Montreal’s street art scene is one of the most vibrant in North America—an open-air gallery filled with monumental murals, graffiti heritage, cultural interventions, and year-round artistic activity. From the world-famous MURAL Festival to community-driven graffiti battles at Under Pressure, the city offers endless opportunities for exploration and creative immersion.

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1. MURAL Festival (June 5–15, 2025)

Location: Saint-Laurent Boulevard (Sherbrooke → Mont-Royal), in Plateau–Mont-Royal and Mile-End.

What to Expect

• 20+ new murals created live by international and local artists

• Digital art installations and immersive exhibitions

• Live music, DJs, performances, and open-air celebrations

• Interactive events, workshops, and family-friendly programming

• A “10 years of MURAL” VR retrospective (June 10–15 at WIP)

• Giant inflatable art structures forming an “inflatable village”

2025 Artist Highlights

Belin (Spain), Hera (Germany), HOXXOH (USA), Zéh Palito (Brazil), Satr (China/UK), Sebastián Ayala (Costa Rica), TEO (France), Whatisadam (Canada), Kezna Dalz (Canada)

Special Event

Lexus x MURAL artistic collaboration featuring a live transformation of a Lexus model into a painted installation with music (June 14).

Why Go

One of the largest urban art festivals in North America, accessible, free, and electrifying.

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2. Under Pressure Festival (August 2025)

Location: Sainte-Catherine Est (Saint-Dominique → Sainte-Élisabeth)

What’s Involved

• Graffiti battles and live wall painting

• Hip-hop culture showcases

• Street dance battles and DJ sets

• Youth workshops and community art programming

Why It Matters

Founded in 1996, it’s the longest-running urban culture festival in North America, anchored in grassroots values and community expression.

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3. Street Art Tours in Montreal

Guided Tours

Spade & Palacio

Offers the “Montréal Original Mural Tour,” focusing on Plateau/Mile-End murals, local history, and artist stories.

Fitz Montréal

Provides 2-hour “Street Art E-Bike Tours,” covering Plateau, Downtown, and Mile-End.

Guidatour

Seasonal mural walks in Old Montreal and surrounding districts.

Self-Guided Options

TourBird App

Audio tours including “The Plateau’s Maze of Murals.”

Art Public Montréal

Maps, podcasts, downloadable guides, and curated routes across the city.

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4. Related Events & Public Art Initiatives

DARE-DARE

Artist-run center producing public art interventions, installations, and collaborations across Montreal.

VIVA! Art Action (Returning Fall 2025)

Biennial performance art festival with experimental and tactile live works presented in indoor/outdoor spaces.

Art Souterrain

Transforms Montreal’s Underground City into a temporary art circuit during Nuit Blanche and select seasonal exhibitions.

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5. Festival Comparison Table

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6. Tips for Visiting Montreal’s Street Art Scene

• Visit in June to experience MURAL at its peak with live painting and large-scale events.

• Come in August for Under Pressure’s authentic graffiti and hip-hop atmosphere.

• Explore year-round via mural tours or Art Public Montréal’s free routes.

• Look beyond Saint-Laurent — neighborhoods like the Plateau, Mile-End, Côte-des-Neiges, and Little Burgundy offer stunning permanent murals.

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Brands / Places Mentioned

Art Public Montréal
Art Souterrain
Spade & Palacio
Fitz Montréal
TourBird
Lexus

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Sources

https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events/mural-festival-montreal
https://artpublicmontreal.ca
https://muralfestival.com/about
https://montreal.citynews.ca
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Pressure_%28festival%29
https://montrealtravelblog.com/montreal-street-art
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dare-Dare
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIVA%21_Art_Action
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Souterrain
https://boulevardsaintlaurent.com
https://www.mspfestival.com
https://maplevoyagediary.com
https://montrealrampage.com
https://www.streetartcalls.com
https://montreall.com