Top 10 Things to Do in Montreal in December 2026
December in Montreal means early dark, cold cheeks and a lot of warm rooms to duck into. The markets light up downtown and by Atwater, the big halls at Place des Arts fill with ballet and acrobats, and the museums open new winter shows you can take your time with on a snowy afternoon.
We picked these 10 because they actually happen in December 2026, they suit different budgets and ages, and each one is easy to reach by metro. Every date and price below was checked on the official page on November 8, 2026. Tickets for the holiday shows go fast, so book early if one catches your eye.
1 Grand Marché de Noël de Montréal
The big downtown Christmas market takes over Place des Festivals, right in the Quartier des spectacles, with a giant Christmas tree at its centre. Entry is free, so it works as a quick after-work stroll or a full evening out. When your toes go numb, head into the Orangerie, a heated restaurant with live jazz at 6 pm, 7:30 pm and 9 pm (the organizer suggests booking). On Saturdays, the “samedis enchantés” bring Christmas choirs. It is also one of the few things open on December 24 and 25, from 11 am to 7 pm.
- When
- Nov 13, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027
- Where
- Place des Festivals, 1499 Rue Jeanne-Mance (Place-des-Arts metro)
- Price
- Free entry
- Good to know
- Open Dec 24 and 25, 11 am to 7 pm
2 Village de Noël de Montréal at Atwater Market
This is the smaller, more family-minded sister of the downtown market, set up at the corner of Saint-Ambroise and Atwater, steps from Atwater Market and the Lachine Canal. You’ll find 59 Quebec artisans, so it’s a good place to tick off gifts that weren’t made in a factory. Kids get the Royaume des lutins, Santa’s office and more than 90 free activities, plus two free shows. Grown-ups tend to drift toward the raclette. It’s mostly a weekend affair until December 20, then open daily until Christmas Eve.
- When
- Nov 26 to Dec 24, 2026: Fri 4 to 8 pm, Sat 11 am to 8 pm, Sun 11 am to 6 pm; daily Dec 21 to 24
- Where
- 3325 Rue Saint-Ambroise, by Atwater Market (Lionel-Groulx metro)
- Price
- Free programming
- Good to know
- Dec 24 hours are 11 am to 3 pm
3 The Nutcracker, Les Grands Ballets
For a lot of Montreal families, December isn’t December without Fernand Nault’s Nutcracker. Les Grands Ballets bring nearly 165 performers to the stage of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, with Tchaikovsky played live by the 55-musician Grands Ballets Orchestra. The show runs about 2 hours 9 minutes with an intermission, and it’s recommended for ages 5 and up. Afternoon shows at 2 pm are easier for small kids. Youth 17 and under get 30% off the regular adult rate. See the official page for prices.
- When
- Dec 5 to 30, 2026 (2 pm and 7:30 pm shows)
- Where
- Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts (Place-des-Arts metro)
- Price
- See the official page; 30% off for ages 17 and under
- Good to know
- Recommended for ages 5+
4 HEREDIS, an Assassin's Creed show by Les 7 Doigts
Montreal’s own 7 Fingers (Les 7 Doigts) bring Assassin’s Creed to the stage, with 17 performers doing acrobatics, parkour and choreographed combat. The story follows Naël, who has spent eight years believing his father is still alive, until a mysterious letter pulls him, his siblings and friends into trials that cross the centuries. You don’t need to have played the games to follow it. The run is short and some dates were showing as sold out when we checked, so look at availability first.
- When
- Dec 5 to 20, 2026 (2 pm or 7:30 pm)
- Where
- Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts (Place-des-Arts metro)
- Price
- $72.59 to $180.56, taxes and fees included
5 Nagano Conducts Bach's Christmas Oratorio, OSM
Kent Nagano returns to the OSM podium for Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, with the OSM Chorus and four soloists: soprano Carolyn Sampson, mezzo Olivia Vermeulen, tenor Sebastian Kohlhepp and bass Derek Welton. It opens with “Jauchzet, frohlocket!”, all trumpets and timpani, which is about as festive as music gets. The Maison symphonique’s warm wood suits it well. Come early: from 6:30 pm there’s a free pre-concert at Espace OSM with emerging local musicians. Plan for about 2 hours 20 minutes with intermission.
- When
- Dec 8 and 9, 2026, 7:30 pm
- Where
- Maison symphonique, 1600 Rue Saint-Urbain (Place-des-Arts metro)
- Price
- See the official page for prices
6 Holiday Traditions: Le Vent du Nord with the OSM
Quebec trad band Le Vent du Nord celebrates 25 years with the OSM, conducted by Dina Gilbert, in symphonic versions of songs like “Lanlaire”, “Au régiment” and “Les amants du St-Laurent”. Pianist Marianne Trudel also premieres a new OSM commission, “Le Grand Rêve du Vent”. The concert runs about 75 minutes. The best part may come after: at 9:15 pm the Antonia-Nantel Foyer turns into a holiday party, with caller Pierre Chartrand leading the dancing and the band Cotillon playing live. Wear shoes you can dance in.
