Montreal Fringe Festival returns with new venues and 10-day theatre marathon
Starting June 12, independent artists perform theatre, music, dance, stand-up, improv, and more—under an hour each, $19 or less. Fringe passes start at $45.
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Montreal's Fringe Festival launches June 12 for ten days of theatre, music, dance, stand-up comedy, improv, puppetry, storytelling, and magic—all bilingual, all determinedly inclusive.
The festival's signature draw is its lottery system: artists are selected by chance, so you never know what's coming. Shows run under an hour, cost $19 or less, and can be stacked back-to-back in a single venue for a full night of variety. Most spaces cluster along Boulevard St-Laurent, though new venues are opening alongside returning favorites.
Key changes this year: the Mainline Theatre closure has created a venue gap, but new spaces have emerged. The beloved 13th Hour continues at Petit Campus, operating bi-nightly and doubling as a late-night talk show hybrid with contests, games, karaoke, performances, and dancing—perfect for those wanting to Fringe past midnight.
The Fringe Park (Parc d'Amérique) runs throughout, featuring live bands including The Tina Trons, The Blood Farts, Matt Ends and the Rivermen, and Roger Sinha. The closing Frankies party celebrates festival prize winners.
Fringe passes offer better value than buying single tickets: the Ménage-à-Trois Pass ($45) covers 3 shows; Gold ($85) gives 6 tickets plus a free beer; Platinum ($135) includes 10 tickets and a beer; Diamond ($395) gets you 30 tickets and two beers. Some dedicated fans schedule multiple shows per evening and pull off seeing everything.
This year's recommended picks include SNAFU's Middle Child (Bouffon clowns confronting family monsters) and British comedian Jimmy Hogg's Mashed. Browse the full lineup at the Fringe website and build your own ten-day journey through Montreal's fiercest independent art scene.