Top 10 Free Things to Do in Montreal in December 2026
December in Montreal can get expensive fast: gifts, parties, dinners out. The good news is that some of the best parts of the month cost nothing. You can skate under projections downtown, hear a boys’ choir in the Oratory basilica, see the old Ogilvy windows, and count down to 2027 on the Old Port quays.
We picked these 10 because they’re free at the core, and we checked each one on the organizers’ own pages. Where something costs extra, like skate rental or a carousel ride, we say so plainly. Where a 2026 detail isn’t posted yet, we tell you that too.
1 Noël dans le parc
Noël dans le parc is back for its 33rd year, starting December 4. Tourisme Montréal and Bonjour Québec both list it at Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau this year, with more than 75 free shows and family activities, Quebec musicians, a torchlight parade and a winter solstice celebration with First Nations artists.
There is also a new holiday market of about 30 local artisans. Browsing is free, but what you buy is not. The organizer’s own site is still marked as under construction and hasn’t posted the 2026 schedule or hours yet, so check it before you head out. Dress warmly: everything happens outdoors.
- When
- From Dec 4, 2026 (listed to Dec 25; organizer mentions activities to Dec 31)
- Where
- Parc La Fontaine, the Plateau (per tourism listings)
- Price
- Free admission; market purchases extra
- Good to know
- 2026 schedule and hours not posted yet
2 Ogilvy Christmas windows at the McCord Stewart Museum
For many Montrealers, Christmas started at the old Ogilvy windows. The McCord Stewart Museum now keeps them, and they run from November 6, 2026 to January 10, 2027. The Mill in the Forest sits outside on the Victoria pedestrian street and is free at all times, day or night.
Inside, on the second floor, The Enchanted Village and a collection of Santa figurines are free for anyone 17 and under, and adults are asked for a voluntary donation. Kids can grab a free Santa scavenger hunt booklet (best for ages 3 to 11) at the admissions desk.
- When
- Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027
- Where
- 690 Sherbrooke St. West
- Price
- Outdoor window free; indoor free for 17 and under, donation suggested for adults
3 Free first Sunday at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
On Sunday, December 6, the first Sunday of the month, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts opens its collection for free to Quebec residents. You need a reservation, so book on the museum’s site before you go. The free admission covers the collection, not the paid exhibitions.
If you’re 25 or under, you don’t need to wait for a Sunday: the museum is free for you every day it’s open. Doors are open 10 am to 5 pm. On other weeks, remember the museum is closed on Mondays.
- When
- Sun Dec 6, 2026, 10 am to 5 pm
- Where
- 1380 Sherbrooke St. West
- Price
- Collection free for Quebec residents with a reservation; always free for 25 and under
4 Free Wednesday evenings at the McCord Stewart Museum
Every Wednesday the McCord Stewart Museum stays open until 9 pm, and admission is free from 5 pm. It’s an easy after-work plan: come in from the cold and see Indigenous Voices of Today and Carrie Allison: askōhtēskanohwē without paying a cent.
Be precise about one thing: the major exhibitions are not part of the free evening. They cost $10 (taxes included) or $12 at the door. The Christmas windows (see pick 2) are free outside at any hour, so stop by on your way in.
- When
- Wednesdays, 5 to 9 pm
- Where
- 690 Sherbrooke St. West
- Price
- Free from 5 pm; major exhibitions $10 online, $12 at the door
5 Santa's Kingdom at Complexe Desjardins
When it’s too cold outside, head underground. From November 21 to December 24, 2026, the Grande-Place at Complexe Desjardins becomes Santa’s Kingdom, part of the complex’s 50th anniversary. Getting in is free, and so are most of the activities.
Two things cost money: the carousel and the mini train, at $3 plus tax per ride. Bring a few coins if you have little ones. The Boreal Fountain show runs every hour starting at 4 pm. Place-des-Arts is the closest metro station.
- When
- Nov 21 to Dec 24, 2026
- Where
- 150 Sainte-Catherine St. West (Place-des-Arts metro)
- Price
- Free entry; carousel and mini train $3 plus tax
6 Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal Christmas concert
The boys’ choir of the Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal gives its traditional Christmas concert in the Basilica of Saint Joseph’s Oratory on Sunday, December 13, at 3:30 pm. Admission is free, and the Oratory asks for a voluntary contribution if you can give one.
Conductor and musical director Andrew Gray invites the audience to sing along, so warm up your voice on the climb. The concert is in the Basilica at the top of the Oratory, so leave time for the climb and arrive early for a good seat.
- When
- Sun Dec 13, 2026, 3:30 pm
- Where
- 3800 chemin Queen-Mary, Côte-des-Neiges
- Price
- Free; voluntary contribution requested
7 Esplanade Tranquille rink
The big rink in the Quartier des spectacles is free for everyone, at all times. It covers about 1,500 m² and holds up to 400 skaters, and after dark a video projection system lights up the ice. Watch for musical skating nights and holiday programming.
Skating is free, but skate, helmet and lock rental from the Patin Patin counter costs extra; bring your own skates and you pay nothing. Changing rooms and lockers are in the pavilion, and all locks are cut at midnight. The rink is planned to reopen in mid-November 2026; the exact date hasn’t been posted yet.
