--°C|Thursday, September 17, 2026
From free street festivals to $1,000-a-ticket blowouts, here's where the city comes alive during race week.
May 21, 2026
Every year, Montreal does something it's uniquely good at: it takes an already enormous event and turns the entire city into the party.
The Canadian Grand Prix brings the world's fastest drivers to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, but the real race week—the one that keeps going well past the checkered flag—happens across downtown, Old Montreal, Griffintown, and beyond, in venues that range from cobblestone courtyards to converted bank vaults to the covered upper deck of an Old Port parking structure.
What follows is a mapped guide to the best of it: 24 events and venues across the city, running from Tuesday May 19 through Sunday May 24. Whether you're after a free afternoon on Crescent Street, a $375 red carpet night at Le Richmond, or a marathon dance music event that runs from Friday to Monday, it's all here. Downtown restaurants and bars as well as Old Montreal restaurants and bars are worth building your days around, and if you're still sorting out where to sleep, our hotel guide has you covered.
The on-track action runs Friday through Sunday at Parc Jean-Drapeau—but this is where the city really shifts into gear.
A converted bank vault, La Voûte runs four consecutive nights of Race Week programming from May 21 to 24. Each evening is hosted by a different international club brand: Ottawa's Somewhere Dine Bar kicks things off Thursday with DJ &Sarra and DJ Rob; Friday brings Gaïo Saint-Tropez with Nicolas Monier (France) alongside residents Gminaa and Clement Gabriel; Saturday hands the room over to Queen Miami Beach with DJ Qwartz and residents Aaron Hyper and Ekho. Sunday closes out the weekend with GreenGo Gstaad presenting The Code 20, with Jim Leblanc (Switzerland) and residents Dreewpy and Donald Lauture. All four nights offer dinner service with VIP all-night access, general admission from 10pm, and bottle service by reservation. Dress code is strict upscale casual.
Soubois runs all four nights of Race Week in its underground forest setting, with a different headliner each night and dinner available beforehand at Sotto by Soubois upstairs. Thursday opens with Habibeats, known for high-energy Afro and Middle Eastern house, alongside Derrick Jordan and Ken J. Friday brings international DJ Levi with resident Sam Raiz for a melodic and deep house evening. Saturday — peak GP energy — goes to Purple Miami alongside Pat Boogie. Sunday closes with a celebrity wildcard: NFL star Tyreek Hill, one of the fastest players in league history, stepping behind the decks alongside resident Kiari. The crowd Soubois draws during race week is reliably one of the most in-demand in the city.
Marcus runs the longest stretch of any venue on this list, with programming beginning Tuesday May 19 and running through Sunday May 24 under the banner "Ignition." The week opens with a special edition of Marcus Social on Wednesday May 20 — their weekly jazz ritual, amplified: Mat Jon Quintette with New York guest Donald Lauture, 6pm–1am. Thursday launches Tension (6pm–3am) with Pepelz (Dubai), Pat Boogie, Chrissandro, and Hilal. Friday is Allure Nocturne with Nomis (France), Senudiz, Choby, and Chrissandro. Saturday runs in two parts: a daytime Pole Position event from 11am–6pm with The Neighbors, Pat Boogie, Peter C, and Truspin, followed by Rêverie Rouge from 6pm–3am with Rawdolff (France), Laura Scavo, Kali, and Chrissandro. Sunday closes with a Pole Position lunch from 11am–8pm featuring JPfeiffer (Miami), Ange Palmer (Cannes), and Chrissandro, then Dernier Tour from 8pm–midnight with SpecialK and Kali. The Four Seasons presents Résonance on Tuesday May 19 — a sculptural evening with artist Antoine Dufilho — also appears to be connected to this address.
Montreal's largest club venue runs GP26 across four nights, May 21–24, with Prodkt XX, all doors at 10pm. Thursday opens with a triple-threat b2b: Nico De Andrea, Maxi Meraki, and Luch, supported by Paskal Daze. Friday is the marquee night — Kaytranada doing a DJ set on his home turf, with Lou Phelps and Del Arte in support. Saturday splits across two rooms: the main hall hosts James Hype with Dansyn and Stef Agostino (an Oracle Red Bull Racing-sponsored night), while Bazart — the venue's second room — hosts Maesic with Simon Fitch and Malena, presented by Armand de Brignac and Prodkt. Sunday closes with Timmy Trumpet, Twinsick, and MVNGO. The industrial-chic main hall runs a 4K LED wall and is built for scale.
