As Montreal expanded its infrastructure for Expo 67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics, talk naturally followed to the construction of a convention center. In 1983 the Palais des congres de Montreal was opened. An expansion finishing in 2002 doubled the starting size of 990,000 square feet to 1,980,000 square feet. With a half million square feet of rental space and 113 meeting rooms, the Palais is the largest convention center in Quebec. As part of the turn of the century expansion, Hal Indberg created a multicolored 390 panel glass facade, making the convention center not just a meeting venue, but a full blown work of art.
The Palais hosts more than 350 events and 900,000 visitors annually, ranging the gamut of international summits and tradeshows to film festivals and public exhibitions. Recently it has hosted the World Energy Congress, COP15 on Biodiversity, and the World Artificial Intelligence Conference.
Sitting on top of Montreal’s RESO, the underground complex of tunnels connecting various office buildings, shopping centers, university campuses, residential complexes, and entertainment venues, the Palais is right in the heart of Montreal’s Downtown. The convention center is also at the heart of Montreal’s commitment to sustainability: its urban rooftop garden was the first of its kind in Canada.
Such a combination of construction, commerce, and creativity makes the Palais a central part of Montreal culture and life.
EAT
Just a two minute walk from the Palais des congrès de Montreal, Toque! (900 Pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle) is one of Montréal’s most celebrated fine dining establishments. Renowned Chef Normand Laprise makes local Quebec ingredients into elegant, artful dishes. With baked oyster of foie gras for lunch and duck or lamb for dinner, you can’t go wrong.
Brasserie 701 (701 Cote de la Place-d’Armes) is just a short block from the Palais. Brasserie opens at 7 am for breakfast and runs past 9 pm with a late night menu. Lunch may feature veal for the “Main of the Week,” sea bass, or Burger 701, and dinner can be roasted chicken, beef tenderloin, or duck.
SLEEP
Pedestrians will find the Canadian winter mitigated by an underground tunnel complex, called RESO in Montreal. Finding hotels that are a part of RESO can make getting to and from the Palais, and around Montreal in general, quite pleasant even in the very worst weather. The Doubletree by Hilton Montreal (1255 Rue Jeanne-Mance) is an affordable option. You can go from your room to the Palais entirely indoors.
LHotel Montreal (262 Rue Saint-Jacques) is just two minutes away from the Palais. The fitness center, concierge, and complimentary Wi-Fi are pale in comparison to the 120 piece contemporary and pop art pieces on display. Ray Litchenstein, Andy Warhol, Joan Miro, and Fernando Botero are just a few of the creators whose work decorate this historic landmark.
PLAY
If you’re into architecture and history, Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica (110 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest) is just five minutes away. A rich gothic-revival building, the Basilica is an absolutely awe-inspiring sight.
And for more culture, and some great food, Montreal’s Chinatown is just a few steps from the Palais. Montreal is one of North America’s oldest cities, and it has plenty of culture to prove it.
Photo by Jason Thibault via MassiveKontent on Flickr
This story originally appeared in the Q1 2026 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 22. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/exhibit_city_news_-_jan_feb_mar_2026/22.
