The best things to do in Montreal during September

The best things to do in Montreal during September reveal how the city gets its second wind. The amount of best festivals in Montreal shrink, but get stranger. The crowds thin, but linger longer.

We trade the chaos of summer for something slower, sharper—packed with good eating, wild visuals, and cultural pivots. September is when you see what the city’s really made of: alleyway shows, dancing late with the best nightlife in Montreal, literary throwdowns, crawls through the best galleries, block parties, country takeovers, and enough dumplings, burgers, and fermented foods to keep your gut biome steady until fall start.

If you’re the kind of person who gets sad about summer ending, this list is your cure.

JOAT Festival: Montreal’s high-voltage street dance showdown

From August 26 to September 1, the JOAT Festival brings street dance centre stage with a stacked program of battles, performances, workshops, and live beatmaking. With over 250 artists, it’s a pulse-pounding celebration of popping, breaking, hip hop, krump, and more. Founded by local dance legend Handy “HYA” Yacinthe, JOAT champions street dance as both cultural force and communal language.

Le Burger Week: Montreal’s juiciest week of the year

From September 1 to 7, dozens of local restaurants get saucy for Le Burger Week’s 13th edition. This citywide celebration of all things patty and bun brings out inventive creations alongside timeless favourites—from brisket-stacked behemoths to vegan delights. Diners can vote for their favourites and support neighbourhood spots in the process.

FAR Festival: Alleyway stages and neighbourly vibes

From August 23 to September 7, FAR (Festival des arts de ruelle) takes performance art to the streets—literally. This multidisciplinary festival transforms back alleys into intimate cultural venues across Montreal, offering music, theatre, dance, and storytelling in the most unexpected places. It’s grassroots, joyful, and entirely free.

Palomosa Festival: A vibrant weekend of rhythm and release

From September 4 to 6, Palomosa Festival takes over Parc Jean-Drapeau with an energetic mix of pop, rock, R&B, Latin, and electronic music. Born from the legacy of MEG Montreal, this new gathering keeps the spirit alive with a genre-blurring lineup and a joyful, all-welcome vibe. It’s a rhythmic reminder of just how colourful Montreal’s music scene can be.

Festival Quartiers Danses: Contemporary dance takes to the streets

From September 4 to September 14, Festival Quartiers Danses returns with ten days of contemporary dance, inside and out. From Place des Arts to unexpected venues like museums, public markets, and daycares, the festival brings movement into the fabric of the city. The lineup includes stage shows, short film screenings, and free outdoor performances across Montreal.

L’Okto de Repentigny: Local beer meets Bavarian flair

From September 5 to 7, Repentigny’s Parc de l’Île-Lebel transforms into a festive playground for the 18th edition of this beloved Oktoberfest celebration. Expect local microbrews, live music, hearty eats, carnival rides, and a whole lot of gemütlichkeit. Come for the pretzels, stay for the Valadez Band’s Sublime tribute.

Art Tattoo Montréal: 200+ artists, one buzzing weekend

From September 5 to 7, tattoo enthusiasts from around the globe converge at the Old Port for Art Tattoo Montréal’s 21st edition. Featuring on-site tattooing, exhibitions, music, contests, and gear, it’s a vibrant celebration of inked artistry—and a great chance to finally commit to that sleeve.

First Fridays: The grand finale of street food season

On September 6, Olympic Park hosts the final First Fridays of the year, bringing together dozens of food trucks, outdoor bars, and live music for one last blowout. The monthly festival is Canada’s largest street food gathering, with international flavours, cultural showcases, and a celebratory vibe that draws thousands. Come hungry, leave happy.

MOMENTA Biennale: In praise of the missing image

From September 5 to October 19, MOMENTA Biennale d’art contemporain returns to 15 venues across the city. This year’s theme explores absence, memory, and the unseen, with 23 artists from 15 countries presenting installations, images, and provocations. Expect a citywide reflection on how we see—and what we don’t.

An Evening with Phil Rosenthal: Stories, laughs, and food memories

On September 5 at 7 p.m., L’Olympia welcomes the creator of Somebody Feed Phil for a night of behind-the-scenes anecdotes and audience Q&A. Expect culinary tales, TV industry wisdom, and maybe even a few Raymond-era throwbacks—all delivered with Rosenthal’s signature warmth and humour.

