Place des Arts

Welcome to Place des Arts, right in the heart of Montreal’s entertainment district. Dedicated to showcasing the performing arts, this cultural venue was created in 1955 under the leadership of Mayor Jean Drapeau, who aimed to provide the city with modern, world-class infrastructure. With its six performance halls, rehearsal spaces, and costume workshops, it stands as the largest cultural and artistic complex in Canada. That large rotunda-shaped hall in front of you? That’s the Wilfrid-Pelletier Hall, named after the renowned Québécois conductor. Built in 1963, it has remained the country’s largest multipurpose hall ever since, capable of welcoming 3,000 spectators and hosting just about everything: opera, ballet, musicals, rock concerts… It’s home to the Opéra de Montréal and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Montreal’s renowned classical and contemporary ballet company. Over the years, the venue has welcomed a wide range of performers, from Nina Simone and Charles Aznavour to Bob Dylan and Radiohead. On your right, you’ll notice the Théâtre Maisonneuve, which hosts numerous shows during festivals such as Les Francos de Montréal, Just for Laughs, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Since the 1990s, the square has also been home to the Musée d’art contemporain—the first Canadian museum dedicated entirely to contemporary art and the recipient of the Montreal Arts Council’s Grand Prix for its outstanding achievements.