- When
- Thursday, Dec 17, 2026, 8 pm
- Where
- Maison symphonique, 1600 Rue Saint-Urbain (Place-des-Arts metro)
- Price
- See the official page for prices
- Good to know
- Foyer dance party from 9:15 pm
7 Heroes of Greece: The Age of Troy, Pointe-à-Callière
If you haven’t caught this one yet, December is a good time. Pointe-à-Callière brings together close to 400 authentic objects from 28 Greek museums and archaeological sites, tracing where the stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey come from, from the Bronze Age to Homer’s Iron Age. It’s co-organized with Greece’s Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Pair it with a walk through Old Montreal under the lights. Note the holiday hours: closed December 25 and January 1, open 10 am to 5 pm on December 24 and 31.
- When
- Until Mar 7, 2027; Tue to Fri 10 am to 5 pm, Sat and Sun 11 am to 5 pm
- Where
- 350 Place Royale, Old Montreal
- Price
- $30 adult (31 to 64), taxes included
- Good to know
- Closed Dec 25 and Jan 1
8 Anne Kahane: Structures, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
A quieter pick for a snowy afternoon on Sherbrooke Street. The MMFA looks at Anne Kahane (1924-2023), whom the museum calls one of the most important Montreal sculptors of her generation. The show pairs two complete print series, the 1973-1975 “Structure” etchings and the 2010-2011 “Canti” woodblocks, with selected sculptures, and the centrepiece is three pine sculptures from 1968. Seeing the prints next to the carved wood shows how she moved between flat and solid forms. It’s a small, focused show, easy to fit in before a walk down to the Christmas lights.
- When
- Nov 19, 2026 to Apr 4, 2027
- Where
- MMFA, 1380 Sherbrooke St. West (Guy-Concordia metro)
- Price
- See the official page for tickets
9 Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves, McCord Stewart Museum
This new show brings together 39 Indigenous artists from more than 30 nations, curated by Wanda Nanibush and Sage Paul. It blurs the lines between contemporary art, fashion, craft and traditional practice, and shows art as central to storytelling, ceremony and healing. Opening week (November 26 to 28) has fashion, performance and a symposium. If you’re bringing kids, there’s a family trail for ages 6 to 12. The museum is downtown across from McGill, a short walk from McGill metro, so it’s an easy warm stop on a shopping day.
- When
- Nov 26, 2026 to Sep 6, 2027
- Where
- McCord Stewart Museum, downtown (McGill metro)
- Good to know
- Family trail for ages 6 to 12
10 Le Petit Prince, Monument-National
For the slow days between Christmas and New Year’s, this one-hour staging of Saint-Exupéry’s story mixes theatre, visual arts and digital “augmented” magic. Hoël Le Corre plays the title role, and actor Philippe Torreton voices Saint-Exupéry. The production returns after runs in Paris and Quebec. It’s performed in French and recommended for ages 7 and up, so it’s a nice outing for kids who already know the book. With 11 am and 3 pm shows, you can fit in lunch nearby on Saint-Laurent.
- When
- Dec 27 and 28, 2026, 11 am and 3 pm
- Where
- Ludger-Duvernay Theatre, Monument-National (Saint-Laurent metro)
- Price
- $89.83, taxes and fees included
- Good to know
- In French, 1 hour, ages 7+
Plans change, especially around the holidays. Check each official page before you head out, dress in layers, and keep a hot chocolate budget.
Checked on November 8, 2026. Details can change, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Questions people ask
Is the Christmas market in Montreal free?
Yes. Noël Montréal, which runs both the Grand Marché de Noël at Place des Festivals and the Village de Noël near Atwater Market, says all its events are free and open to everyone. Some optional paid experience passes are available, and you pay for food, drinks and anything you buy from the artisans.
What is open in Montreal on Christmas Day?
The Grand Marché de Noël at Place des Festivals says it is open on December 24 and 25 from 11 am to 7 pm. Many museums close that day: Pointe-à-Callière, for example, is closed on December 25 and January 1. Check each venue's holiday hours before you go.
When is The Nutcracker in Montreal in 2026?
Les Grands Ballets present The Nutcracker from December 5 to 30, 2026, at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts. There are afternoon and evening shows, and the ballet runs about 2 hours 9 minutes with an intermission. Youth 17 and under get 30% off the regular adult rate.
Sources
- Noël Montréal FAQ noelmontreal.ca
- Noël Montréal official site noelmontreal.ca
- Village de Noël de Montréal noelmontreal.ca
- Les Grands Ballets: The Nutcracker grandsballets.com
- Place des Arts: HEREDIS, an Assassin's Creed show placedesarts.com
- OSM: Nagano Conducts Bach's Christmas Oratorio osm.ca
- OSM: Holiday Traditions, Le Vent du Nord osm.ca
- Pointe-à-Callière: Heroes of Greece, The Age of Troy pacmusee.qc.ca
- Pointe-à-Callière: Hours and rates pacmusee.qc.ca
- MMFA: Anne Kahane, Structures mbam.qc.ca
- MMFA: Exhibitions mbam.qc.ca
- McCord Stewart Museum: Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves musee-mccord-stewart.ca
- Place des Arts: Le Petit Prince d'Antoine de Saint-Exupéry placedesarts.com
Images are AI illustrations, not photos of the places or people featured.
