The Top 35 New Year’s Eve Parties in Montreal

Kaytranada

New Year’s Eve is coming right up, and moving on and starting fresh is as good a reason as any to party.

This year we’ve selected only the most promising events happening on Thursday, Dec. 31.

Note that — with the exception of the Merry Montreal concert in the Old Port — all of these events are 18+.

BAR/CLUB PARTIES

The crews at Saintwoods and LNDMRK celebrate our favourite Boulevard with their New Year’s New St-Laurent House Party, featuring music by the Holy, Montrilla, Myfrienderic and Rue de Bois. If you want to start partying early, you are in luck. Apt. 200 (3643 St-Laurent, 2nd floor), 5 p.m., $10

Sensational DJ/producer Kaytranada is throwing a party at Artgang, and with at least half of the 400 available tickets already sold out, you better get in on this quick. Support comes by way of DJ from across the Atlantic (Benji B and Stwo) and right here at home (Pomo, Planet Giza and Nana Zen). 6524 St-Hubert, 10 p.m., $60

Party promoters Bacchanale — who held their first ever festival this past summer — are blasting into the New Year with Apollo 16, with music by Basic Soul Unit, Iron Galaxy, Motions, Adam Solomon, Or Room and D&D. Location TBA, 10 p.m., $30/$35

Kink party specialists Cirque de Boudoir are tapping into jedi mania with a (sexy) Star Wars-themed edition of their annual Carnavalesque New Year’s Eve party. Expect host Plastik Patrik, music by Florida’s KC Killjoy, Omni, Diskommander, Davidé and other DJs, performers including Natasha Nebula, Holy Scar and Tristan Ginger, plus loads of visuals and decor creating “environments” bursting with Star Wars ambiance. Bain Mathieu (2915 Ontario E.), 9 p.m., $45/$50/$60 at the door, VIP $110/$125/$150 at the door (all include open bar till 11 p.m.)

Secret Songs NYE stars Canadian superstar DJ Ryan Hemsworth, with support from RYAN Playground, Munno, Comfort Zone and Pablo Reikon. Le Belmont (4483 St-Laurent), 9 p.m. $20/$25/$30/more at the door

NEW Party Like a Rock Star may sound like the subtitle for Eric Lapointe’s annual bash at Metropolis, but no — from the sound of it, the music will be solid (the event page mentions Joy Division, MIA and the Beatles), the drinks will be cheap and the cover charge is impossible to beat. Bistro de Paris (4536 St-Denis), 9 p.m., free

MOTO Made gets familiar with Fam NYE, featuring music by Billy Eff, Rue de Bois, Kazz and Blindd. Blue Dog (3958 St-Laurent), 10 p.m., cover charge unknown

NEW Mile End nightclub Datcha inaugurate their new soundsystem with a NYE bash featuring resident DJ Von Party, Forrest and a live performance, countdown and MCing by Jon Shape (aka Beaver Sheppard). 98 Laurier W., 11 p.m., $5

The NYE edition of Mess Around brings some extra festive vintage soul, R&B and 1960s sounds to the floor. Divan Orange (4234 St-Laurent), 9 p.m., $15/$20/$25

Ecole Privée’s first ever Réveillon promises music by Hilly and more guests TBA, bubbly, oysters and other hors d’oeuvres. Dress code is semi-formal. 1 Milton W., 9 p.m., $25

Vision NYE is a blowout party with a difference: Not only does it bring together 11 quality DJs and crews, but proceeds from sales of its (relatively affordable) tickets are being donated to LOVE (Leave Out Violence), a 20-year-old local non-profit that discourages violence among young people with creative and educational programs. Espace Reunion (6610 Hutchison), 10 p.m., $40/$50

Neon does New Year’s at their Mile End venue with Toronto duo MSTRKRFT and locals Vosper and Cherry Cola. This one’s hosted by DL Jones. Théâtre Fairmount (5240 Parc), 9 p.m., $20/$25/$30/more at the door

LGBT hotspot Felix is keeping it steamy with F… Ball, featuring some fine talent on decks: Frigid, Robert de la Gauthier and JNNBNNRCK. 6388 St-Hubert, 10 p.m., $20/$25/$30 (all tickets include two free drinks, snacks after midnight, access to poutine bar)

Brought to you by Montreal Invasion and Cerise sur le Gâteau (Femme Fridays), Resolutions 2016 is a “souper spectacle” with food from Shinji. Dress code is “dress to impress,” with a white and gold theme. The DJs are Beatrix, Empress and Hua Li. Mlle Butterfly (1726 Notre-Dame W.), 7 p.m. for dinner party, 10 p.m. for party only, tickets $69 (VIP, includes dinner party, priority reservations for booths & bottle service)/$15 early bird/$20 pre-sale/$25 at the door, all tickets include a glass of champagne

Chinatown lounge Luwan hosts Melaza, with tech-house, global bass and hip hop by DJ Etronik Torre and DJLejo featuring Joshe Gutierrez. Dress code is dress-to-impress. 1050 Clark, 10 p.m., cover charge unknown

Cult MTL‘s own Johnson Cummins is spinning old-school hip hop all night at the best DIY-bowling alley in Mile Ex. Notre Dame des Quilles (32 Beaubien E.), 10 p.m., free

Cozy Plateau joint Perfecto has become known for its Souper Spectacle events, but there will be neither dinner nor live music for NYE. Instead, Finito 2015 has alt DJs We Are Ortiz, Joey Napoléon and Marc Vulgaire plus champagne and canapés. 20 Duluth E., 10 p.m., free