Yoko Luna's Neo-Tokyo-inspired Nikkei supper club runs all four nights of race week, May 21–24, with dinner service, general admission, and bottle service available nightly. Thursday is the opening night (8pm–3am), Friday and Saturday run 5pm–3am — Saturday billed as the Main Event — and Sunday closes out the weekend (8pm–3am). No specific DJ lineups were announced in available source material. Dress code is strict: no shorts, hats, tank tops, or large bags. Strictly 21+.
Auberge Saint-Gabriel has been a race week institution for over a decade. This year runs Thursday through Sunday across five distinct events. Thursday opens with Casa del Arte featuring Gudfella — house, afro, and international sounds — at $50 GA. Friday brings Thomas H back to Montreal for a Heineken-presented night, also $50 GA. Saturday is the weekend's centrepiece: the 11th edition of the Bagatelle Pop-Up Day Party runs noon to 8pm with Nomis (France) headlining, with brunch food included in the $150 ticket. Saturday night continues with DJ Pepelz (Dubai), presented by Veuve Clicquot. Sunday's closing party — Pole Position — is presented by Casamigos Tequila and headlined by Purple Miami and The Neighbors, with GA around $80. All nights 21+.
Le Richmond runs Sand Storm, a three-night immersive series powered by McLaren Montréal, May 21–23, with each evening themed around a different mood. Thursday's Kick Off Party welcomes guests into the Richmond Oasis from 7pm, with table reservations or a standing open bar option at $150 per person. Friday's Gentlemen's Club goes darker and more intense, with exclusive members-style energy, bar and high-top options at a $150 minimum spend per person. Saturday's Tapis Rouge is the weekend's most anticipated night: a red carpet affair with celebrity sightings, champagne, and canapés. General admission is $375 (open bar included), with late entry from 10pm at $150. Only three VIP sections available. No DJ lineups announced in available source material.
Montreal's burlesque dine-and-dance destination runs three nights of race week programming, May 21–23, in collaboration with Grey Goose "Fly Beyond." The format combines aerial performances, burlesque shows, champagne, bottle service, and gourmet dining in an ornate, theatrically designed space. Thursday (6pm–3am) features DJ PeeWee; Friday (6pm–3am) brings DJ Baby Yu; Saturday (7pm–3am) closes with Autograf. Semi-formal attire required.
Rodeo runs three nights of race week, May 21–23, with doors at 7pm each night and a dine-and-dance format — the "First Rodeo Menu" dinner option is available nightly alongside general admission and bottle service. Thursday GA is free; Friday and Saturday offer early bird pricing. 18+. No specific DJ lineups confirmed in available source material.
École Privée runs four nights of race week programming, May 21–24. Thursday opens with Coco Miami and Archive Thursdays, hosted by Claudia Tihan and Will Rich. Friday features Spade Muzik, Drake's official DJ. Saturday brings Mr. Jones Miami and DJ Wrecky (Fetty Wap's official DJ), hosted by Avra. Sunday closes with Rapta Events and Kenzhelo. Bottle service inquiries: 438-921-5767.
Now in its tenth consecutive year, Peel Paddock is the established daytime anchor of race week — a champagne terrace at the corner of Peel and Sainte-Catherine running Thursday through Sunday. Hours are 4–11pm Thursday and Sunday, 2–11pm Friday and Saturday. Free-flowing champagne, local and international DJs, and a smart casual crowd that arrives early and lingers. No specific lineup announced in available source material, but the format and location are consistent year over year. Tickets and VIP tables available at formulepeel.ca.
This Is House takes over the covered second floor of the Grand Quai port parking structure for four consecutive afternoons, May 21–24 — rain or shine. Thursday (5–11pm) opens with BLOND:ISH, the global house and consciousness tastemaker, supported by Nikitina, Simon Fitch, and Tommy Kimpton. Friday (4–11pm) brings Matroda, label boss of Terminal Underground, with Aybee, Ghetto Birds, MVNGO, and Relaxjosh b2b Seb Todd. Saturday (4–11pm) features house legend MK (Marc Kinchen), supported by Kiari, Ludo Lacoste, and Mica Wallace b2b Franco. Sunday hosts a full-day Devault & Fallon takeover presented by This Is House and Croissound. 18+. An outdoor festival in everything but name, with a waterfront location that makes it one of the most distinctive settings of the weekend.
