Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal: Guide & What to Know

Imagine planning a trip to Montreal with the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) high on your must-see list — only to find its iconic Place des Arts home closed for a massive overhaul until 2028. The MAC has temporarily relocated to Place Ville Marie, and this guide walks you through what’s open, what’s free, and how it compares to other Montreal art museums.

Founded: 1964 · Current Status: Closed for renovations until 2028 · Collection Size: Over 7,000 works · Free Admission: First Sunday of each month · Location (Temporary): Place Ville Marie · Reopening Venue: Place des Arts

Eight key facts, one pattern: the MAC’s transformation touches every aspect of its operations, from its founding date to its future curatorial ambitions.

Is the MAC open?

What is the MAC’s current operating status?

• The MAC is currently closed for renovations at its Place des Arts location (MAC Montréal).
• Its temporary space at Place Ville Marie also closed to the public in late 2025 (MAC Montréal).
• No physical exhibitions are on view until the new building opens (Gouvernement du Québec).

Why is the MAC closed?

The museum began a major transformation project in 2018, described by the MAC as an “ambitious” renewal focused on inclusion, accessibility, and openness (MAC Montréal). The project includes expanding gallery space and building new exhibition halls; steel structure for Hall 8 was underway in June 2025, and construction of Hall 9 began in July 2025 (MAC Montréal).

When will the MAC reopen?

The museum’s official website and the Gouvernement du Québec both state that the new museum at Place des Arts is scheduled to open in 2028 (Gouvernement du Québec). A specific month within 2028 has not yet been announced. In January 2026, the province announced the curatorial team for the opening exhibition, signaling that planning is well advanced (Gouvernement du Québec).

The pattern: the MAC is trading short-term inaccessibility for a dramatically expanded facility that will reshape its role in Montreal’s cultural landscape.

Do you have to pay to go to the Museum of Contemporary Art?

What is the admission fee for the MAC?

Regular ticket prices are currently not applicable because the museum has no public exhibitions (MAC Montréal). When the MAC reopens, it will reinstate a standard admission fee, which historically ranged from $16 to $20 for adults (Tourisme Montréal).

Is the MAC free on certain days?

Free admission is offered on the first Sunday of every month — a policy that will resume when the museum reopens (MAC Montréal). Members enjoy free unlimited access year-round, and children under 12 are always free (MAC Montréal).

Are there discounts?

Students, seniors, and groups qualify for reduced rates, though no discounts are currently offered during the closure (Québec Original). The MAC also participates in the Montreal Museums Pass, which bundles entry to several institutions (Tourisme Montréal).

What are the Nocturnes of the MAC?

What happens during Nocturnes?

Nocturnes are special evening events that extend the museum’s hours until late, featuring live performances, artist talks, projection installations, and hands-on workshops (MAC Montréal). They offer a social, after-hours way to experience contemporary art.

When are Nocturnes held?

Nocturnes are typically held once a month on a Thursday evening from 5 PM to 10 PM (MAC Montréal). The schedule paused during the closure but is expected to resume in the temporary space or at the new location.

Are Nocturnes free?

Yes — Nocturnes are usually free for everyone, no ticket required (MAC Montréal). This aligns with the museum’s goal of making contemporary art accessible to a wider audience.

The implication: Nocturnes will return as a signature free event when the museum reopens, continuing the MAC’s commitment to accessible after-hours programming.

What is the best art museum in Montreal?

How does the MAC compare to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts?

The MAC focuses exclusively on contemporary art, while the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MBAM) covers art history from antiquity to modern times with a collection of over 44,000 works (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). The MAC’s collection is smaller — about 7,000 works — but is dedicated to Quebec, Canadian, and international contemporary artists (Wikipedia). MBAM also has a larger physical footprint and draws around 1.2 million visitors annually compared to the MAC’s pre-closure 130,000 (Le Devoir).

What makes a museum the “best”?

It depends on what you value. For cutting-edge contemporary pieces and a more intimate experience, the MAC is hard to beat. For a comprehensive art history journey, MBAM wins on breadth. TripAdvisor rankings and visitor reviews often place MBAM higher by volume, but the MAC receives strong marks for its curated focus (TripAdvisor).

Two institutions, one conclusion: the “best” depends on your interest in contemporary vs. general art.

The takeaway: the choice between MAC and MBAM depends on whether you want a focused contemporary experience or a broad art historical survey.

What is the largest art museum in Montreal?

Which is larger: MAC or MBAM?

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is the largest art museum in Montreal by every metric: collection size (44,000+ works), gallery space (over 13,000 m²), and annual attendance (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). The MAC, even after its expansion, will have about 6,000 m² of exhibition space — substantial, but still less than half of MBAM’s current footprint (Gouvernement du Québec).

How is museum size measured?

Common metrics include total collection count, square footage of gallery space, and visitor numbers. By all three, MBAM is the clear leader. However, the MAC’s future expansion will close the gap in gallery space, if not in collection size.

The catch: size isn’t everything — the MAC’s post-expansion space will deliver a concentrated contemporary art experience that MBAM’s broader collection cannot replicate.

Timeline

• June 1, 1964: Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal founded (Wikipedia).
• 1992: MAC moves to Place des Arts (Wikipedia).
• 2023: MAC closes its Place des Arts location for a major expansion (MAC Montréal).
• 2024–2025: Temporary programming at Place Ville Marie (MAC Montréal).
• 2028 (target): Reopening at a newly expanded location in Place des Arts (Gouvernement du Québec).

What this means: the timeline shows a deliberate, decade-long transformation from initial closure to fully expanded reopening.

Clarity: What we know vs. what we don’t

Perspectives on the MAC transformation

The expansion will allow the MAC to better showcase contemporary art from Quebec and around the world.

MAC Director (in a 2024 press release, Gouvernement du Québec)

The MAC remains a key cultural attraction even during its transformation. Visitors can still enjoy its programming at Place Ville Marie and look forward to the new space.

Tourism Montreal spokesperson (Tourisme Montréal)

The MAC’s transformation represents a deliberate bet on scale and accessibility. The museum is trading short-term closure for a permanent home that can accommodate larger exhibitions and more visitors. For Montreal’s contemporary art scene, the payoff — more space, more curators, more programming — is a clear long-term gain.

For art enthusiasts planning a trip to Montreal before 2028, the choice is clear: explore the MAC’s temporary programming and complement it with a visit to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, or risk missing the city’s full contemporary art scene.

Frequently asked questions