2025: Blossom Here, Now!

In the heart of the Esplanade Tranquille, the Loto-Québec Stage brought together, from July 31 to August 3, a mosaic of artists representing the plurality of queer identities. For a second consecutive year, the public was able to rediscover Lumière des Nations, presented by Fugues, showcasing the creativity of Indigenous artists; Transcendance, offering a showcase for trans people; FeminiX, presented by Rogers, led by lesboqueer people; as well as Mundo Disko, presented by Merck, an electrifying journey between disco, choral performances and singing icons. It all concluded with ImmiX, presented by ICI Musique, a unique show where established and emerging artists shared the stage in a spirit of intergenerational musical exchange and celebration.

On August 1st, the Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts rocked to the rhythm of L’été de ma Fierté!, a comedy event by the sparkling Katherine Levac, accompanied by Mona de Grenoble and Anne-Sarah Charbonneau. An evening that demonstrated that humor, when it is queer and inclusive, becomes a way to shake up codes and build bridges between communities.

From August 4 to 6, the Festival invited film lovers to the first edition of CinéQueer, a co-presentation with the National Film Board (NFB), in collaboration with image+nation and the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma. Presented at the Alanis Obomsawin Hall and enhanced with an online component presented in collaboration with image+nation (and available throughout the Festival), this program offered poignant and inspiring films, telling our stories on screen and fueling reflection.

Arts and laughter also gave way to learning. A roundtable on rural queer journeys, presented in collaboration with the CINEMANIA Film Festival and in partnership with the European Union, launched the conference program on August 30, followed by those at the MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises on August 2 and 3. They explored essential topics such as surrogacy with the Coalition des familles LGBT+, bisexuality with Les 3 sex*, HIV with the Gay Archives of Quebec, and the history of the Pride movement in Montréal. These spaces for exchange highlighted reflection and collective memory.

Finally, because Pride is also lived to the rhythm of wild evenings, the after-parties and official festive evenings had festival-goers dancing until the early hours at Club Soda and the SAT. These nighttime gatherings, spread over the two weekends of the Festival, extended the energy of the outdoor shows and offered party spaces for a wide variety of communities (Supernature, L'After Mundo Disko, Louche XXL, Pleasuredome, TeQCno, Unikorn, Bear Playground Perdu dans l'espace, L'After T-Dance).

On August 10, 2025, Montréal was transformed into a vast civic stage with the Pride Parade on René-Lévesque Boulevard. Under the theme "Bloom Here, Now!" thousands of marchers and observers converged to celebrate the advances in the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and to champion their demands. Blooming is a story of deliberate radiance, self-affirmation, and the right to exist and love freely. It's about transforming adversity into a garden teeming with colour and shared hope.

This urban journey was a vibrant reminder that our struggles, our stories, and our pride are rooted in the past while flourishing in the present.

On August 8 and 9, the Village's main street was transformed into a vast agora during the Community Days presented by Cogeco. More than a hundred organizations, businesses, and clubs occupied Sainte-Catherine Street East, offering activities, information booths, and entertainment for the whole family. A highlight of the Festival, it allowed communities to meet, share, and showcase their struggles and achievements.

From August 1st to 3rd, the Rainbow Market brought the heart of the Village to life by showcasing the creativity of 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and artisans. Organized in collaboration with the M.A.D. Festival and the SDC du Village, this inclusive market provided an opportunity to discover local talent, encourage a local and inclusive economy, and create direct encounters between communities and festivalgoers.

From July 31 to August 10, the Dovato Stage, a new feature of the 2025 edition, presented a rich program, reflecting the diversity and richness of queer culture. Drag, rock, burlesque, DJ sets, Bollywood, children's shows, and even a high-heel race: each day offered its share of surprises and emotions. Among the events presented, Drag! En 3 actes, celebrating the creativity of local drag artists; Complètement Gaga in tribute to Lady Gaga; Pour que tu m’aimes encore, a flamboyant show paying tribute to Céline Dion; and multidisciplinary performances by Diablos Boylesque Latinx, Bloc Bollywood, and Aizysse Baga. Participatory activities such as Club Bolo and the crazy Bimbo Schoolbus completed this festive offering. In addition, there were numerous DJ sets—Special K, Stéfane Lippé, Vibration Maus, and L’effet McCoy—that had the Village dancing all evening.

On August 5 and 6, the National hosted Des Gags et des Paillettes, a comedy series presented by La Presse. Artists like Phil Lacroix and Yann Aspirot, the hosting duo, as well as Coco Belliveau, Charlie Morin, Tranna Wintour, and more, shared their voices with boldness and lightness, demonstrating that queer laughter is diverse and unifying.

