Le National is, in a word, a survivor.

Opened in 1900 as North America’s first professional Francophone theatre, it quickly became the city’s go-to for grand productions and razor-sharp musical revues, mixing burlesque, melodrama, and a little political bite. The likes of Rose Ouellette, Juliette Pétrie, and Grimaldi made their names here, solidifying its place in Quebec’s entertainment history.

As TV took over in the ’50s, Le National struggled, cycling through stints as a neighborhood cinema, a Chinese movie house, and even a gay theatre. But in 1997, it found new life under the Larivée Cabot Champagne banner, becoming the venue locals know and love today where indie darlings, rock icons, and festival favourites—think Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, and Cœur de Pirate—share the stage. With a capacity of 575 seated or 757 standing, it’s an intimate yet electric space that hosts Just for Laughs, Nuits d’Afrique, and POP Montreal.

Whether it’s concerts, comedy, or live tapings, Le National remains a cornerstone of Montreal’s live arts scene—proof that a century of history doesn’t mean slowing down.