NEW DJs Roxy Moron and Mathieu Beauséjour invite you to Plateau rock ‘n’ roll bar Rockette for their Défoncer l’Année party, promising quality music, door prizes, bubbly, snacks and more. 4479 St-Denis, 10 p.m., $5

The Goods ring in 2016 with a party called Jewels & Gems, which finds DJs Scott C and Andy Williams joining forces with the crew from Voyage Funktastique (Dr. Mad and Walla P).  La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), 10:30 p.m., $20

Salon Daomé invites party people into their cozy exotic confines for a dance party with music by Roux Soundsystem, Hicky and Kalo. 141 Mont-Royal E., 9 p.m., $15/$20

SAT’s annual electro dance party takes place in the ground floor space and the Satosphere, with 10 DJs and VJs seducing the senses, among them CFCF, M.Bootyspoon, Prince Club, Francis Oak and Thomas White. 1201 St-Laurent, 10 p.m., $25 for the first 100 people/$30

NEW #glowinguponthursday has Shash’U among its DJ crew, and that is reason enough for us to include it on this list. That and the fact that Tokyo has been a pretty solid party spot since the ’90s. Bonus: free champagne at midnight. Tokyo (3709 St-Laurent), 10 p.m., $20

NEW A “multi-sensory dance party experience” is promised at la Vitrola, where DJs Brad, Baby Blue, Festive Special and Piter Sugar (Homeshake) will play pop, house, techno, garage, footwork, rap, R&B and ASMR. 4602 St-Laurent, 10 p.m., $5 before midnight/$7

Countdown NYE is a party so big that there are nine promoters and crews involved in putting it on. DJs Lax, Algo, Biome, Jam PRD, Phiso and Ferd are coming in from the U.S., U.K., France and the ROC, with six local DJ crews opening. Venue TBA 48 hours in advance, 9 p.m., $25/$30/$35/$40/more at the door

LIVE MUSIC

Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs, Divine Fits) brings his latest band Operators, with keyboardist/vocalist Devojka and drummer Sam Brown, back to his onetime hometown this NYE. Opening acts are Holy Data and Dear Denizer plus DJ Noah Bick. Bar le Ritz PDB (179 Jean-Talon W.), 9 p.m., $15 early bird/$20 level 2/$25 level 3

The Speakeasy Electro Swing gang presents Tziganie NYE 2016, with the Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra as well as DJs Don Mescal and Khalil accompanied by clarinetist JS Leblanc and a burlesque performance by Lady Josephine. Cabaret Lion d’Or (1676 Ontario E.), 9 p.m., $35/$40

UPDATED Boston bands Sadist, Exit Order and Dame join Montreal acts Parasytes, Ursula and F.I.T.S. for an NYE Punk Party. Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), 10 p.m., $12/$15 [Please note that this show is now sold out. There’s a free party next door in Casa’s “old room.”]

Analogue Addiction gets festive with Bebye 2015, featuring cray rawk band PyPy and openers Teen Seizure. L’Escogriffe (4467 St-Denis), 9 p.m., $12

Baldy Soundsytem and Bobette Production present another punk NYE party with local oi band the Prowlers, Philadelphia’s Duffy’s Cut and franco-punk locals la Gachette and Idiocrate. Katacombes (1635 St-Laurent), 9 p.m., $10/$12

Slop, Bop, Rhythm and Blues is tagged “the greasiest, grittiest dance party of the year,” with Miche Love and the Dynamite Blues, Bloodshot Bill’s band the Hick-Ups and Bucko live plus Pat White and Costa the Conjurer spinning 45s. Dress code is “dress up and get down.” Matahari Loft (1673 Mont-Royal E.), 9 p.m., $15

The Merry Montreal festivities in Old Montreal, which have been happening since the first week of December, climax with their annual free outdoor concert, and there’s no shortage of big names playing: Coeur de Pirate headlines, supported by Dumas, Yann Perreau and Bernard Adamus. Place Jacques Cartier, 7 p.m., free

COMEDY/BURLESQUE

John Waters fans will be flocking to Glam Gam Productions’ Odorama “Baltimore Ball Drop” theme party at Café Cléopatra, with over a dozen performers camping it up in the roles of characters from across the director’s filmography, with a bonus buffet and a “dirty dance party” by DJs Mr. Slut and DJ Alectric Shock. Get ready to trash it up with Divine & friends. 1230 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $15/$20

Comedy Nest fetes NYE with headliner Phil Hanley and special guests Mike Carrozza, Gino Durante and host Peter J. Radomski. Extras include party favours, a countdown with all the comics, free bubbly at midnight and a cold buffet after the show. 2313 Ste-Catherine W., 10 p.m., $49.50 (includes a one free pass for any Comedy Nest show in 2016)

Comedyworks hosts an NYE Bash with killer Montreal-born comedian Massimo (who you may have seen opening for Sugar Sammy’s show) and MC Ben Miner. 1238 Bishop, 9:30 p.m., $40/$50

UPDATED Mile End’s new venue for music and burlesque is Mademoiselle, and their NYE party promises music by DJ Danger, performer Vanilla Bliss and plenty of champagne. 5171 Parc, 10 p.m., $20

BonBon Bombay hosts the Wiggle Room’s Rockin’ Rollin’ New Years Eve party, featuring pop-up burlesque performances by Ruby Rhapsody and Sugar Vixen and live music by the Wigglers. 3874 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $25 (include champagne at midnight)

For more NYE parties in Montreal, see our Event Listings.

People, don’t drive on NYE! STM, taxis, Uber and Operation Nez Rouge are there for you.

Happy holidays and happy New Year from the team at Cult MTL ♥