Museums and Culture

A historic downtown greenhouse complex with a domed Palm House and tropical, cactus and seasonal flower displays, a warm green escape in any season. Open every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4:45 p.m.). Admission is free.

The Université de Montréal's art gallery, on the garden level of the Faculté de l'aménagement pavilion, presents exhibitions year round plus works from the university collection shown around the building. From November 27, 2026 to February 27, 2027 it shows D'amours et d'amitiés, a group show on love and friendship. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

UQAM's university gallery for contemporary art in the Judith-Jasmin pavilion, next to Berri-UQAM metro. From November 6, 2026 to January 16, 2027 it shows Rift by Anahita Norouzi and Le ciel était d'un bleu éclatant by Lucia Choulakian. Open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Concordia University's main contemporary art gallery, on the ground floor of the McConnell Library Building downtown. Until December 5, 2026 it presents FOODWAYS, a group show of 12 artists about food and food cultures in photography, print, video, sculpture and installation. Open Tuesday to Friday noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Concordia University's Faculty of Fine Arts gallery, showing contemporary art by students, faculty and invited artists in the EV Building downtown. Open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed weekends and university holidays. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. The fall shows The Earth We Carry and Kandis Friesen's solo exhibition run until November 20, 2026.

A former industrial building downtown that now holds about 25 contemporary art galleries, artist run centres and studios on four floors, all free to visit. Wander from gallery to gallery and see new exhibitions by Quebec and international artists. Each gallery keeps its own hours (many open roughly Wednesday to Saturday afternoons), and some studios are by appointment only.

A free cultural centre on Jean-Talon Street East in Villeray with walk in art exhibitions and a program of free shows and activities. Open Wednesday to Friday noon to 7 pm and Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5 pm (closed Monday and Tuesday). Exhibitions are free; activities are free but need a free pass, released two weeks before the date, on site, online or by phone.

A free cultural centre in Ville-Émard (Sud-Ouest) with walk in art exhibitions and free shows. Open Tuesday to Friday 1 to 5 pm and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, until 8 pm on show nights (closed Sunday and Monday). Exhibitions are free with no ticket; for some shows you can reserve a free ticket from one month ahead at the venue, at four borough libraries or online.

A free cultural centre in NDG, sharing a building with the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce library, with walk in art exhibitions and a free program of shows and concerts. From September 7 to June 24 it is open Tuesday and Wednesday 1 to 7 pm, Thursday and Friday 1 to 6 pm, and weekends 1 to 5 pm (closed Monday and over the holidays, Dec 24 to 26 and Dec 31 to Jan 2). Exhibitions are free with no ticket; shows are free but need a ticket from two weeks before: get it at the front desk to avoid the $2 online fee.

A city run cultural centre in Ahuntsic with free art exhibitions you can walk into, plus a season of shows, concerts and talks. Open Tuesday 1 to 8 pm, Wednesday to Friday 1 to 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm (closed Monday). Exhibitions are always free; most shows are free too but need a free pass, available two weeks ahead: pick it up on site to avoid the $2 online service fee.

Les chroniques éphémères des passants anonymes is a street photography exhibition by Marie-Claude Halde about human presence, solitude and fleeting moments, shown at the Greenfield Park library from November 3, 2026 to January 11, 2027. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 1 to 9 p.m. and weekends 1 to 4:30 p.m. Free.

Plein sud, Longueuil's contemporary art exhibition centre inside Cégep Édouard-Montpetit, presents the final part of Patrick Bérubé's trilogy Écho/Système until December 20, 2026. Open Tuesday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free admission.