News
October 14, 2026
Holidays at the McCord Stewart Museum
Press Release
Reconnect with your inner child
Montreal, October 14, 2026. – The magic of the holidays returns to the McCord Stewart Museum from November 6, 2026, to January 10, 2027. Thanks to the support of Place Montréal Trust, Presenting Partner, and Power Corporation of Canada, Premier Partner – Montreal Stories, visitors will be able to reconnect with their inner child as they marvel at the iconic mechanical Christmas windows from Ogilvy’s department store, which have been delighting Montrealers for over 75 years. The Mill in the Forest will be installed outdoors in Museum Alley, while—new this year—21 Santa Claus figurines from the Macdonald Stewart Foundation Collection will be presented alongside The Enchanted Village, inside the Museum.
The three current exhibitions and a rich lineup of fun, creative activities for children and adults alike round out the holiday programming. On Saturday, November 14, the Museum is also bringing back its hugely popular special pyjama day. A wide range of free family activities will mark the launch of the Holidays at the Museum programming.
Preserving and presenting Ogilvy’s remarkable mechanical Christmas windows requires significant human and financial resources each year. To ensure the longevity of this unique heritage, the McCord Stewart Museum is once again calling on the public’s generosity through its SOS Conservation fundraising campaign. By making a donation, everyone can help sustain this family tradition, passed down from generation to generation.
Free access to The Mill in the Forest, outside on Sherbrooke Street. Access to The Enchanted Village inside the Museum included with admission to the exhibitions ($2 discount online – always free for visitors 17 and under) or by voluntary contribution. The same conditions apply to the holiday programming activities. Full admission details–>
“For the third year in a row, Place Montréal Trust is proud to invite the public to experience the magic of the holiday season by showcasing the McCord Stewart Museum’s programming and the famous mechanical Christmas windows, a unique Montreal tradition that people delight in rediscovering year after year. To make the experience even more special, Place Montréal Trust is offering a $10 gift card with the purchase of Museum tickets and inviting the public to enter a major contest with over $3,000 in gift cards to be won. A wonderful opportunity to treat yourself or spoil your loved ones! After exploring the Museum, we invite visitors to linger downtown and take in the many holiday activities at Place Montréal Trust, including the dazzling Christmas tree and roaming performances that will immerse young and old alike in a festive world filled with colourful, playful characters,” says Mélyssa Houle, General Manager of Place Montréal Trust, a property managed by JLL Real Estate Services.
“I would like to warmly thank our partners—Place Montréal Trust, Power Corporation of Canada and the Macdonald Stewart Foundation—who make it possible for us to offer festive, intergenerational holiday programming. This tradition also relies on the generosity of the partners and donors who support the SOS Conservation fundraising campaign, led by the Museum’s Foundation to preserve these animated windows, emblematic of Montreal’s cultural heritage, for future generations.” — Anne Eschapasse, President and CEO of the McCord Stewart Museum
Ogilvy’s mechanical Christmas windows
Friday, November 6, 2026, to Sunday, January 10, 2027
Every holiday season since 1947, the mechanical windows of La Maison Ogilvy have enchanted Montrealers! Custom-made by German toy manufacturer Steiff, these displays transport visitors into a picturesque scene where a host of animals handcrafted by the company come to life. Comparable to those of other great department stores around the world, like Macy’s in New York or Galeries Lafayette in Paris, they are among the last of their kind in North America. Since 2018, the Museum has been proud to preserve these windows and ensure the longevity of this iconic Montreal tradition.
Presented at the Museum for the first time, the Macdonald Stewart Foundation’s collection of Santa Claus figurines will complement the experience of the famous mechanical Christmas windows. Assembled over the years by Liliane Stewart, these handcrafted pieces celebrate this quintessential symbol of the holiday season in a wide variety of forms, costumes, expressions and settings.
Concours Holidays at the Museum contest
The McCord Stewart Museum and Place Montréal Trust are offering visitors a golden opportunity to share unique, memorable gifts with their loved ones. From November 14 to December 22, 2026, a $500 gift card and a one year Exclusive Access membership to the Museum (valued at $135) will be awarded each week, along with a $1,000 grand prize (drawn on December 23). In total, over $3,500 in prizes are up for grabs. Full details on the Museum’s website.
Three exhibitions to discover
Alongside Ogilvy’s iconic mechanical windows, the holiday season is the perfect time to explore the Museum’s three current exhibitions:
Carrie Allison: askōhtēskanohwē
In the exhibition Carrie Allison: askōhtēskanohwē, created as part of the Artist-in-Residence program and the 8th edition of the Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone, the multidisciplinary visual artist of nêhiyaw and Métis descent draws on beading styles from northwestern Alberta to embark on a process of reconnecting with her history. The exhibition brings together four new beadwork pieces by the artist, eight cultural belongings from the Museum’s Indigenous Cultures collection, an interactive installation and a projection. Until February 28, 2027.
Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves
Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves, an exhibition curated by Wanda Nanibush and Sage Paul, brings together some 40 Indigenous artists from around the world whose practices redefine the boundaries between contemporary art, culture, fashion, design and traditional know-how. November 26, 2026, to September 6, 2027
Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience
Finally, the permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience highlights the still unrecognized knowledge of Indigenous peoples, as well as the deep wounds they carry and their incredible resilience.