For one night only — Friday May 22, 6pm–2am — the Ritz-Carlton transforms into an immersive two-floor experience inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins, presented by Mercedes-Benz Canada. Each space unfolds a different shade of desire: dim lights and slow rhythms in Lust, excess and opulence in Greed, velvet lounges and quiet seduction in Sloth, and the grand stage of Pride. The sensory experience includes gourmet food stations by the Ritz-Carlton culinary team, an open bar all night, Laurent-Perrier Champagne until 9pm, and an Antonius Caviar station. Tickets are $1,000 per person, black tie required, capacity intentionally limited. One of the most expensive and exclusive tickets of the entire weekend.
A Thursday night opening to the weekend with a different energy than anything else on the list: DTMF Latin Night lands at La Cantina Concha in the Old Port on May 21, 11pm–3am. Presented by Baroque x Not Another Throwback Party, with DJs Deckstir and Pelo spinning Latin, reggaeton, and throwback sounds all night. Free quesadillas available throughout. Limited tickets, 18+.
On Friday May 22, 7–10pm, Audi Canada marks a historic moment: the debut of the Audi R26 Formula 1 car at the Canadian Grand Prix with a free car meet at the Old Port Clock Tower, presented with Audi Club North America. The R26 will be on display up close, alongside a fleet of attendee-owned Audis. The evening culminates at 8pm with a choreographed drone show over the St. Lawrence River. Free to attend, with an application process for those wishing to exhibit their own Audi.
Flyjin becomes the Montreal home of House of 10 for Circuit FLY1 — a nightlife series that has previously made stops in Dubai, Ibiza, and Mykonos — running May 20–24, presented by Belvedere Vodka.
On Friday May 22, 10pm–4am, Système hosts Multi Culti's Always Cosmic with Photay and Thomas Von Party. A small-capacity nightclub built around a dedicated dance floor — a different register entirely from the bottle-service scene dominating the rest of the weekend. Tickets via RA.
Subterra, the vinyl-focused audio lounge below SonoLux — Québec's first contemporary art hotel — runs two nights of race week programming. Friday May 22 brings Fred Everything for an Édition Grand Prix set (8pm–1am); Saturday May 23 features Walla P (8pm–1am). An understated antidote to the weekend's spectacle, built around sound quality over spectacle.
A new small room on Saint-Laurent, Blue Room opens its doors for race week on Saturday May 23, 10pm–3am, with Teeto, Tony Jack, and Tommy Kapton. Intimate capacity, no-frills setup, $10 entry, 19+. Come early, stay late.
Running simultaneously with the main hall on Saturday May 23, New City Gas's Bazart room hosts a separate GP26 night presented by Armand de Brignac and Prodkt: Maesic headlining, with Simon Fitch and Malena in support. 10pm–3am, 18+.
On Friday May 22, the SDC Petite Italie and the borough of Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie throw a free neighbourhood celebration at the intersection of Italian culture and F1 fever. A festive apéro runs 5–7pm at Parc de la Petite-Italie, the Soul Station Orchestra plays from 7pm, and a Ferrari exhibition lines boulevard Saint-Laurent from 6–10pm. Free and all-ages — the most neighbourhood-rooted event of the weekend.
After the Crescent Street Festival winds down each evening, Electric Avenue keeps the party going with its Fameux Pizza Party on Friday May 22 (10pm–3am) and Saturday May 23. DJs Keith Dean and JM handle Friday, with Carl Müren and Happyman on Saturday. Free pizza bites all night. 80s, 90s, and 2000s music. The anti-pretension option of the weekend.
The longest-running free festival of the F1 weekend, running since 1999 and now in its 28th edition. Crescent Street closes to traffic May 21–24 (11am–11pm daily) for a pedestrian zone of live performances, DJ sets, racing simulators, car exhibitions, and a pit stop challenge. Programming ranges from Latin bands and 80s tributes to ABBA and Bon Jovi tribute acts, line dancing, and local DJ sets — accessible, all-ages, and genuinely festive. Over 650,000 people pass through over the four days.
