For one full month, Sept. 24–Oct. 28, Montreal’s music scene comes alive with the Red Bull Music Academy. The city hosts a wide range of events — club nights, public lectures, live performances and the North American premiere of the virtual reality exhibition Björk Digital — presented at the DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art. The program features acclaimed artists such as Iggy Pop, Tim Hecker, Theo Parrish, The Black Madonna and Suzanne Ciani.
Based at the Phi Centre, the Academy spreads across notable Montreal venues: La Tulipe concert hall, the Montreal Planetarium, the Never Apart cultural center, the outdoor electronic music park Piknic Électronik, and the historic Ludger-Duvernay Theatre inside the Monument-National complex. Seventy artists and presenters were hand-selected to represent a broad spectrum of musical styles, from heavy metal to experimental electronic formats.
The festival blends immersive, forward-thinking experiences with community-focused programming. Visitors can expect late-night club sessions alongside daytime panels and workshops that spotlight creative practice, production techniques and the cultural influences shaping contemporary music. The Björk Digital exhibition, a highlight of the season, brings virtual reality installations that showcase the artist’s innovative audiovisual work.
Montreal’s well-established venues give the festival a varied backdrop: intimate settings for talks and up-close performances, large halls for headline concerts, and outdoor spaces for electronic and ambient presentations. This mix allows artists to present projects in formats that suit their work, while offering audiences diverse ways to engage with performances and installations.
Alongside international headliners, the Academy prioritizes emerging and local talent, creating opportunities for collaboration and exposure. Panels and workshops encourage knowledge-sharing among producers, performers and audiences, while curated club nights and concerts highlight the city’s vibrant nightlife and long-standing musical traditions.
Whether you’re drawn by major performances, experimental audiovisual art or in-depth discussions on music and culture, the Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal delivers a month of programming designed to inspire and challenge. Expect a lively calendar of events across multiple venues, with something for dedicated music fans and curious newcomers alike.