The Ultimate Montreal Art Exhibits For Spring 2026

Art & Entertainment

Top 5 Montreal Art Exhibits | Apr 29 – May 1 | Edition XVII

Top 5 Must-See Art & Design Events This Week in Montreal

Montreal officially enters a new creative era with its first-ever Design Week (April 28 – May 7, 2026). With over 80 events across the city, this is where architecture, art, and culture collide.

Here are the Top 5 events you need on your radar this week!

1. Galerie 6250 Vernissage (Design Crowd Magnet)

📍 6250 Hutchison

🗓 April 29, 6PM–9PM

🗺 https://maps.google.com/?q=6250+Hutchison+Montreal

Montreal officially steps into the global design scene with the launch of its first-ever Design Week, running from April 28 to May 7, 2026. With over 80 events across the city, this long-anticipated initiative led by Arnaud Granata and supported by Index-Design, with Pierre Lapointe as spokesperson brings together professionals and the public through exhibitions, open studios, conferences, and architectural tours. From established venues to hidden creative spaces, the event offers a rare opportunity to experience the full scope of Montreal’s design and architecture scene in one concentrated moment.

2. Ex-Tension by Atelier L’Abri

📍 6566 Waverly
🗓 May 1, 5PM
🗺 https://maps.google.com/?q=6566+Waverly+Montreal

A sharp architectural showcase marking the opening of Atelier L’Abri’s new space. Ex-Tension pushes beyond traditional design, exploring structure, material, and atmosphere through a clean, minimalist lens. Precise, intentional, and visually striking. This one’s for those who appreciate design done right.

3. Passagers Exhibition at WIP (Late Night Vibes)

📍 3487 St-Laurent Blvd
🗓 May 1, 5PM–10PM
🗺 https://maps.google.com/?q=3487+St-Laurent+Montreal

A vibrant, late-night vernissage that leans into the social side of the art scene. Presented by Galerie Mold, Passagers brings together contemporary works in a space that feels more like a creative hangout than a formal gallery. Expect a strong crowd, fluid energy, and a night that naturally stretches beyond the usual opening hours.

4. Festival Accès Asie Opening Ceremony

📍 4388 St-Laurent Blvd
🗓 May 1, 5PM
🗺 https://maps.google.com/?q=4388+St-Laurent+Montreal

Every spring, Festival Accès Asie puts the spotlight on Asian and diaspora artists across disciplines, with a strong focus on visual arts. Its opening night is known for its energy: live performances, a vibrant crowd, and a welcoming atmosphere that brings people together. Expect culture, movement, and a solid vibe. Also worth noting: a photography vernissage by Ali Ihtiyar at the Gesù this Sunday at 3PM, exploring themes of silence, time, and shifting urban landscapes.

5. Maliciouz – Essence Exhibition (Powerful & Raw)

📍 3524 St-Jacques
🗓 May 1, 5PM–9PM
🗺 https://maps.google.com/?q=3524+St-Jacques+Montreal

Don’t miss this vernissage by Haitian painter and muralist Maliciouz, whose bold afro-urban aesthetic blends color, identity, and contemporary storytelling. Working across spray, acrylic, and collage, she centers powerful Black female figures—exploring themes of resilience, memory, and diaspora. A strong presence on Montreal’s art scene, her openings are known for their energy and attention to detail, making this a solid pick for Friday.

Bonus: David Bellemarre – Master’s Exhibition (All Night Immersion)

📍 5425 Casgrain, Suite 436

🗓 May 1, 4PM → 5AM

🗺 https://maps.google.com/?q=5425+Casgrain+Montreal

Among the wave of student exhibitions this spring, David Bellemarre’s stands out. Running late into the night, this immersive show pushes beyond the usual format. Working with large-scale collage, he reimagines imagery pulled from the web, old books, sacred rituals, and childhood pop culture—creating layered, narrative-driven works that shift between the kitsch and the monumental, the everyday and the sacred. Already established across galleries and residencies locally and abroad, this is a bold project worth showing up for.

A Week of Strong Montreal Art Exhibits

For more Montreal vernissages, radio features, and in depth coverage of visual arts and related disciplines, explore Magazine Radio In Situ, one of the city’s few programs fully dedicated to visual arts since 2010.

Airs Saturdays from 12 PM to 1 PM on Radio Centre Ville 102.3 FM
magazineinsitu.art
radiocentre ville.com
Facebook: Magazine Radio In Situ

Last but not least! If you’re looking to tap into Montreal’s most curated events, hidden gems, and creative scene, Best Kept MTL is where it happens. From cultural coverage to brand collaborations, we work with partners who want to connect with a refined, engaged Montreal audience.