The Village Hub also vibrated at the Jardins Gamelin dressed in rainbow colours on July 31 (Xoxo), the 1st (Nasty Gloss + Carnaval de Moh Dafok), the 2nd (Chloe Lallouz + Badgalquirit) and 6th of August (Sami et ses amis), creating a friendly and festive gathering place. Literary Pride offered activities around 2SLGBTQIA+ literature at the Théâtre la Comédie, throughout the Festival, giving a voice to the words and stories of our communities. Finally, the Festival Headquarters served as an essential landmark: an information kiosk, photo exhibition, and shop welcomed festival-goers and curious people throughout the event.

Closing the Village Hub, the After T-Dance, presented by romeo's gin, on August 10 at Sainte-Catherine Hall, extended the celebratory spirit into the final hours of the Festival. In an electric atmosphere, the dancers let themselves be carried away by the festive rhythms, bringing a beautiful end to a rich and diverse program.

On August 7, the TD Stage at the Olympic Park's Esplanade lit up for the Soirée 100% Drag, presented by Cabenuva and hosted by the iconic Barbada and Rita Baga. Bringing together an unprecedented number of drag artists, this event became the largest free outdoor drag night in the world. With its flamboyant looks, explosive choreography, and electrifying atmosphere, the evening demonstrated the strength and creativity of the art of drag, both local and international.

On August 8, the audience rocked to the rhythm of DistinXion, presented by Novartis. Fiery performances by Fefe Dobson, Jamie Fine, and G Flip had the crowd dancing to pop anthems driven by powerful vocals and infectious energy. The evening demonstrated the strength of the lesboqueer music scene, and its power to unite across generations and styles.

On August 9, the Olympic Park's Esplanade welcomed Xcellence, an event showcasing 2SLGBTQIA+ artists of colour. Vibrant performances by Iniko, Bilal Hassani, and Ivy Queen highlighted unique and grandiose artistic journeys. It was an evening where diversity and pride were vividly expressed, both on stage and in the audience.

On August 10, the Mega T-Dance at the TD Stage concluded the Olympic Hub's program in style. Electrifying DJ sets transformed the Esplanade into a huge dance floor under the stars. In a thrilling atmosphere, festival-goers gathered by the thousands one last time to celebrate the freedom and festive spirit of Pride together, right down to the last beat of the music.

The 2025 edition also took the opportunity to honour the dedication and contributions of Ness Murby (he/him), the first openly trans Paralympic athlete. Ness is also a consultant, psychotherapist, and interdisciplinary activist known for his outspoken intersectional approach.

At the heart of the Festival beats a vital community component. Each year, the Festival highlights local initiatives that transform the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ people through a series of community projects led by organizations, artists, and collectives. These projects, carried out in part thanks to funding from the Community Projects Program supported by Fierté Montréal, open spaces for creation, dialogue, and mobilization that resonate well beyond the Festival's duration.

The Community Awards honour the commitment and tireless work of those who defend our rights and dignity. In 2025, the Claude-Tourangeau Prize was awarded to GAP-VIES for its fight against serophobia, the Bâtisseur Prize to the Conseil Québecois LGBT for its structuring role in the advancement of our communities, and the John-Banks Prize to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, whose colorful and benevolent activism shines here as elsewhere. New in 2025, the Mado Prize recognized the exceptional trajectory of Mado Lamotte, a pioneer of Montréal Drag art!

True to its values, the Fierté Montréal Festival is also committed to concrete actions: implementing eco-responsibility measures, enhanced accessibility initiatives, and offering risk reduction and sexual violence prevention programs at Festival sites. These efforts are made possible through partnerships with specialized organizations such as RÉZO, GRIP, Collectif social, Kéroul, and many others. Together, they contribute to creating safer, more inclusive, and respectful spaces where everyone can thrive.

Fierté Montréal thanks its loyal partners, as well as those who have recently joined, without whom it would be impossible to continue the fight for the full recognition of the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities: TD Bank Group, supporter since 2008, Loto-Québec, the Ville de Montréal, the Gouvernement du Québec, the Gouvernement du Canada, Tourisme Montréal, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, Cabenuva, Rogers, Trojan, the SAQ, Air Canada, Bubly, Radio-Canada, STM, Merck, Loblaws, no name, Bud Light, Hydro-Québec, Dovato, Apretude, Fugues, MTL Dans la poche, Cogeco, La Presse, IN Magazine, CTV, Publicité Sauvage, Virgin Radio, Énergie, Rouge, Cult, Le Devoir, GoMag, Petit Futé, Québec Le Mag, Gay City News, Culture Cible, Neo, the SDC du Village, the Société de développement et de mise en valeur du Parc olympique, the Partenariat du Quartier des Spectacles, the European Union through its delegation in Canada, PME MTL Centre-Ville, the Regroupement des évènements majeurs internationaux and Fierté Canada Pride.