Things to do in Montreal during June
June in Montreal means sizzling street food, riverside DJ sets, open-air films, visiting jazz legends, and more.
Photograph: Eva BlueSpring’s just the warm-up in Montreal. Once summer hits, the city explodes with nonstop festivals, performances, and activities. One weekend, you’re dancing at Piknic Électronik; the next, you’re sipping sake at YATAI MTL or watching a mural take shape in real time on Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Downtown squares become drag stages, parks become outdoor cinemas, and a stroll through the Village might land you in the middle of a live painting session.
We’ve rounded up the best things to do during June in Montreal, some of the most iconic activities alongside ones on the fringe. Late-night jazz jams, socially conscious documentaries under the stars, experimental theatre that spills into the audience, front-row insights into the world’s next big ideas at a downtown conference—there's something here worth planning your summer around.
Here’s what to mark on your calendar this June.
Electro Sundays with Piknic Électronik
Every Sunday from May 18 onwards, Montreal’s famed electronic music program returns to Parc Jean-Drapeau with DJs, food stands, river views, and dancing that ranges from low-key to all-out. A beloved weekly ritual for electronic enthusiasts, Piknic Électronik is as much about community as it is about beats. Nonetheless, June’s DJ lineup won’t disappoint.
Festival TransAmériques: Reimagining performance
From May 22 to June 5, North America’s largest contemporary performing arts festival takes place in Montreal. Festival TransAmériques spans disciplines and features a lineup of performances that push the boundaries of form. From solo epics to immersive pieces blurring the border between audience and stage, expect bold experimentation in venues across the city.
Montreal Fringe Festival: 800 performances. Zero pretension.
From May 26 to June 15, the Montreal Fringe Festival brings over 500 artists and 800 performances to venues citywide, with indie theatre, dance, comedy, music, and circus performance on deck. At Fringe Park (June 5–15), the action spills outdoors with live music, drag races, and a lively beer tent. Affordable, uncurated, and unapologetically bold, Fringe remains one of the city’s most democratic festivals.
Jardins Gamelin: Free shows in the heart of the city
Kicking off May 30 and lasting through the summer, this downtown square offers live music, dance nights, drag shows, family programming, and more – all for free. Whether you're popping by for a lunch-break DJ set or catching a line dancing workshop after dark, Jardins Gamelin is where the city comes out to play.
Quebec Ocean Week: Tides of celebration
From June 1 to 8, Quebec joins a nationwide wave of events for Semaine de l’océan. Now in its sixth year, this province-wide festival dives deep into our relationship with the St. Lawrence and the sea beyond. From June 6 to 8, Montreal sees a stand-up comedy show, yoga workshop, shoreline clean-up, and “documentary circus” performance as part of official ocean week programming.
Playa Del Courant: A vacation village at the water's edge
Opening June 5, Village au Pied-du-Courant’s beachy riverside hangout with views of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge is equal parts urban oasis, creative hub, and community gathering spot. With a program of concerts, workshops, food trucks, and bonfire nights, Playa Del Courant feels like a summer camp for grown-ups. The vibe is laid-back and festive: Montreal’s own slice of vacation, no passport required.
YATAI MTL: Japanese street food, Montreal style
Running from June 5 to 8, this weekend food fest along the Lachine Canal offers everything from takoyaki to karaoke. A love letter to Japanese open-air food stalls, YATAI MTL presents an array of culinary kiosks serving up Japanese street food under string lights, plus dance performances, a shiba inu dog show, a mini Japanese tea ceremony, and more on the main stage.
MURAL Festival: Street art in real time
From June 5 to 15, Saint-Laurent Boulevard transforms into an open-air live-painting runway as local and international artists take over with murals, musical shows, and digital installations. This free public art festival is a celebration of urban creativity and art in motion. With open-air concerts, club nights, and art competitions on the program, it's no wonder MURAL Festival draws a global crowd.
Fest of the Fest: Six nights of off-the-wall improv
Running from June 5 to 14, Mile End Improv’s Fest of the Fest crashes the party, interrupting Fringe Fest with a six night program of shows, each featuring a different theme and concept. Running alongside Fringe’s official lineup, this rogue mini-fest (and 2024 Frankie nominee) is back with absurdity, chaos, and plenty of laughs.
Les Premiers Vendredis: Canada’s biggest street food event
On June 6 and 7, Les Premiers Vendredis transforms the Olympic Stadium into a bustling street food festival with over 50 food trucks and a lively, open-air ambience. The event returns for the first Friday and Saturday of every summer month, with each new edition celebrating a different cultural region with a rich culinary and musical program highlighting the diversity of Montreal’s many immigrant communities. Come hungry!
