Held for the first time in 2000, Montréal en Lumière offers Montrealers and visitors hundreds of activities to discover through its gastronomic programming, its free outdoor site, its shows and the Nuit Blanche. Located in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles for the past 25 years, the festival site is the place to be for an exceptional winter experience.
Montréal en Lumière showcases our emblematic season and allows festivalgoers to discover Montreal in all its forms.
2000: Founded by Alain Simard, the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE festival was launched with the intention of revitalizing the city in winter. With Paul Bocuse and Charles Dutoit as honorary presidents, the 1st edition draws 200,000 visitors.
2002: Almost half a million festival fans attend, including 400,000 people on the outdoor site for the Fête de la lumière and its fireworks display.
2004: The 1st Nuit blanche à Montréal is launched to mark the 5th anniversary of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE, drawing 100,000 nighthawks.
2006: The Fête de la lumière moves from Ste. Catherine Street to the Old Port.
2007: The festival organizes its very first Grand Opening Event; A massive free outdoor concert.
2011: MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE presents a special edition: Celebrating Women, with Carole Bouquet and Marie-Josée Lord as co-presidents.
2012: After a few years in the Old Port, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE declares Place des Festivals and its surroundings, located in Quartier des Spectacles, as its official free outdoor site.
2014: Festival attendance surpasses one million visits for the first time.
2018: The festival receives the title of Gastronomic Event of the Year awarded by les Lauriers de la Gastronomie Québécoise.
2019: MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE celebrates its 20th anniversary with the launch of several novelties for its gastronomic aspect: the Quartier Gourmand, the Nuit Gourmande and the Tastet Culinary Tours.
2020: The Festival is awarded with the ‘’Événement’’ trophy from the Prix Montréal centre-ville 2020.
2022: The festival unveils the Skating Loop, a 300-meter illuminated and elevated trail winding through the Place des Festival.
2024: The festival celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special edition filled with festive activities.
The Board of Directors of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE consists of 13 members. In addition to the Chief Executive Officer of the festival, Jacques Primeau, it brings together eight representatives of Montreal’s cultural milieu, in tourism and business. Four representatives of L’Équipe Spectra, overseer and designer of the project, complete the Board.
MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE is a private, non-profit organization by an administrative board consisting of members drawn from Montréal's artistic, economic and tourism sectors.