Programming 2026–2027 – Montreal in All Its Diversity

Indigenous art and Montreal stories take centre stage this fall at the McCord Stewart Museum

Montreal, August 19, 2026 – This fall, the Museum celebrates the vitality of Indigenous art by presenting the work of 40 artists across its three exhibition floors, including Carrie Allison, Christi Belcourt, Rebecca Belmore, Ludovic Bonney, Michel Dumont, Korina Emmerich, Lesley Hampton, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Meryl McMaster, Kent Monkman, Caroline Monnet, Rosanna Raymond, Suzanne Tamaki and Nico Williams. This exceptional lineup includes the temporary exhibitions Carrie Allison: askōhtēskanohwē (opening September 30) and Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves (opening November 27), as well as the permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience. Together, they showcase Indigenous cultures through works that often challenge the borders between contemporary art, culture, fashion, design and traditional knowledge and practices.

The first weeks of fall also offer an opportunity to discover or rediscover Céline in Dior: A Dazzling Moment, Montreal 1976: An Olympic Feat and On the Menu – Montreal: A Restaurant Story, which will close on September 7, September 13 and October 18, respectively.

True to its mission as a place for dialogue and exchange, the Museum also remains a space for celebrating traditions cherished by Montrealers, with the return of the iconic Ogilvy’s Christmas mechanical window displays on November 14.

Finally, the Museum continues its commitment to cultural accessibility by offering free admission to youth aged 17 and under, a “Pay What You Can” admission option on the first Sunday of every month and attractive membership options.

On view this fall

• As part of the Artist-in-Residence program, multidisciplinary artist Carrie Allison is developing a new body of work inspired by floral beadwork traditions connected to her nêhiýaw and Métis maternal territories. Drawing on her research in the Museum’s Indigenous Cultures collection, she explores the close connections between land, memory and material culture. The exhibition Carrie Allison: askōhtēskanohwē is presented from October 2, 2026, to January 31, 2027
  Presented as part of the Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA)
  Presenter: TD Bank Group – Indigenous Cultures programming sponsor
• Sovereign Stitches + Wild Weaves, curated by Wanda Nanibush and Sage Paul, brings together 38 Indigenous artists from over 30 nations whose practices redefine the boundaries between contemporary art, culture, fashion, design and traditional techniques. The Indigenous artworks, clothing and textiles on display explore themes including materialization, queer narratives, cultural embellishment, ornamentation, storytelling, tattooing, trade, activism and preservation. November 27, 2026, to March 29, 2027
  Exhibition partners: TD Bank Group, Indigenous Cultures Programming Sponsor, and Reitmans, Premier Fashion Partner.
• For the eighth consecutive year, visitors of all ages are invited to relive the magic of holidays past with the Ogilvy’s Christmas mechanical window displays: The Mill in the Forest, installed in Museum Alley, and the Enchanted Village inside the Museum. November 6, 2026, to January 10, 2027
  Presented by Place Montréal Trust.
  The Museum’s holiday season will officially launch on Saturday, November 14, with free admission for everyone!

Exhibitions to visit and revisit

The coming weeks offer an opportunity to see or revisit three exhibitions that have already welcomed tens of thousands of visitors to the Museum:

• LAST CHANCE! Nearly 50,000 visits to date – For the first time in North America, the Museum is presenting the sublime Dior gown worn by Céline Dion during her memorable performance on the Eiffel Tower at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Céline in Dior: A Dazzling Moment pays tribute to an exceptional performer, an iconic gown and an unforgettable performance that captivated the world, brought to life through an evocative exhibition design. Until September 7, 2026.
  The exhibition is presented by Reitmans – Premier Fashion Partner, in collaboration with Holt Renfrew Ogilvy – Associate Partner, and La Presse – Media Partner.
• LAST CHANCE! More than 75,000 visits to date – To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, the Museum takes a fresh retrospective look at an event that made history and reshaped the image of the metropolis. Drawing on the Museum’s collections, Montreal 1976: An Olympic Feat revisits the behind-the-scenes story, challenges and successes of this defining event in the city’s history. Until September 13, 2026.
  This project is part of the official program of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games.
• More than 165,000 visits to date! On the Menu – Montreal: A Restaurant Story invites visitors to explore the evolution of Montreal’s restaurant scene in all its forms, from the 1960s to today. From delicatessens to fine dining establishments, the exhibition reveals how a part of the city’s identity has been shaped around the table. Until October 18, 2026.
  Presented by the OVI Fund – The Ionescu Family Foundation, this exhibition is produced with the support of Lightspeed, Innovation Collaborator, the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), Institutional Partner, and Power Corporation of Canada, Premier Partner Montreal Stories.
• The permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience gives voice to members of Quebec’s 11 Indigenous nations and sheds light on knowledge and perspectives that remain too little known, while also bearing witness to the deep wounds and extraordinary resilience of Indigenous peoples.
  Presented by TD Bank Group, Indigenous Cultures Programming Sponsor
  Official broadcaster: CBC/Radio-Canada

Off-site exhibition

The Mountain at the Heart of Montreal, an outdoor exhibition, brings 150 years of Mount Royal Park history to life through some 50 archival photographs from the Museum’s Photography collection. Free and accessible year-round, the exhibition unfolds at several locations, from the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Monument to Beaver Lake, by way of Smith House and the Kondiaronk Lookout chalet.

Created to mark the 150th anniversary of Mount Royal Park, the exhibition is made possible through a gift from Power Corporation of Canada, in partnership with the City of Montreal, and in collaboration with Les Amis de la Montagne. It will be on display throughout the official celebrations organized by the City of Montreal.

Montreal on the Menu Contest: A Year of Dining Out!

Until October 18, 2026, the Montreal on the Menu contest offers participants the chance to win one of the monthly prizes—a meal for two at one of 11 of Montreal’s favourite restaurants—or the grand prize: 12 dining experiences at 12 different establishments over the course of a year. Details and contest rules are available on the Museum’s website.

Céline in Dior x Reitmans Contest

To celebrate the exhibition Céline in Dior: A Dazzling Moment, Reitmans and the McCord Stewart Museum invite the public to enjoy an extraordinary experience. One lucky winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $5,000 in gift cards for a two-person getaway to Paris*, inspired by Céline Dion’s iconic performance on the Eiffel Tower. The contest ends September 7, 2026!

* Prize with an approximate total value of $5,275. Details and contest rules are available on the Museum’s website.