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.
It’s not just about the big-ticket blowouts either. Some of the best things to do in Montreal this month are gloriously low-commitment—free pop-up concerts, cider tastings, high-and-low-brow art, and street parties that feel more like neighbourhood secrets. If some of this is out of your reach there's a lot of cheap things to do in Montreal under $20 as well.
Here’s what’s worth stepping outside for—and maybe even calling in sick to stick around a little longer.
Japan Week 2025: Montreal meets the rising sun
Running from May 1 to 10, 2026, Japan Week returns with an 11-day lineup that reaches far beyond ramen. Over 40 Montreal businesses—think izakayas, matcha bars, manga cafés—are offering special menus, pop-ups, and hands-on workshops. Don’t miss the CHIBI Japanese Market on May 7 to 10, or the Akita and Shiba dog parade and kimono stroll on May 2. It’s the kind of soft-power cultural takeover you don’t want to miss.
La Pizza Week: Pie-curious? Here’s your excuse
From May 1 to 10, Montreal’s pizza scene throws down. Chefs across the city are given carte blanche to dream up wild, one-off pies—from kimchi-and-crème fraîche numbers to deep-dish reinterpretations. The public eats, votes, and repeats. Each slice sold during La Pizza Week helps support the Make-A-Wish Foundation, so you can feel good about carb loading.
Café Collectif: A weekend of artful caffeination
Photograph: Café Collectif
Over May 1 to 3, the Société des Arts Technologiques turns into a coffee lover’s playground. Café Collectif brings together Quebec’s specialty roasters, baristas, and bean geeks for two days of tastings, workshops, latte art battles, and panel talks. Whether you’re deep into roast profiles or just want to learn the difference between a pour-over and a flat white, this festival’s got something to perk you up.
La semaine du cidre du Québec: 10 sparkling days
From May 7 to 17, cider gets its moment with La semaine du cidre. Quebec’s orchards, bars, and restaurants are in on it, offering free tastings, brunch pairings, cocktail workshops, and the kind of fizzy, apple-forward experiences that make spring feel celebratory. Whether you’re sipping a crisp brut or more experimental on the scene, this week is one big ode to fermentation done right.
Marché ASIASIE: A pan-Asian cultural feast
From May 7 to 10, Time Out Market fills with the smells, sounds, and stories of Asia. Marché ASIASIE brings together more than 40 vendors—from Cambodian jewellers and Filipino chefs to Japanese calligraphers and Indian spice purveyors. Come for the snacks, stay for the panels on Asian identity in digital spaces, and don’t miss the opening night.
Palomosa: Montreal's festival summer opener
Palomosa has spent two editions at Parc Jean-Drapeau programming for the internet generation—not as a gimmick, but as a genuine curatorial instinct that has brought M.I.A., Gesaffelstein, and Jai Paul to the island. The 2026 edition makes a calendar move, shifting from September to May 14 to 16 and staking a claim on the front end of the season before Osheaga and LASSO lock down August.
The three-day bill runs from a $17.60 Thursday block party with Chippy Nonstop and Tommy Holohan through a Friday headlined by MGMT in DJ mode and Hannah Diamond, closing Saturday with Fakemink—the 21-year-old British rapper fresh off a Drake co-sign and a Coachella debut—plus Dylan Brady of 100 gecs and Thaiboy Digital. A three-day Palopass is $79. Gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; the secondary stage starts immediately, so don't show up late.
Finish “Things to Do in Montreal This May”
The Main is Montreal's city magazine. We write the stories about this city nobody else is telling.
We're independent and reader-supported. Your support keeps us going.
Your email costs you nothing and opens the rest of this story now. It also means the next one reaches you on a Thursday, instead of disappearing into a feed.
No password. No payment. Opens instantly.
Already a member? Sign in
Comments
1Welcome to The Main's comments section!
Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.
All Comments
MCAF is actually May 15-17, as per their website.