A fixture in the heart of the city for over 100 years, the McCord Stewart Museum sheds light on life in Montreal, both past and present. It bears witness to the history, vitality, creativity and diversity of the communities that make up the city. In keeping with its commitment to decolonization and sustainable development, it creates exhibitions and educational, cultural and community-engagement activities that look at social history and contemporary issues through a critical and inclusive lens. The Museum’s Archives, Documentary Art, Dress, Fashion and Textiles, Indigenous Cultures, Material Culture and Photography collections, containing 2.5 million images, objects, documents and works of art, position it as the custodian of a remarkable historical heritage and one of North America’s leading museums.
EXHIBITIONS:
Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience
Permanent exhibition
The Museum's new permanent exhibition gives a voice to indigenous peoples through some one hundred objects accompanied by more than 80 textual and video testimonies collected from people from the 11 indigenous nations in Quebec. Directed by Huron-Wendat curator Elisabeth Kaine, the exhibition invites the public to come and meet the indigenous peoples and their points of view through a three-part journey that highlights their still little-known knowledge, the deep wounds they bear and their incredible resilience.
Ogilvy’s Christmas mechanical window displays
From November 29, 2025 to January 4, 2025
Relive the magic of The Enchanted Village indoor and of The Mill in the Forest outdoor of the Museum!Montrealers have been spellbound by the mechanical displays in Ogilvy’s department store window for over 70 years — a Holiday tradition that began in 1947. The Bavarian scenes, custom made by the German toy manufacturer Steiff, feature dozens of handcrafted animals working and playing.In 1911, the firm began producing mechanical windows featuring moving animals, which stores could rent or purchase – an effective way of entertaining children while promoting their merchandise. James Aird Nesbitt, who owned Ogilvy’s department store from 1927 to 1985, bought two – The Enchanted Village and The Mill in the Forest.
Africa Fashion
Until February 1
Come discover the landmark exhibition celebrating the irresistible creativity of the contemporary African fashion scene! The McCord Stewart Museum welcomes Africa Fashion from September 25, 2025, to February 1, 2026. Organized by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, the exhibition—one of the largest ever dedicated to the African fashion scene —showcases the creative energy of designers, makers and photographers from across the continent.The only Canadian stop on an international tour that includes London, Brooklyn, Portland, Melbourne, and Chicago, the exhibition features some one hundred garments and accessories, as well as textiles, photographs and videos, from the early 1960s to today, illustrating how African fashions have drawn international attention and become a powerful force for post-colonial self-expression..
Aunties' work: The Power of Care
Until April 12
Aunties’ Work: The Power of Care, created by curator Nadia Bunyan, is a heartfelt tribute to the support systems created by the matriarchs of Montreal’s Black communities. The exhibition focusses on the cultural context surrounding the women known as ‘Aunties.’ The cornerstone of an entire community, these women have worked for generations to fortify movements of social change, nurture and sustain safe spaces, pass on critical knowledge, and share their lived experiences.Learn about the vital role Aunties play in their communities through shared personal reflections and dozens of photographs and objects representative of these women loaned by community members.
On the Menu Montreal: A Restaurant Story
Until October 18, 2026
The exhibition On the Menu – Montreal: A Restaurant Story invites visitors to explore the changing face of the Montreal restaurant scene since the 1960s. From deli to fine dining, it reveals how part of the city’s identity has been shaped by the practice of eating out.Aside from the food they offer, restaurants are places for meeting and discovering, symbols of identity and culture, indicators of social and economic change – as well as providing the backdrop for countless memories. Whether award-winning or unassuming, short-lived or long-lasting, local or international, each is the embodiment of an essential aspect of the city’s character.
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