Verbinski's Gloriously Unhinged AI Movie Is a Mess Worth Making

      Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die both comments on and replicates technological overload in this unhinged sci-fi comedy about an AI gone rogue.

      Your 2026 Guide to Palomosa
      Arts & Culture
      The Main

      Your 2026 Guide to Palomosa

      MGMT, Fakemink, Hannah Diamond, and more at Parc Jean-Drapeau this May.

      Our Picks of the Best Shows for this year's Jazz Fest
      Arts & Culture
      The Main

      Our Picks of the Best Shows for This Year's Jazz Fest

      From three jazz centennials to J Dilla, Willow, and UZEB at 50, the 2026 festival's best bets across free stages and ticketed venues.

      Arts & Culture

      Things to Do in Montreal This May

      From cider crawls and kimono parades to DJ-fuelled Sundays and neighbourhood street festivals—Montreal in May doesn’t slow down.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      May 1, 2026 · 6 min read

      Things to Do in Montreal This May
      Photograph: Café Collectif / Official

      The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

      Spring’s in full swing, and May is when Montreal officially remembers how to party. Things have warmed up, literally and figuratively, as locals and tourists can both enjoy the rising action of deep spring before the climax of summer.

      Sounds hyperbolic, we know, but it really ain't.

      Anyway: One look at this round-up of things to do in Montreal during May, and it's clear: The sun’s got stamina, the festivals start stacking, and every park bench suddenly looks like a runway. This is when terrasses fill up before noon, porches double as stages, and even the alleys feel like venues in disguise. Whether you’re sipping saké during Japan Week, catching reggaeton at Fuego Fuego, or shopping local at Marché ASIASIE, the city’s energy shifts from thawing out to showing up.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Comments

      1
      1 comment loaded

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      All Comments

      A
      Anonymous
      Apr 30, 2026

      MCAF is actually May 15-17, as per their website.

      Loading replies...
      Follow on Google
      A Local's Guide to the Plateau

      Previous

      A Local's Guide to the Plateau

      Next

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli
      A Local's Guide to the Plateau

      Previous

      A Local's Guide to the Plateau

      Next

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureThe SAT Turns 30 With a Full-Building Celebration of Music and Digital CultureArts & CultureA Local's Guide to Little ItalyNewsletterThe Bulletin: Porchside Music Crawls, Springtime Dancing, and Soju at the Bookstore [Issue #181]OpinionTim Hortons Lost Canada Long Before Dunkin’ ArrivedArts & CultureBalls Up Wastes a Great Comedy Setup on Mark Wahlberg

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureThe SAT Turns 30 With a Full-Building Celebration of Music and Digital CultureArts & CultureA Local's Guide to Little ItalyNewsletterThe Bulletin: Porchside Music Crawls, Springtime Dancing, and Soju at the Bookstore [Issue #181]OpinionTim Hortons Lost Canada Long Before Dunkin’ ArrivedArts & CultureBalls Up Wastes a Great Comedy Setup on Mark Wahlberg