Montreal Ukrainian Festival: 25 years of heritage and heart

On September 6, the Montreal Ukrainian Festival marks 25 years of culture, music, and community in Parc Maisonneuve. One of the largest Ukrainian celebrations in Canada, the day-long event features dozens of performers, from classical opera singers and folk choirs to zabava bands and dance troupes. There’s also handmade crafts, traditional food, and a heritage fashion show showcasing embroidered Ukrainian costumes.

Martinique Gourmande: A culinary island hop

From September 9 to 21, more than 50 Quebec restaurants and bars spotlight Martinican flavours in celebration of the island’s culinary heritage. Dishes and cocktails inspired by the Caribbean take centre stage at spots like Kamúy, Maison Boulud, and India Rosa. It’s like booking a tropical getaway—no passport required.

Evenings on Du Musée Avenue: Cinema under the stars

On September 10 at 7:30 p.m., the MMFA and MUBI present a free outdoor screening of Marie-Antoinette by Sofia Coppola on Du Musée Avenue. With bar service and popcorn on hand, this open-air night at the movies wraps summer in pastel tones and powdered wigs.

TEMPÉO: Five nights of music, rhythm, and open-air dancing

From September 10 to September 14, TEMPÉO takes over the Esplanade at Place des Arts with five evenings of music and open-air dancing. Each night showcases a different genre—funk, Eastern pop, country, Afro-pop, salsa—led by live musicians and pro dancers who'll get the party started and keep it moving.

JACKALOPE: Canada’s wildest action sports weekend returns

From September 12 to September 14, JACKALOPE brings three days of high-flying, rail-grinding, crowd-roaring action to the Old Port. Now in its 12th edition, this is Canada’s biggest festival dedicated to skateboarding, bouldering, BASE jumping, BMX, breaking, and more—featuring international athletes, adrenaline-pumping competitions, and a full-on village of food trucks, concerts, and pop-up shops. Whether you’re a hardcore fan or just action-sport curious, this one hits different.

MANGETOUT: A bold new festival reimagining how we eat

From September 12 to 13, the team behind Les Lauriers launches MANGETOUT—a new kind of food festival blending culinary creativity, cultural commentary, and sensory exploration. Held at the SAT and presented by Lightspeed, the two-day program features panel discussions, hands-on workshops, wild demos, and immersive installations on the future of food. With names like Patrice Demers, Jean-Michel Leblond, Stefani Bardin, and Paul Toussaint involved, expect surprise flavours, big ideas, and a banquet that ends in culinary improvisation.

Ferment Fest: Celebrating the magic of microbes

On September 13 and 14, Ferment Fest returns to Marché Jean-Talon with two full days of kimchi, kombucha, sourdough, and more. Visitors can sample fermented goods, attend free talks, and join hands-on workshops exploring gut health and age-old food traditions. Funky flavours guaranteed.

RuPaul DJ Set @ OfF Piknic: Werk the decks

On September 13, the one and only RuPaul takes the stage at Parc Jean-Drapeau for a headline DJ set that promises disco, house, and high-energy vibes. Presented by OfF Piknic, this rare chance to dance with the queen herself is already shaping up to be one of the summer’s wildest nights.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal: Pure road racing drama

On September 14, the world’s cycling elite battle it out on the demanding slopes of Mount Royal in the only UCI WorldTour race held in the Americas. With 150 riders covering nearly 210 km, the action is fast, gruelling, and completely free to watch from the sidelines.

Dumpling Fest Montreal: Four hours of doughy delight

On September 17, join Tasting Plates for a dumpling crawl through the Plateau, featuring tasting plates from multiple restaurants. From Nepalese momos to Filipino lumpia, this self-guided tour is a global sampler of pocketed perfection. Advance ticket purchase required.

SHÉRIF: Country heat at the Old Port

From September 19 to 21, the Old Port transforms into a southern-style celebration of country music, BBQ, line dancing, and cowboy spirit. This year’s Shérif Festival adds DJ sets to the lineup, plus a mechanical bull, kids’ games, and plenty of smoked meat to go around.

