The 2026 Montreal Fringe Festival is officially underway, continuing until June 21.
The festival is the city’s summer block party of theatre, dance, music, comedy, circus and more. With over 800 performances, local and international artists take over the Plateau-Mont-Royal to celebrate years of boundless creativity with more than 500 artists performing in 20-plus venues. It also raises a glass to diversity, accessibility and artistic freedom and remains one of the most affordable entertainment options in town and 100 percent of the ticket price is returned to the artists onstage.
You can go to https://www.montrealfringe.ca/ to find out the schedule, but here are a few shows that captured my eye:
- Former journalist Olivia Collette turned her nerdy obsession with ancient civilizations into The Paranoid King, a fast-paced, goofy comedy premiering at the festival.The play tells the story of King Ashurhaddon, who briefly ruled over the ancient Assyrian empire between 680 and 669 BC, and who was extremely paranoid, or so clay tablets say. In researching the story, Collette found comedy in Ashurhaddon’s penchant to find bad omens in just about any ordinary event, like a mongoose casually walking under his chariot. Collette also drew from his hilarious historical context, with the countless gods his people believed in, and the religious professionals – exorcists, astrologers, diviners – who acted as “scientific” advisors to the king. Ashurhaddon’s paranoia is set against the backdrop of a world that couldn’t possibly help him with his problems, so naturally, his solutions are doomed to fail. The Paranoid King is also punctuated by commercial breaks for products like opium, olive oil and pyramid timeshares, all of these set in ancient times as well. You can catch it at Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal, (1113 de Maisonneuve East) June 12, 14, 16, 17, 20, and 21.
- Daumas: Devils Advocate (June 11 to 20 at Mission Santa Cruz) is Fred Azeredo’s provocative new play, a courtroom drama that asks what justice means in a system built oninjustice. Inspired by the real-life story of French-Vietnamese lawyer Jacques Vergès,Daumas pits the full might of the French stateagainst a maverick who has spent his lifechallenging authority at every turn. As he represents himself on trial for sedition, witnesses from his life are called up to shed light on the case– but each has their own perspective. Who are we to believe in the end? The choice is left up to the audience. Acting as“jury,” each attendee is given the chance to pronounce the protagonist “guilty” or “notguilty” at the climactic moment. The verdict will determine which of two endings is seen.
- Theatre Ouest End will present Morality Bites June 12 to 21. This is a series that had previous success at the Centaur Theatre Gallery this past season. On the menu? Four different short plays written by acclaimed playwrights (and mother and daughter) Ann Lambert and Alice Abracen that examine a bite-sized moral dilemma (with a side of humour). For dessert? The audience is asked to weigh in on the decisions the characters must make–offering a chance to discuss important social questions in a safe space. The cast features Laura Mitchell, Brian Dooley, Ryan Bommarito, Joy Ross-Jone, and Samantha Bitonti.
- Back in 1998 the late Bernard Mendelman wrote a wonderful two page review of Mary Melfi’s book,Painting Moments, Art, AIDS and Nick Palazzo in The Suburban. In the review he noted that of all the paintings he saw that year, he was most impressed by Palazzo’s. Other book reviewers also praised the book, celebrating young Palazzo’s genius. One would have imagined with such accolades the art world would have taken an interest in this artist. The sad fact is — no one did. “So, here I am, over 25 years later, eager and ready to revive interest in Nick Palazzo’s art work,” Melfie says. “Myself and Sharon Malone, a stage manager and sometime director for the Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society, adapted the book for the stage. “Painting Moments,” a one-man show will be presented at this year’s Montreal Fringe Festival. The actor, Nick Fontaine, will take on the role of the late artist and talk about his life — focusing on his love for art and for Andre, his partner. It is at O Patro Vys at 356 Mont-Royal Ave. E. June 12, 13,15, 17, 19 and 20
- Johnnie McNamara Walker is thrilled to be returning to thel Fringe with his latest solo comedy play Iggy Beamish Destroys Traditional Marriage at Petit Campus! Written and performed by Walker and directed by Byron Laviolette (The Family Crow, Morro & Jasp, Pearle Harbour) the show has already impressed audiences in Toronto, Edmonton, and was nominated for the Outstanding Performance Award at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in 2025. The play’s protagonist, Iggy Beamish, makes a living officiating weddings for straight people while avoiding the reality of his own gay divorce. Walker’s previous solo show The Heterosexuals won the English Comedy Award at Montreal Fringe in 2025, as well as an Outstanding Theatre Award at Orlando Fringe, and the Audience Favourite Award at Atlanta’s Lavender Fest. During a sold-out run at Edmonton Fringe, it was nominated for The SoHo Playhouse’s Fringe Encore Series. His first solo show, Redheaded Stepchild, is available in print from Playwrights Canada “We’re 20 years into same-sex marriage is Canada—which means we’re also 20 years into same-sex divorce,” says Walker. “I wanted to write about a character who embodies both of those facts while also looking at the strange way Queer people are often called upon to save heterosexuals weddings; despite being told that we’ve destroyed traditional marriage.” It is at Petit Campus on Prince Arthur June 13 -15 and 18-20.