On Friday May 22, Nacarat — the cocktail bar inside the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth — hosts L'After de la Grande Course from 4pm to 3am. The evening splits into two acts: from 8–11pm, the Mat Jon Quartet is joined by New York saxophonist Jacob Chung for a live performance; later, Michelin-starred chef and DJ Che Gonzalez takes over behind the decks and keeps the party running into the early hours. Reservations via OpenTable.
Menu Extra's race week collaboration with Le 9e is one of the more considered evenings on the GP calendar: a single night, Saturday May 23 at 7pm, built around the idea that the early days of motor racing and the grand traditions of French hospitality aren't so far apart. The concept takes its name and its cues from the 1930s: geometric communal tables, a three-course tasting menu by executive chef and co-founder Francis Blais, and wine pairings curated by sommelier and co-founder Alexis Demers. The food leans into seasonal Canadian terroir while staying rooted in classical French technique. The setting, Le 9e, the storied dining room on the ninth floor of the Eaton Centre building, does the rest. At $495 per person prepaid via OpenTable, it's a full commitment, but the format delivers something the weekend's bottle-service circuit mostly doesn't: an actual dinner worth remembering.
For those who want the energy of race week without committing to a full night out, NINI Salon à Cocktails at the Sofitel Montréal Golden Mile offers a civilised middle ground. The cocktail lounge is running a Grand Prix menu throughout the weekend, anchored by Le Grand Spritz: Pineau des Charentes and Pommery Champagne, bright and fizzy, at $31. The food leans into the occasion without overdoing it: lobster rolls on brioche with avocado, wild shrimp cocktail, oysters by the dozen, and arancini made with Louis d'Or cheese. It's the kind of spread that works as a late afternoon stop before the evening gets going, or as a soft landing after it does. Perfectly central, considerably calmer than the Crescent Street circuit, and a lot easier to get into.
The Château Champlain is running programming across all four nights of race week, May 21 to 24, with the weekend's centrepiece being Mascarade: Caviar & Champagne on Saturday May 23 at Caf'Conc', starting at 7:30pm. The concept draws from the theatrical tradition of European soirées: immersive entertainment, artistic performances, a DJ set by Champion, caviar, champagne, and premium cocktails running into the early hours. Beyond Saturday, the hotel's Terrasse Belvu offers some of the better elevated views of downtown during the weekend, and Lloyd, the hotel's restaurant, is running special Grand Prix culinary programming throughout. As a central downtown address with multiple distinct spaces, it's a solid option for building an entire evening around rather than just a single stop.
The second edition of Concours ROYALMOUNT runs May 14 to 24, with the race week portion kicking into gear on May 21. The centrepiece is a curated display of 20 rare supercars and hypercars drawn from private collections, free to visit inside the mall throughout the ten days. For race week specifically, an official Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 W17 E Performance replica car, presented by IWC Schaffhausen, goes on display in ROYALMOUNT's luxury row from May 21 to 24. The closing event is Cars & Coffee on Saturday May 23 at the ROYALMOUNT Annex: a community-driven gathering of collectors, enthusiasts, and photographers around a broader mix of classic and performance vehicles, with music and an open-to-all format that's a different register from the curated showcase inside. Official Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve merchandise is available at the concierge desk throughout. All public programming is complimentary.
Le Pois Penché has been a race week fixture since 2008, and its corner location on De Maisonneuve at Drummond goes a long way toward explaining why. The sidewalk terrace is one of the better spots in the city to watch the weekend's parade of exotic cars and race-week crowds roll by, which gives it an energy that more inward-facing spots simply can't replicate. The kitchen runs a full French brasserie program: oysters, seafood platters, French onion soup, escargots, duck confit, and some serious beef, including a 32 oz Canadian Prime rib steak and Miyazaki A5 wagyu for those treating the weekend as a proper occasion. It works as a long lunch, a pre-night-out dinner, or a place to decompress between events without fully stepping out of the action. Open for lunch, dinner, and brunch through the weekend. Reservations at LePoisPenche.com.
