Place des Arts is celebrating the start of a new cultural season with something for every audience!

Montreal, August 13, 2026 – This fall, Place des Arts will be kicking off a rich and diversified in-house program designed to appeal to every sort of audience. 

Among the events no one will want to miss is TEMPÉO, Dance and Music Festival, which will be back in a big way in September on the Esplanade, featuring five musical evenings under the Montreal starscape. An invitation to wiggle your hips, discover new rhythms and celebrate together in a festive atmosphere. At Théâtre Maisonneuve, in November, renowned pianist Alexandra Stréliski will join the artists of the French company Cirque Le Roux for a one-of-a-kind version of Entre chiens et louves, a dazzling and unprecedented show mixing circus arts with music and presented as an exclusive over several evenings at Place des Arts. 

Still in November, the series Arts et monde will be hosting Mariachi Herencia de México and its 14 virtuoso musicians for a spectacular musical performance in honor of the Day of the Dead, one of the most iconic celebrations in Mexican culture. Micro ouvert autochtone (Indigenous Open Mic) will bring the indoor public spaces at Place des Arts to life in a spirit of meeting up, sharing, and coming together. For their part, families will get to discover the popular series Place des Arts junior and Sons et brioches. 

The new fall Place des Arts season is a reflection of a clear commitment: to offer powerful, accessible artistic experiences that bring people together in a cultural venue open to all. From great performances on stage to family-oriented activities by way of free events, the program offers endless opportunities for recognizing ourselves, for reconnecting, and for discovering new worlds. 

Free activities 

TEMPÉO, DANCE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL  – FREE EVENT 
September 16 to 20, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Esplanade de la Place des Arts 

Hosted for a sixth year by Philippe Fehmiu, TEMPÉO, Dance and Music Festival will set the tone for the new season in Montreal with five free evenings offering just as many vibrant worlds. Artists on the music scene from here and elsewhere and essential figures in dance will turn the Esplanade into the setting for a grand community celebration. 

Each evening the audience will be invited to take the plunge into a new atmosphere: reggaeton, Afro-house, cumbia, K-pop and kompa. On the program: music performances, dance workshops, refreshments and street food. The most exhilarating open-air dance floor in downtown Montreal! 

JOURNÉES DE LA CULTURE 
September 26  | Place des Arts 

In the framework of the 30th edition of Journées de la culture, Place des Arts – alongside its major cultural partners – is pleased to be associated with the event. More details will be forthcoming when the program is launched. 

MICRO OUVERT AUTOCHTONE – FREE EVENT 
November 14 and 15 | Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme 

The 6th edition of Micro ouvert autochtone (Indigenous Open Mic), on the theme Racines (Roots), will be happening on November 14 and 15 at Place des Arts, once again under the curatorship of Kim O’Bomsawin. This major get-together, which showcases Indigenous cultures both traditional and contemporary, will be offering free of charge a number of activities in different areas: music performances, discussions, arts fair, culinary discoveries, screenings of short films, and much more. 

“I chose the theme Roots because it represents what we’ve been celebrating here since the beginning: what anchors us, what’s been handed down to us and what we take pride in doing with it today.” – Kim O’Bomsawin, curator of Micro ouvert autochtone 
 

 
Venue shows 

ENTRE CHIENS ET LOUVES 
November 4 to 15 | Théâtre Maisonneuve 

The artists from the French company Cirque Le Roux will be joined on stage by Alexandra Stréliski as she accompanies this dazzling show at the piano in a musical score composed of her own works and other equally captivating pieces. Presented in exclusivity at Place des Arts, this one-of-a-kind version of Entre chiens et louves, with the presence of the pianist, promises to be a fascinating experience, the work of a troupe that is reinventing the codes of contemporary circus as it goes about creating a dialogue with theater, dance and film. 
 

PLACE DES ARTS JUNIOR 

Musical, theatrical, circus-based and full of life, the series Place des Arts junior invites young ones to discover the performing arts by way of lively, dynamic shows. Designed for children aged 5 to 12, but every bit as much fun for the entire family, the series presents a variety of events with enjoyment, discovery and emotions very much on the bill. 

Le jardin d’Alice et Théo | October 25 | Cinquième Salle 
Arthur L’aventurier | Africanimaux | November 29 | Cinquième Salle 
 

SONS ET BRIOCHES 

For over 50 years, the series Sons et brioches has been introducing children aged 3 to 8 to the performing arts in the intimate atmosphere of Piano nobile de la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. Music, theater and puppetry are the order of the day for awakening their artistic curiosity, always accompanied by the traditional delicious pastry that’s become the series signature. 

Opéra-Bonbon I September 27 I Piano nobile de la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier 
Mokatek et l’étoile disparue I November 15 I Piano nobile de la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier – this indigenous folktale echoes the program for the Micro ouvert autochtone event. 
 

ARTS ET MONDE SERIES 

As part of the Arts et monde series, Mariachi Herencia de México and its 14 virtuoso musicians will be serving up a color-packed show for the Day of the Dead, shining a spotlight on traditional Mexican music. After selling out her show at Cinquième Salle in 2025, Maryna Krut, a star from Ukraine, returns with a celestial voice and her iconic bandura. Two performances by artists who showcase their music traditions. 

Mariachi Herencia de México | La nueva generación tour | November 1 I Théâtre Maisonneuve 
Maryna Krut | November 8 | Cinquième Salle 

5 À 7 MUSICAUX SERIES 

The 5 à 7 musicaux will be back this fall at Place des Arts to introduce us to some of the up-and-coming musicians in our city. In partnership with Nuits d’Afrique, Vision Diversité and the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal as well as the faculties of music at Université de Montréal, Université du Québec à Montréal, Concordia University and McGill University, these 20 or so inviting rendezvous will set the tone for early evenings and add that much more fun to your pre-show cultural experience. 
 

Complete program at Place des Arts 

Between now and the end of November, close to one hundred wide-ranging shows will be presented at Place des Arts by its resident organizations and its partner producers. Some of the highlights: La Dame aux camélias by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, choreographed by Peter Quanz, from September 23 to 27 at Théâtre Maisonneuve; Puccini’s Turandot, which will open the Opéra de Montréal season from September 26 to October 4 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier; Holst’s The Planets, conducted for the first time by Yannick Nézet-Séguin with the Orchestre Métropolitain on September 20 at Maison symphonique; and 24 poses (portraits) by Serge Boucher, with Guylaine Tremblay and Martin Drainville, presented by Duceppe from September 2 to October 3 at Théâtre Jean-Duceppe. Numerous headliners and a wide range of shows will be joining these events, a reflection of the richness of Place des Arts’ programming.

Source: 
Géraldine Zaccardelli, Communications and Public Relations Manager at Place des Arts, gzaccardelli@placedesarts.com 

Media relations: 
Mélissa Roy, Account Manager at Roy&Turner, mroy@roy-turner.com