What’s on in Montreal – Some choice arts and entertainment events for September

What’s on in Montréal courtesy of Tourisme Montréal

DANCE

Drawing from the masterful scores of Mozart and Beethoven, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens presents Maestro, a three-part program featuring Petite Mort, Sechs Tänze and Complete. Runs September 12 to 15 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.

EXHIBITIONS

The Olmecs and the Civilizations of the Gulf of Mexico at the Pointe-à-Callière archaeology museum continues until September 15

Last chance to see the The Olmecs and the Civilizations of the Gulf of Mexico at the Pointe-à-Callière archaeology museum. The exhibition explores the first known civilization of Mesoamerica, documenting nearly four millennia of history, trade and cultural traditions that are still shrouded in mystery. Runs to September 15.

Diane Dufresne: L’exposition immersive, Aujourd’hui, hier et pour toujours explores the work and legacy of the beloved Québec diva who celebrates her 80^th birthday this year. Runs at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal from September 13 to October 13.

Over at Bonsecours Market, the prestigious World Press Photo exhibition runs to October 14. Alongside the winning photos from the 2024 edition, the exhibition highlights the work of Quebec photographer Charles-Frédérick Ouellet, the first Quebec winner in 25 years, with a series of large-format photos taken during the wave of forest fires in Quebec in the summer of 2023.

Diane Dufresne: L’exposition immersive, Aujourd’hui, hier et pour toujours runs at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal from September 13 to October 13

DRAG

RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 winner Willow Pill headlines Le National theatre on September 22.

CIRCUS ARTS

Montreal’s Cirque Éloize combines circus arts, theatre and video mapping with history in their acclaimed immersive show Bon Voyage. Directed by Fernand Rainville and presented in the Cirque Éloize studios located in the former Dalhousie Station in Old Montreal – Dalhousie Station was the original eastern terminus for CP Rail – audiences will experience the first all-Canadian transcontinental train trip to Port Moody, British Columbia, departing from Dalhousie Station on June 28, 1886. Family-friendly and bilingual, 60 minutes without intermission, limited seating. Runs to September 15.

Montreal International Black Film Festival runs from September 25 to 29

CINEMA

The 20^th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival runs from September 25 to 29 at various venues.

POP MONTREAL

Presenting more than 200 shows in some 20 venues, the POP Montréal International Music Festival runs from September 25 to 29. Beloved locals headlining this year’s fest include hip-hop stars Nomadic Massive with their 20^th anniversary block party (September 26) at MDP sur De Gaspé, The Barr Brothers (September 26) at Sala Rossa, the STARS + The Dears double-bill at the Rialto Theatre (September 28), and the much-anticipated return of Patrick Watson’s daytime Sacred Sunday (September 29) at MDP sur De Gaspé.

POP MUSIC

The Jim Cuddy Band (September 13), American punk rockers Bad Religion (September 23), and Boston hard rockers Extreme (September 28), all at MTELUS.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show (September 14), the chart-topping teen-idol double-bill Charli XCX & Troye Sivan (September 16), The National and the War on Drugs tour (September 19), PJ Harvey (September 21), and reggae royalty The Marley Brothers (September 30) all headline Place Bell.

American rapper-singer A Boogie wit da Hoodie (September 12), Heavy Metal godfathers and Rock Hall-of-Famers Judas Priest (September 13), Hans Zimmer (September 17), and Twenty One Pilots (September 25) all headline the Bell Centre.

Dubbed “Mr. Montreal” by the CBC, arts and culture journalist and columnist Richard “Bugs” Burnett knows Montreal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.