Every place here was visited by someone on our team.
From free street festivals to $1,000-a-ticket blowouts, here's where the city comes alive during race week.
May 21, 2026
Every year, Montreal does something it's uniquely good at: it takes an already enormous event and turns the entire city into the party.
The Canadian Grand Prix brings the world's fastest drivers to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, but the real race week—the one that keeps going well past the checkered flag—happens across downtown, Old Montreal, Griffintown, and beyond, in venues that range from cobblestone courtyards to converted bank vaults to the covered upper deck of an Old Port parking structure.
What follows is a mapped guide to the best of it: 24 events and venues across the city, running from Tuesday May 19 through Sunday May 24. Whether you're after a free afternoon on Crescent Street, a $375 red carpet night at Le Richmond, or a marathon dance music event that runs from Friday to Monday, it's all here. Downtown restaurants and bars as well as Old Montreal restaurants and bars are worth building your days around, and if you're still sorting out where to sleep, our hotel guide has you covered.
The on-track action runs Friday through Sunday at Parc Jean-Drapeau—but this is where the city really shifts into gear.
A converted bank vault, La Voûte runs four consecutive nights of Race Week programming from May 21 to 24. Each evening is hosted by a different international club brand: Ottawa's Somewhere Dine Bar kicks things off Thursday with DJ &Sarra and DJ Rob; Friday brings Gaïo Saint-Tropez with Nicolas Monier (France) alongside residents Gminaa and Clement Gabriel; Saturday hands the room over to Queen Miami Beach with DJ Qwartz and residents Aaron Hyper and Ekho. Sunday closes out the weekend with GreenGo Gstaad presenting The Code 20, with Jim Leblanc (Switzerland) and residents Dreewpy and Donald Lauture. All four nights offer dinner service with VIP all-night access, general admission from 10pm, and bottle service by reservation. Dress code is strict upscale casual.
Soubois runs all four nights of Race Week in its underground forest setting, with a different headliner each night and dinner available beforehand at Sotto by Soubois upstairs. Thursday opens with Habibeats, known for high-energy Afro and Middle Eastern house, alongside Derrick Jordan and Ken J. Friday brings international DJ Levi with resident Sam Raiz for a melodic and deep house evening. Saturday — peak GP energy — goes to Purple Miami alongside Pat Boogie. Sunday closes with a celebrity wildcard: NFL star Tyreek Hill, one of the fastest players in league history, stepping behind the decks alongside resident Kiari. The crowd Soubois draws during race week is reliably one of the most in-demand in the city.
Marcus runs the longest stretch of any venue on this list, with programming beginning Tuesday May 19 and running through Sunday May 24 under the banner "Ignition." The week opens with a special edition of Marcus Social on Wednesday May 20 — their weekly jazz ritual, amplified: Mat Jon Quintette with New York guest Donald Lauture, 6pm–1am. Thursday launches Tension (6pm–3am) with Pepelz (Dubai), Pat Boogie, Chrissandro, and Hilal. Friday is Allure Nocturne with Nomis (France), Senudiz, Choby, and Chrissandro. Saturday runs in two parts: a daytime Pole Position event from 11am–6pm with The Neighbors, Pat Boogie, Peter C, and Truspin, followed by Rêverie Rouge from 6pm–3am with Rawdolff (France), Laura Scavo, Kali, and Chrissandro. Sunday closes with a Pole Position lunch from 11am–8pm featuring JPfeiffer (Miami), Ange Palmer (Cannes), and Chrissandro, then Dernier Tour from 8pm–midnight with SpecialK and Kali. The Four Seasons presents Résonance on Tuesday May 19 — a sculptural evening with artist Antoine Dufilho — also appears to be connected to this address.
Montreal's largest club venue runs GP26 across four nights, May 21–24, with Prodkt XX, all doors at 10pm. Thursday opens with a triple-threat b2b: Nico De Andrea, Maxi Meraki, and Luch, supported by Paskal Daze. Friday is the marquee night — Kaytranada doing a DJ set on his home turf, with Lou Phelps and Del Arte in support. Saturday splits across two rooms: the main hall hosts James Hype with Dansyn and Stef Agostino (an Oracle Red Bull Racing-sponsored night), while Bazart — the venue's second room — hosts Maesic with Simon Fitch and Malena, presented by Armand de Brignac and Prodkt. Sunday closes with Timmy Trumpet, Twinsick, and MVNGO. The industrial-chic main hall runs a 4K LED wall and is built for scale.