Fun and creative family activities
Family Seek and Find – Ogilvy’s mechanical windows
Ongoing, Friday, November 6, 2026, to January 10, 2027
Take a close look at Ogilvy’s mechanical Christmas windows and see if you can spot all the adorable characters hiding inside! Free activity sheets are available at the Admissions Desk.
Free activity*, in French and English. Recommended for children aged 3 to 9.
A day to celebrate in pyjamas
Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Free – Reservation required
To celebrate the return of Ogilvy’s traditional mechanical Christmas windows, the Museum—in collaboration with Place Montréal Trust—is hosting a pyjama day filled with activities. In the Museum’s education spaces, storyteller and historian Eric Michaud—in costume and with a keen sense of theatricality—will take the audience on a journey through stories that spark children’s imaginations (in French and English; the 10:30 a.m. session in French will be interpreted in sign language). In the Ionescu-Xiao Family Atrium, the Rooted Stories creative workshop will spark creativity and imagination. A face-painting station will round out the special activities. The exhibitions Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience and Carrie Allison: askōhtēskanohwē, as well as the activity Natu-natshishkueu: The Adventure of Connection, will be open all day.
Family workshop – Rooted Stories: When Plants Tell the Story of Place
On Saturdays December 5, 12 and 19, 2026, and every day from Sunday, December 20, 2026, to Sunday, January 3, 2027, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The workshop takes a break from noon to 1 p.m.
Inspired by the world of Carrie Allison, this family workshop invites participants to discover a plant native to Quebec and create its portrait. By observing its shapes, its habitat and its relationships with the living world, participants imagine the stories it might hold.
Free activity*, in French and English. Space limited, no reservations. Recommended for children aged 6 and up (parental presence required).
Family trail – Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves
Ongoing, November 26, 2026, to September 6, 2027
Through this trail designed for the whole family, participants are invited to explore works that tell of relationships of reciprocity, respect and interdependence between animals, plants, spirits, ancestors and the forces of the land.
Free activity*, in French and English. Recommended for children aged 6 to 12.
Natu-natshishkueu: The Adventure of Connection
Ongoing
This engaging activity invites families to explore the exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience using a free activity sheet that leads them on an adventure of discovery and encounter among Indigenous nations.
Free activity*, in French and English. Recommended for children aged 6 to 11.
Presented by Hydro-Québec.
The new Marché Saint-Laurent boutique at the Museum: a must-visit holiday destination!
Café-boutique
This holiday season, the new Marché Saint-Laurent café-boutique invites the public to discover a carefully curated selection of objects, books and local creations inspired by Montreal’s creative richness. This vibrant space showcases the work of artists, artisans and designers who shape the city and its stories. It’s the perfect stop to find gifts that champion craftsmanship, creativity and buying local—and to enjoy a tasty break with the family.
Access to the café-boutique does not require a ticket to the Museum.
Give the gift of culture
Two options are available:
A Museum membership is a wonderful way to give the gift of a year of culture. Two options are available:
- Unlimited Visits membership: for just $35, members can visit the Museum as often as they like for a full year.
- Exclusive Access membership: for $135, members can visit the Museum with a guest at any time, enjoy free admission to more than 300 North American museums with the ROAM card, and take advantage of exclusive guided tours, event invitations and a 15%* discount at the Marché Saint-Laurent café-boutique at the Museum, as well as at cultural partner venues.
Opening hours and admission
Opening hours
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Special opening hours:
| Monday, December 21: | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Christmas – Friday, December 25: | Closed |
| Boxing Day – Saturday, December 26: | noon to 5 p.m. |
| Monday, December 28: | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| New Year’s Day – Friday, January 1: | Closed |
| Saturday, January 2: | noon to 5 p.m. |
Admission:
Online ticketing (+$2 at the door): Adults: $20 | Seniors: $19 | Students (18 to 30): $15 | Indigenous persons: free | 17 and under: free*
Mechanical Christmas windows: Free access to The Mill in the Forest, located outside in Museum Alley on Sherbrooke Street. Access to The Enchanted Village in the Museum Theatre included with admission to the exhibitions or by voluntary contribution.
Wednesday evenings: free (3rd-floor exhibition: Carrie Allison: askōhtēskanohwē and permanent exhibition) or $10 online (+$2 at the door) (2nd-floor exhibition: Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves).
First Sunday of the month: Pay what you can.
The McCord Stewart Museum would like to thank BMO Financial Group for the free Wednesday evenings, the Fondation J.A. DeSève for free admission for children aged 12 and under, the Rossy Foundation for free admission for young people aged 13 to 17, and the Azrieli Foundation for their generous contribution to the accessibility program on the first Sunday of every month.
*Free admission for ages 17 and under on presentation of ID. Offer valid for general public visits only. Organized groups must refer to the group rates.
*Free for children 12 and under. Maximum of three children per adult. Offer valid for general public visits only. Organized groups must refer to the group rates.
The McCord Stewart Museum
About
A landmark in the heart of Montreal for over 100 years, the McCord Stewart Museum bears witness to the history of Quebec’s metropolis as well as its influence in Canada and around the world, celebrating the vitality, creativity and diversity of the communities that make it up.
The Museum amplifies their voices by interpreting and disseminating the remarkable heritage under its custody: six expansive collections of 3.2 million images, objects, documents and works of art that make it one of North America’s leading museums.
In keeping with its commitment to decolonization and sustainable development, it creates stimulating exhibitions and educational, cultural and community-engagement activities that look at the social history and contemporary issues affecting its audiences through a critical and inclusive lens, inspiring them to take action for a fairer society.