Promenade Wellington Sidewalk Sale: Block party meets bargain hunt
Running from June 6 to 8, Promenade Wellington’s annual sidewalk sale kicks off the summer season in style. Join the party as over 200 businesses spill out into the streets with special discounts and unique finds, along with fresh eats from local restaurants, bars, and terrases. With lively outdoor programming, pop-ups, and a festive community vibe, this three-day street sale is a neighborhood classic.
Polski Piknik Montreal: Pierogies, polka, and Polish pride
On June 7, Parc La Fontaine plays host to a one-day-only celebration of Polish culture at the Polski Piknik Polish Festival. Expect live music all day (ranging from Polish pop-rock to a full-on Freddie Mercury tribute) alongside traditional folk dance performances, family-friendly activities, artisan vendors, and a festive Polish food court packed with kielbasa, pastries, Żywiec beer, and more.
Total Market: A weekend of indie shopping
On June 7 and 8, browse handcrafted jewelry, upcycled fashion, and Montreal-made goods in a laid-back, inclusive space as Total Market returns to Église Saint-Jean Berchmans. With 45+ vendors offering a curated mix of local designers, artisans, and vintage gems, you’re bound to find something special.
Montreal Chamber Music Festival: Intimacy at its finest
From June 7 to 22, the Montreal Chamber Music Festival brings world-class musicians to the city to share the intimate magic of classical and jazz chamber music. The lineup features a blend of established stars, rising talents, and inventive collaborations across classical and contemporary repertoire. The festival seeks to make chamber music accessible and enjoyable, offering free performances and community-oriented programming.
Conférence de Montréal: Big ideas, global voices
From June 9 to 11, the Conférence de Montréal gathers global thinkers, leaders, and policymakers to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. With 150+ speakers from over 40 countries, this influential forum dives deep into issues like economic transformation, sustainability, and tech innovation. It’s a rare chance to hear what’s next from those shaping the future, right in the heart of downtown.
Grand Prix Weekend: Speed meets style
From June 13 to 15, Grand Prix weekend turns downtown Montreal into a luxury street party. Important downtown streets like Peel and Crescent are taken over by celebratory pop-up lounges, live music venues, and cocktail gardens while on-site viewing zones, official lounges, and sponsored terrasses get you closest to the F1 action. Come for the cars, stay for the spectacle.
Festival sur le Canal: A laid-back community festival
From June 13 to 15, the banks of the Lachine Canal come alive for Festival sur le Canal, a free annual community celebration. This family-friendly weekend features open-air concerts by local artists and food vendors in a casual atmosphere. Catch great music, try something tasty, and spend the day soaking up the scene.Festival sur le Canal: A laid-back community festival
Les Francos de Montréal: Celebrating francophone sounds
From June 13 to 21, francophone culture takes centre stage at Les Francos, a music festival presenting 100+ French-language artists lighting up downtown stages. With free, paid, indoor, and outdoor shows spanning countless genres, this festival is an unbridled celebration of francophone musical culture.
Bleu soir by Cinéma Public: Outdoor cinema, all summer long
Kicking off June 18 and running into August, Cinéma Public and Livart team up once more for Bleu Soir, a dreamy series of outdoor film screenings in the sleek Livart courtyard. The full summer lineup is still under wraps, but expect bold cinema, balmy nights, and an atmosphere that makes you linger long after the credits roll.
Fête nationale du Québec: Summer in full swing
On June 24, Montreal comes alive with music, fireworks, and open-air festivities for the Fête nationale. City parks and neighbourhood squares fill up for all-day revelry while the annual parade spills through the city streets, ending in Maisonneuve Park. Whether you’re cheering on the parade, gathering around a bonfire, or just soaking in the atmosphere, it’s a night when the city fills with celebratory energy.
Cinéma sous les étoiles: Films that spark conversation
Kicking off on June 25, Cinéma sous les étoiles presents a free, outdoor summer film series that brings powerful social, political, and environmental documentaries to parks all over Montreal. Each screening comes with post-film discussions, so you can process what you just watched with filmmakers and fellow cinephiles. This is cinema made accessible, social, and educational.
Montreal Jazz Fest: From legends to late-night jams
From June 26 to July 5, the biggest jazz festival in the world descends on the city. With a program of over 350 musical events ranging from upscale concert hall performances to free open-air shows, you can go from classic, soulful sounds to experimental, hybrid performances in one night. Montreal Jazz Fest pulls in legends, innovators, and genre-benders from across the globe, making it an essential experience for every music lover.
Mtl en Arts: Village streets become a gallery
From June 27 to July 1, the Village transforms into a huge open-air art fair. Mtl en Arts brings together over 100 artists for five days of live painting, interactive installations, and open-air exhibitions. This community oriented celebration of art offers something for everyone, from seasoned visual art collectors to kids dabbling in creative workshops.
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