Yoko Luna's Neo-Tokyo-inspired Nikkei supper club runs all four nights of race week, May 21–24, with dinner service, general admission, and bottle service available nightly. Thursday is the opening night (8pm–3am), Friday and Saturday run 5pm–3am — Saturday billed as the Main Event — and Sunday closes out the weekend (8pm–3am). No specific DJ lineups were announced in available source material. Dress code is strict: no shorts, hats, tank tops, or large bags. Strictly 21+.
Auberge Saint-Gabriel has been a race week institution for over a decade. This year runs Thursday through Sunday across five distinct events. Thursday opens with Casa del Arte featuring Gudfella — house, afro, and international sounds — at $50 GA. Friday brings Thomas H back to Montreal for a Heineken-presented night, also $50 GA. Saturday is the weekend's centrepiece: the 11th edition of the Bagatelle Pop-Up Day Party runs noon to 8pm with Nomis (France) headlining, with brunch food included in the $150 ticket. Saturday night continues with DJ Pepelz (Dubai), presented by Veuve Clicquot. Sunday's closing party — Pole Position — is presented by Casamigos Tequila and headlined by Purple Miami and The Neighbors, with GA around $80. All nights 21+.
Le Richmond runs Sand Storm, a three-night immersive series powered by McLaren Montréal, May 21–23, with each evening themed around a different mood. Thursday's Kick Off Party welcomes guests into the Richmond Oasis from 7pm, with table reservations or a standing open bar option at $150 per person. Friday's Gentlemen's Club goes darker and more intense, with exclusive members-style energy, bar and high-top options at a $150 minimum spend per person. Saturday's Tapis Rouge is the weekend's most anticipated night: a red carpet affair with celebrity sightings, champagne, and canapés. General admission is $375 (open bar included), with late entry from 10pm at $150. Only three VIP sections available. No DJ lineups announced in available source material.
Montreal's burlesque dine-and-dance destination runs three nights of race week programming, May 21–23, in collaboration with Grey Goose "Fly Beyond." The format combines aerial performances, burlesque shows, champagne, bottle service, and gourmet dining in an ornate, theatrically designed space. Thursday (6pm–3am) features DJ PeeWee; Friday (6pm–3am) brings DJ Baby Yu; Saturday (7pm–3am) closes with Autograf. Semi-formal attire required.
Rodeo runs three nights of race week, May 21–23, with doors at 7pm each night and a dine-and-dance format — the "First Rodeo Menu" dinner option is available nightly alongside general admission and bottle service. Thursday GA is free; Friday and Saturday offer early bird pricing. 18+. No specific DJ lineups confirmed in available source material.
École Privée runs four nights of race week programming, May 21–24. Thursday opens with Coco Miami and Archive Thursdays, hosted by Claudia Tihan and Will Rich. Friday features Spade Muzik, Drake's official DJ. Saturday brings Mr. Jones Miami and DJ Wrecky (Fetty Wap's official DJ), hosted by Avra. Sunday closes with Rapta Events and Kenzhelo. Bottle service inquiries: 438-921-5767.
Now in its tenth consecutive year, Peel Paddock is the established daytime anchor of race week — a champagne terrace at the corner of Peel and Sainte-Catherine running Thursday through Sunday. Hours are 4–11pm Thursday and Sunday, 2–11pm Friday and Saturday. Free-flowing champagne, local and international DJs, and a smart casual crowd that arrives early and lingers. No specific lineup announced in available source material, but the format and location are consistent year over year. Tickets and VIP tables available at formulepeel.ca.
This Is House takes over the covered second floor of the Grand Quai port parking structure for four consecutive afternoons, May 21–24 — rain or shine. Thursday (5–11pm) opens with BLOND:ISH, the global house and consciousness tastemaker, supported by Nikitina, Simon Fitch, and Tommy Kimpton. Friday (4–11pm) brings Matroda, label boss of Terminal Underground, with Aybee, Ghetto Birds, MVNGO, and Relaxjosh b2b Seb Todd. Saturday (4–11pm) features house legend MK (Marc Kinchen), supported by Kiari, Ludo Lacoste, and Mica Wallace b2b Franco. Sunday hosts a full-day Devault & Fallon takeover presented by This Is House and Croissound. 18+. An outdoor festival in everything but name, with a waterfront location that makes it one of the most distinctive settings of the weekend.
