When the October rain rolls in, Montreal’s museums are the best plan in town. Here are 10 exhibitions on now, based on Tourisme Montréal’s fall 2026 museum guide. Closing dates are included, so check them before you go.
Downtown and the Golden Square Mile
1. Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles (MMFA, to Feb. 14, 2027)
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presents the largest solo exhibition to date of the Japanese artist, famous for immersive installations made of red, black or white thread, covering more than three decades of work.
2. Allison Katz: Jeu d’esprit (MMFA, to March 14, 2027)
Major recent works and brand-new paintings in an exhibition design Katz conceived specifically for the museum.
3. Beyond the Pedestal (MMFA, to March 7, 2027)
Sculptures from the museum’s collection, from the 1960s to today, displayed on the floor, on the walls and suspended in the air.
4. Carrie Allison: askōhtēskanohwē (McCord Stewart Museum, to Jan. 31, 2027)
A new body of work inspired by floral beadwork traditions connected to the artist’s nêhiýaw and Métis maternal territories.
5. Álvaro Siza at the Canadian Centre for Architecture (to Jan. 3, 2027)
The Fortune of the City is That it Has Never Been Perfect explores the Portuguese architect’s urban projects through drawings, models and sketchbooks from his archive.
Quartier des Spectacles
6. Corridart: The Exhibition That Vanished Overnight (MEM, to Nov. 22)
A story of censorship and public art during the 1976 Olympics, part of the city’s 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Games. Last call: it closes next month.
7. Free exhibitions at VOX (to Nov. 28)
The artist-run centre on the 4th floor of Le 2-22 offers free exhibitions devoted to the image, including Carl Trahan’s What Is a Shadow That It Must Be Captured?
Griffintown and Old Montreal
8. ELEKTRA Biennial: F(R)ICTION: Arts and Games (Arsenal, to Nov. 15)
Works by artists from art schools and from game design, side by side at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal.
9. Heroes of Greece. The Age of Troy (Pointe-à-Callière, to March 7, 2027)
The blockbuster of the season: nearly 400 authentic objects from 28 Greek museums and archaeological sites, guided by the story of the Iliad.
10. Alley-oop (Pointe-à-Callière, to Jan. 10, 2027)
An all-ages interactive adventure through Montreal’s back alleys, with projections and motion detection. Great for kids.
Before You Go
Hours, prices and free-admission days vary, so check each museum’s website. Then pair your visit with a cozy meal: see our French onion soup guide or browse more things to do in Montreal. Bonne visite!
More on MTL365
- Cup Final Night: CF Montréal Host Forge FC for the Voyageurs Cup at Stade Saputo
- The Best Steak Frites in Montreal: 12 Spots for the Perfect Bistro Classic
- Cabinet Day in Quebec City: What to Watch as the PQ Names Its New Ministers
- More things to do in Montreal on MTL365
Photo: Acediscovery / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Sources: Tourisme Montréal