Montreal Canadiens Preseason: Back on the ice

From September 22 to 30, the Habs warm up for the 2025–26 season with home games against Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Ottawa. Preseason or not, Bell Centre will be buzzing with returning fans—and maybe a few prospects looking to make their mark.

POP Montreal: Indie spirit with citywide impact

From September 24 to 28, POP Montreal brings together over 400 artists for a five-day blowout of music, film, art, and culture. From sweaty late-night shows to thoughtful daytime panels, this festival is as much about creative community as it is about catching your new favourite band. Don’t skip Puces POP, Film POP, or Kids POP.

MAPP_MTL: Cities as canvases

From September 24 to 27, projection mapping lights up Montreal for MAPP’s 10th edition. This more intimate year doubles as a fundraiser to help keep the festival alive, with installations and programming at Moment Factory and Caserne 26. Expect bold visual art, experimental sound, and urban storytelling at its most luminous.

Montreal International Black Film Festival: Stories that resonate

From September 24 to 29, the Montreal International Black Film Festival returns with screenings from around the globe. Now in its 21st edition, it remains North America’s only bilingual Black film festival, showcasing fresh, urgent cinema in both French and English. Expect big voices, raw talent, and stories that matter.

Montreal Fashion Week: Style across the city

From September 23 to 30, Montreal Fashion Week turns the city into one big catwalk. Designers, schools, retailers, and creative collectives are invited to stage shows, pop-ups, and installations, with events spread across Montreal and beyond. It’s fashion that feels close to home—and to the future.

Festival international de littérature (FIL): When words take centre stage

From September 24 to October 4, FIL returns with readings, performances, exhibits, and roundtables featuring nearly 200 artists and authors from around the world. From literature to dance to music, it’s a multidisciplinary celebration of language in all its forms, rooted in the heart of downtown.

Gallery Weekend Montreal: Four routes, countless discoveries

From September 26 to 29, 27 galleries and artist-run centres open their doors for a weekend of free events, guided tours, talks, and exhibitions across the city. Organized into four walkable routes, Gallery Weekend is your excuse to meet the city’s curators, collectors, and creators—no appointment necessary.

Les Journées de la culture: Free, open, and for everyone

From September 26 to 28, thousands of free cultural events pop up across Quebec as part of this annual celebration of accessible art. With workshops, performances, and open studios led by artists, educators, and community leaders, the weekend’s programming reflects the full creative spectrum.

Montreal Antiquarian Book Fair: 40 years of rare finds

From September 27 to 28, the Montreal Antiquarian Book Fair marks its 40th anniversary at Concordia’s J.W. McConnell Building. Whether you’re a casual collector or a serious bibliophile, this fair is a chance to browse rare volumes, historic maps, ephemera, and expert insight from Canada’s leading booksellers.

Kent Monkman at MMFA: Painting against the grain

From September 27 to March 8, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presents History Is Painted by the Victors, a major solo exhibition by Kent Monkman. Subversive, bold, and often humorous, Monkman’s monumental works challenge colonial narratives and centre Indigenous voices through epic visual storytelling.

Little Burgundy – Evolving Montreal: A lens on community change

Until September 28, photographer Andrew Jackson’s powerful exhibit at the McCord Stewart Museum documents the past and present of Little Burgundy, Montreal’s historic Black neighbourhood. Through portraits, objects, and short films, it explores themes of space, memory, gentrification, and cultural resilience.

World Press Photo Montréal: The world in stills

From August 27 to October 13, Marché Bonsecours hosts the 18th Montreal edition of the World Press Photo exhibition. Showcasing the year’s most compelling photojournalism, this event offers a gripping, globe-spanning look at conflict, beauty, injustice, and perseverance—plus a handful of satellite exhibits and late-night openings.

Quai des Brumes turns 40 with three nights of pure grit and groove

From September 30 to October 2, Quai des Brumes celebrates 40 years of indie music, raw energy, and underground culture. To mark the milestone, the Saint-Denis venue is hosting three nights of shows with Acadian alt-country star P'tit Belliveau, plus opening acts like Pépé et sa guitare, Jalapeño Papa, and Maude Sonier. Doors at 8 p.m., shows at 9 p.m., and vibes till late.