For one night only — Friday May 22, 6pm–2am — the Ritz-Carlton transforms into an immersive two-floor experience inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins, presented by Mercedes-Benz Canada. Each space unfolds a different shade of desire: dim lights and slow rhythms in Lust, excess and opulence in Greed, velvet lounges and quiet seduction in Sloth, and the grand stage of Pride. The sensory experience includes gourmet food stations by the Ritz-Carlton culinary team, an open bar all night, Laurent-Perrier Champagne until 9pm, and an Antonius Caviar station. Tickets are $1,000 per person, black tie required, capacity intentionally limited. One of the most expensive and exclusive tickets of the entire weekend.
A Thursday night opening to the weekend with a different energy than anything else on the list: DTMF Latin Night lands at La Cantina Concha in the Old Port on May 21, 11pm–3am. Presented by Baroque x Not Another Throwback Party, with DJs Deckstir and Pelo spinning Latin, reggaeton, and throwback sounds all night. Free quesadillas available throughout. Limited tickets, 18+.
On Friday May 22, 7–10pm, Audi Canada marks a historic moment: the debut of the Audi R26 Formula 1 car at the Canadian Grand Prix with a free car meet at the Old Port Clock Tower, presented with Audi Club North America. The R26 will be on display up close, alongside a fleet of attendee-owned Audis. The evening culminates at 8pm with a choreographed drone show over the St. Lawrence River. Free to attend, with an application process for those wishing to exhibit their own Audi.
Flyjin becomes the Montreal home of House of 10 for Circuit FLY1 — a nightlife series that has previously made stops in Dubai, Ibiza, and Mykonos — running May 20–24, presented by Belvedere Vodka.
On Friday May 22, 10pm–4am, Système hosts Multi Culti's Always Cosmic with Photay and Thomas Von Party. A small-capacity nightclub built around a dedicated dance floor — a different register entirely from the bottle-service scene dominating the rest of the weekend. Tickets via RA.
Subterra, the vinyl-focused audio lounge below SonoLux — Québec's first contemporary art hotel — runs two nights of race week programming. Friday May 22 brings Fred Everything for an Édition Grand Prix set (8pm–1am); Saturday May 23 features Walla P (8pm–1am). An understated antidote to the weekend's spectacle, built around sound quality over spectacle.
A new small room on Saint-Laurent, Blue Room opens its doors for race week on Saturday May 23, 10pm–3am, with Teeto, Tony Jack, and Tommy Kapton. Intimate capacity, no-frills setup, $10 entry, 19+. Come early, stay late.
Running simultaneously with the main hall on Saturday May 23, New City Gas's Bazart room hosts a separate GP26 night presented by Armand de Brignac and Prodkt: Maesic headlining, with Simon Fitch and Malena in support. 10pm–3am, 18+.
On Friday May 22, the SDC Petite Italie and the borough of Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie throw a free neighbourhood celebration at the intersection of Italian culture and F1 fever. A festive apéro runs 5–7pm at Parc de la Petite-Italie, the Soul Station Orchestra plays from 7pm, and a Ferrari exhibition lines boulevard Saint-Laurent from 6–10pm. Free and all-ages — the most neighbourhood-rooted event of the weekend.
After the Crescent Street Festival winds down each evening, Electric Avenue keeps the party going with its Fameux Pizza Party on Friday May 22 (10pm–3am) and Saturday May 23. DJs Keith Dean and JM handle Friday, with Carl Müren and Happyman on Saturday. Free pizza bites all night. 80s, 90s, and 2000s music. The anti-pretension option of the weekend.
The longest-running free festival of the F1 weekend, running since 1999 and now in its 28th edition. Crescent Street closes to traffic May 21–24 (11am–11pm daily) for a pedestrian zone of live performances, DJ sets, racing simulators, car exhibitions, and a pit stop challenge. Programming ranges from Latin bands and 80s tributes to ABBA and Bon Jovi tribute acts, line dancing, and local DJ sets — accessible, all-ages, and genuinely festive. Over 650,000 people pass through over the four days.