- When
- Reopening planned mid-November 2026, exact date to be confirmed
- Where
- 1442 rue Clark, at Sainte-Catherine (Place-des-Arts or Saint-Laurent metro)
- Price
- Free skating; rentals extra
8 Beaver Lake rink on Mount Royal
Skating on Mount Royal is a classic December outing. The refrigerated rink at Beaver Lake, next to the Pavillon du Lac-aux-Castors, is free to use. Bring your own skates and the whole afternoon costs nothing.
Rental is where the money goes: for 2026–2027, a two-hour skate rental is $25 for adults and $12.50 for 17 and under. Les amis de la montagne posts holiday rental hours starting December 21, but the rink’s opening date for the season isn’t posted yet. Parking nearby is paid, so the bus is the cheaper way up.
- Where
- Beside the Pavillon du Lac-aux-Castors, Mount Royal Park
- Price
- Free skating; skate rental $25 adults, $12.50 for 17 and under (2 hours)
- Good to know
- Season opening date not posted yet
9 Sledding on Mount Royal and city hills
All you need is a sled and some snow. The City of Montréal lists dozens of hills where sliding is free. On Mount Royal, use the free sliding corridor with your own sled; the inner tube slide is the paid option, at $25 for adults and $12.50 for ages 4 to 17 per day (taxes extra, 20% off after 4 pm).
For a view, try the Ignace-Bourget hill, which looks straight at downtown. Parks with snow machines, like Francesca-Cabrini and Félix-Leclerc, stretch the season. Everything depends on snow, so check the city’s hill conditions page first.
- When
- When there's snow; check the city's conditions page
- Where
- Mount Royal, Ignace-Bourget, Ahuntsic and many other parks
- Price
- Free with your own sled; Mount Royal tube slide $25 adults, $12.50 ages 4 to 17
10 Grand Minuit, New Year's Eve at the Old Port
Ring in 2027 on the Quai Jacques-Cartier in the Old Port. Grand Minuit is free for everyone, with activities starting at 7:30 pm and a single big countdown and show at midnight. Wear boots with grip and more layers than you think.
If you want warmth, the paid VIP terraces have heating, private bars and washrooms, and a raised view; the organizer says tickets are coming soon. The STM runs the metro about two hours later than usual at the regular fare. Champ-de-Mars is the closest station.
- When
- Thu Dec 31, 2026, from 7:30 pm
- Where
- Quai Jacques-Cartier, Old Port (Champ-de-Mars metro)
- Price
- Free; paid VIP terraces (tickets coming soon)
Dates and hours can shift with the weather, so check each organizer’s page before you go. Dress in layers, bring your own skates and sled if you have them, and keep a few dollars for hot chocolate.
Checked on November 8, 2026. Details can change, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Questions people ask
Is outdoor skating free in Montreal?
Yes, at many rinks. The Esplanade Tranquille rink in the Quartier des spectacles is free at all times, and the refrigerated Beaver Lake rink on Mount Royal is free too. You only pay if you rent skates: at Beaver Lake, a two-hour rental is $25 for adults and $12.50 for 17 and under this season.
Is the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts free on the first Sunday of December 2026?
Yes. On Sunday, December 6, 2026, the collection is free for Quebec residents, but you must reserve ahead. Paid exhibitions are not included. Visitors 25 and under get in free every day the museum is open, so they don't need to wait for the first Sunday.
Is New Year's Eve at the Old Port in Montreal free?
Yes. Grand Minuit on the Quai Jacques-Cartier is free for all ages, with activities from 7:30 pm on December 31 and a countdown at midnight. Heated VIP terraces with private bars are a paid option. The metro runs about two hours later than usual at the regular fare.
Sources
- Noël dans le parc official site noeldansleparc.com
- Tourisme Montréal: Noël dans le parc mtl.org
- Bonjour Québec: Noël dans le parc bonjourquebec.com
- McCord Stewart Museum: Christmas mechanical window displays musee-mccord-stewart.ca
- McCord Stewart Museum: Opening hours musee-mccord-stewart.ca
- MMFA: Hours and admission mbam.qc.ca
- McCord Stewart Museum: Admission fees musee-mccord-stewart.ca
- Tourisme Montréal: Royaume du Père Noël, Complexe Desjardins mtl.org
- Saint Joseph's Oratory: Traditional Christmas concert of the Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal 2026 saint-joseph.org
- Tourisme Montréal: Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal concert mtl.org
- Quartier des spectacles: Esplanade Tranquille skating rink quartierdesspectacles.com
- Tourisme Montréal: Patinoire de l'esplanade Tranquille mtl.org
- Les amis de la montagne: Equipment rental and tube sledding lemontroyal.qc.ca
- Tourisme Montréal: Patinoire réfrigérée du lac aux Castors mtl.org
- Ville de Montréal: Où glisser à Montréal montreal.ca
- Ville de Montréal: Parc du Mont-Royal montreal.ca
- Grand Minuit official site grandminuit.ca
Images are AI illustrations, not photos of the places or people featured.
