Montréal En Lumière Has Been Pushed Back But The Show Will Go On — At Least Online

The dates of Montréal en Lumière 2021, including the city's beloved all-night arts festival, Nuit Blanche, have been pushed back — but the event is still a go. Although organizers aren't sure whether it will be strictly virtual or not. 

This year's event had previously been scheduled to take place from February 18 to 28, but the team announced that "given the current situation and most recent sanitary measures" it has been moved to March 4 to 28 with Nuit Blanche on March 13.  

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March 4 to 28 New dates for Montréal en Lumière 2021

As of December, the event was planned as a hybrid of online and in-person events. But now organizers say it all depends on whether existing COVID-19 restrictions, including lockdown and curfew, will be relaxed in Montreal by then.

"We are waiting to see if the curfew and current measures are extended on February 8," a spokesperson for Montréal en Lumière told MTL Blog. 

If current measures are extended, the spokesperson said most of the activities will be held online apart from restaurants offering take-out, for example.

This is the most likely scenario given that Premier François Legault confirmed on January 28 that "most of the containment measures will remain [past February 8]."

The Montréal en Lumière schedule is expected to come out in mid-February, so the spokesperson said it will be adjusted according to whatever guidelines are in place. 

Montréal en Lumière typically sees thousands of participants downtown, as well as in restaurants and venues across the city.

"The current curfew and social distancing measures, as well as restaurants being closed is a challenge," the spokesperson said.

"Our team is creative though, stay tuned!"