KINGS OF COKE: From C3 Media and URBANIA, in association with Bell Media’s Crave, the acclaimed true crime franchise Kings of Coke returns with two new chapters premiering on Crave on June 12 and June 19. Following the success of the Crave Original feature-length documentary, the next chapters of Kings of Coke trace the evolution of Montréal’s criminal empire—from the power brokers who helped turn the Port of Montréal into a major drug gateway to the elusive outlaw whose disappearance became one of Canada’s most enduring criminal mysteries.
Each new chapter unfolds over two episodes, with Kings of Coke: New Blood streaming June 12 and Kings of Coke: The Legend of Rory Shayne streaming June 19 on Crave. Drawing on rare firsthand accounts, archival material, and testimony from those who lived through, investigated, and survived these events, Kings of Coke examine how money, loyalty, violence, myth, and betrayal shaped an era—and why these events continue to resonate today.Expanding the franchise’s scope, the chapters introduce new players and untold perspectives, and a deeper look at the forces that transformed the city’s illicit networks from a tightly controlled smuggling operation into a sprawling system consumed by corruption, violence, and collapse.
New Blood follows the rise of Gerry Matticks, a covert kingmaker who transforms Montréal’s port into a billion-dollar drug gateway. Playing rival factions against one another—Hells Angels, the Italian mafia, and anyone moving cash—Matticks consolidates power at the centre of the cocaine trade. But when alliances fracture and a violent biker war erupts, the streets run red and the empire begins to crack. As corruption deepens and a trail of dirty money exposes the network from within, a sweeping takedown shakes the criminal world and marks the collapse of the old order.
The Legend of Rory Shayne tracks the hunt for Rory Shayne, one of the most elusive and mythologized criminals of his era. From audacious bank robberies to hostage takings and multiple prison breaks, Shayne’s life unfolded like a Hollywood thriller before he vanished without a trace. More than 30 years later, his fate remains one of Canada’s enduring criminal mysteries. Featuring rare access to former investigators, gang associates, and hostages who survived his most infamous standoff, the documentary revisits Shayne’s explosive legacy and the unanswered question that still lingers: what really happened to the boldest bank robber of his time?
“Kings of Coke allowed us to push beyond the headlines and reveal the true forces at play behind this story,” said Lewis Cohen, series producer. “These new chapters build on that momentum—expanding the narrative with compelling new players, fresh context, and an even deeper dive into how this dangerous underworld operates, from one of the world’s most ruthless biker gangs to a notorious bank robber.”
Mariam and Amadou.
THE BLIND COUPLE FROM MALI: The feature-length documentary The Blind Couple From Mali by Toronto director Ryan Marley will open in Quebec on June 26. It will be shown in Montreal at Cinéma du Musée as part of a special program with the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and also as part of the regular program at Cinéma Beaubien and the Cinémathèque québécoise. In Quebec City, the film will be screened at Cinéma Le Clap Ste-Foy, in partnership with the Festival Québec Jazz in June, and in Sherbrooke at La Maison du Cinéma thanks to a collaboration with the Sherblues Festival. Amadou and Mariam, the blind musical duo from Mali whose legendary sound has captivated audiences worldwide, embark on an extraordinary journey to record a new album, reconnect with their roots, and redefine their iconic music. Travelling across Spain, France, and Mali, the duo draws inspiration from the landscapes, traditions, and rhythms that shaped their sound while embracing fresh influences that push their music in new directions. The film offers an intimate look at their creative process, capturing both the joy and challenges of crafting a new studio album. Through behind-the-scenes footage and personal interviews, viewers witness their warmth, humour, and resilience, gaining insight into two artists whose music transcends borders. Amadou & Mariam’s journey is enriched by conversations with a stellar lineup of collaborators and admirers, including Damon Albarn, Chris Martin, Sofi Tukker, Mokobe, Matthieu Chedid, Tiken Jah Fakoly and Vieux Farka Touré, who reflect on the duo’s global impact and artistic influence.
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