It’s that time of the year when Montreal rips the cars off its streets and hands them back to the people for the summer. Starting in late May and running through mid-October, seven of the city's most beloved commercial strips go car-free, transforming into something between a block party and a neighbourhood in full bloom with nearly seven kilometres of road across six boroughs, more than 1,200 businesses accessible on foot (with lots of terrasses).
Two streets that were on last year's roster won't be returning in 2026: Rue De Castelnau in Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension is currently undergoing major reconstruction, so its pedestrianization is on pause while the work plays out. Rue Saint-Denis in the Quartier Latin is also off the list this summer. In De Castelnau's place, the borough is pedestrianizing a stretch of rue Villeray instead—a first for that street.
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