On Friday May 22, Nacarat — the cocktail bar inside the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth — hosts L'After de la Grande Course from 4pm to 3am. The evening splits into two acts: from 8–11pm, the Mat Jon Quartet is joined by New York saxophonist Jacob Chung for a live performance; later, Michelin-starred chef and DJ Che Gonzalez takes over behind the decks and keeps the party running into the early hours. Reservations via OpenTable.
Menu Extra's race week collaboration with Le 9e is one of the more considered evenings on the GP calendar: a single night, Saturday May 23 at 7pm, built around the idea that the early days of motor racing and the grand traditions of French hospitality aren't so far apart. The concept takes its name and its cues from the 1930s: geometric communal tables, a three-course tasting menu by executive chef and co-founder Francis Blais, and wine pairings curated by sommelier and co-founder Alexis Demers. The food leans into seasonal Canadian terroir while staying rooted in classical French technique. The setting, Le 9e, the storied dining room on the ninth floor of the Eaton Centre building, does the rest. At $495 per person prepaid via OpenTable, it's a full commitment, but the format delivers something the weekend's bottle-service circuit mostly doesn't: an actual dinner worth remembering.
For those who want the energy of race week without committing to a full night out, NINI Salon à Cocktails at the Sofitel Montréal Golden Mile offers a civilised middle ground. The cocktail lounge is running a Grand Prix menu throughout the weekend, anchored by Le Grand Spritz: Pineau des Charentes and Pommery Champagne, bright and fizzy, at $31. The food leans into the occasion without overdoing it: lobster rolls on brioche with avocado, wild shrimp cocktail, oysters by the dozen, and arancini made with Louis d'Or cheese. It's the kind of spread that works as a late afternoon stop before the evening gets going, or as a soft landing after it does. Perfectly central, considerably calmer than the Crescent Street circuit, and a lot easier to get into.
The Château Champlain is running programming across all four nights of race week, May 21 to 24, with the weekend's centrepiece being Mascarade: Caviar & Champagne on Saturday May 23 at Caf'Conc', starting at 7:30pm. The concept draws from the theatrical tradition of European soirées: immersive entertainment, artistic performances, a DJ set by Champion, caviar, champagne, and premium cocktails running into the early hours. Beyond Saturday, the hotel's Terrasse Belvu offers some of the better elevated views of downtown during the weekend, and Lloyd, the hotel's restaurant, is running special Grand Prix culinary programming throughout. As a central downtown address with multiple distinct spaces, it's a solid option for building an entire evening around rather than just a single stop.
The second edition of Concours ROYALMOUNT runs May 14 to 24, with the race week portion kicking into gear on May 21. The centrepiece is a curated display of 20 rare supercars and hypercars drawn from private collections, free to visit inside the mall throughout the ten days. For race week specifically, an official Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 W17 E Performance replica car, presented by IWC Schaffhausen, goes on display in ROYALMOUNT's luxury row from May 21 to 24. The closing event is Cars & Coffee on Saturday May 23 at the ROYALMOUNT Annex: a community-driven gathering of collectors, enthusiasts, and photographers around a broader mix of classic and performance vehicles, with music and an open-to-all format that's a different register from the curated showcase inside. Official Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve merchandise is available at the concierge desk throughout. All public programming is complimentary.
Le Pois Penché has been a race week fixture since 2008, and its corner location on De Maisonneuve at Drummond goes a long way toward explaining why. The sidewalk terrace is one of the better spots in the city to watch the weekend's parade of exotic cars and race-week crowds roll by, which gives it an energy that more inward-facing spots simply can't replicate. The kitchen runs a full French brasserie program: oysters, seafood platters, French onion soup, escargots, duck confit, and some serious beef, including a 32 oz Canadian Prime rib steak and Miyazaki A5 wagyu for those treating the weekend as a proper occasion. It works as a long lunch, a pre-night-out dinner, or a place to decompress between events without fully stepping out of the action. Open for lunch, dinner, and brunch through the weekend. Reservations at LePoisPenche.com.
Every place here was visited by someone on our team.
