Montreal’s Fête nationale parade invites spectators into story of Quebec
Posted June 22, 2026 3:57 pm.
Last Updated June 22, 2026 7:55 pm.
Montreal’s traditional Fête nationale parade will offer more than a spectacle this year, as organizers introduce a new interactive feature designed to deepen how spectators engage with the celebration.
For the first time, people lining Rachel Street East on June 24 will be able to scan QR codes along the parade route to learn more about each of the seven scenes that make up the Je t’aime Québec parade, creating a new digital window into one of the city’s most cherished provincial holiday traditions.
The interactive addition is part of a renewed vision for the annual parade, which organizers say is rooted in a simple idea: the strength of the collective.
More than 500 participants — including professional artists, community organizations, citizen groups and participants of all ages — will take part in the festivities, transforming the streets into a moving celebration of Quebec’s values, culture and future aspirations.
Building a visual story of tradition and modernity
The parade’s visual world was created by scenographer Annick Lavallée-Benny, while the musical score was composed by Loïc Thériault, producer and visual creator, originally from Baie-Comeau and a former member of Valaire.
Lavallée-Benny said the creative process focused on bringing together tradition, modernity and future vision through a shared visual language.
“My role is to work with the director to develop all the different tableaux we have been working on, and to build with him the visual dramaturgy of what we will see, because what you see is mostly visual,” she said.
“Our goal was to work through tradition, bring it into modernity and even into the future, and bring it all together so that we create a real festive moment where everyone finds their place and feels happy, joyful and playful. We want it to be something everyone can enjoy and have fun with on this special day, where we can gather and feel the strength of the collective.”
A parade built around unity
Tremblay said the parade remains a major annual gathering that brings Quebecers together.
“It’s the Fête nationale parade, so it is a major annual gathering,” he said. “The parade is a traditional event that has existed for a very long time, and every year it is an important moment for all Quebecers to come together.”
He said this year’s edition was designed to highlight shared values in a changing world.
“We’ve conceived a parade guided by this idea: the power of the collective. The goal is to bring to life the themes that unite us—dignity, equality, solidarity, language, and culture—through bodies in motion, voices, rhythms, and images brought to life by a large number of people. We are fortunate to live in Quebec, in a vibrant society that engages in debate and moves forward. We create this happiness together every day. That is what we will celebrate on June 24.”
“The parade is called Je t’aime Québec, and that’s exactly what it’s about. I hope we can celebrate together our love for Quebec and our love for Quebec society,” he added.
A celebration open to everyone
Marie-Anne Alepin, president of the Comité de la Fête nationale à Montréal, said the parade remains a deeply unifying event for people across generations.
“The traditional parade is an important moment for the national holiday. It is a moment where we can celebrate together. It feels like we wait all year for this day to celebrate together,” she said.
“We invite citizens to take part, because this is your parade. That is what makes it beautiful — we celebrate our history, our culture and our language. It is a very joyful moment. I really invite everyone to participate. Invite your neighbours if they have never taken part in a parade before. Parades are very popular around the world. We also invite people who have chosen Quebec as their home to discover the national holiday through this parade. It is truly an epic moment.”
She added that event continues to serve as a gathering place for Quebecers from every generation and background.
“By coming together to share our pride, we preserve and strengthen what makes us a unique, inclusive nation that is open to the world. The traditional National Holiday Parade is a highlight that allows Quebecers from all walks of life and all generations to take part in this long and beautiful tradition.”
QR codes to deepen visitor experience
Alepin said this year’s new interactive feature will allow spectators to better understand the parade as it unfolds.
“You will discover traditional music, songs we have been singing for a long time, and new music. And the new feature this year is that during the parade there will be QR codes, and with our phones we will be able to access information about each of the scenes. That is really great because it allows us to better understand what is happening in front of us.”
Seven images of Quebec
This year’s parade unfolds through seven themed scenes:
- • Building together
- • Taking action
- • Looking out for one another
- • Rising together
- • Finding our place
- • Our language
- • Believing in ourselves
Together, the scenes are designed to celebrate both Quebec’s heritage and its ability to imagine the future.
From parade to ‘Grand spectacle‘
The parade begins at 2 p.m. on June 24 at the corner of Rachel Street East and Molson Street.
The celebration will conclude with an epilogue inviting spectators to join the movement behind a fleur-de-lys, transforming the final image of the parade into a large public gathering.
Participants will then be guided toward the Grand spectacle de la Fête nationale at Parc Maisonneuve, extending the celebration beyond the parade route and into one of Quebec’s signature provincial holiday events.
In addition to the parade, there will be up to 80 block parties all over the Island which will give Quebecers the chance to celebrate in their local parks.
