National Theatre School of Canada 2026

  

National Theatre School of Canada Reimagines Theatre Training to Meet an Evolving Industry   With two new programs, Technical Arts and Production/Design, NTS reaffirms its ongoing commitment to innovation and to preparing the next generation of theatre professionals. As the performing arts sector continues to evolve, the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) is evolving with it. Following last year’s reimagining of its Directing Program, the School is introducing a new approach to its Production Design and Technical Arts training, creating two distinct but complementary two-year programs, Technical Arts and Production/Design, that reflect the realities of contemporary theatre practice and the diverse career paths available to emerging professionals. “After fifteen years running this program, I have witnessed the craft, and the students drawn to it, continue to evolve. Theatre production training across Canada has shifted, and the NTS PDTA program is ready to redefine our approach to training, setting a new standard and paving the way to reimagine what is possible. We will continue to train artists who are rigorous and kind, digging deeper to ensure they graduate with a craft that is second nature and a voice that is their own. Both new programs will produce graduates ready to lead in their own way,” says Andrea Lundy, Director of the former PDTA Program and of the new Technical Arts and Production/Design programs.

Scene from Yerma, NTS’s 2025–2026 graduating production. Lighting design by Sephora N’Kosi, a third-year student in the former Production Design and Technical Arts Program. Photo: Maxime Côté.

Rather than treating training as a fixed model, NTS recognizes that theatre practices, technologies, and professional roles are constantly changing. By rethinking the structure of its training, the School is strengthening the connection between foundational technical skills and the development of independent artistic voices and leadership.   Two complementary paths, one evolving vision The new structure separates the existing training into two distinct, two-year programs: Technical Arts, which provides a foundation in the craft of theatre, and Production/Design, an advanced course of study for those ready to specialize, lead, and develop their own artistic approach. Together, the programs create a continuous path from skilled practitioner to artist with a distinct point of view, while allowing students to pursue training aligned with their experience, ambitions, and professional goals. The Technical Arts program introduces students to lighting, sound, projection, stage management, scenic carpentry, and general stagecraft. Through hands-on learning and participation in full productions across multiple venues, students experience the entire production process, from pre-production to strike. Graduates are prepared to contribute safely and effectively to professional teams across multiple departments, with the option of continuing their studies in Production/Design. The Production/Design program offers advanced specialization in one of six disciplines: Lighting Design, Sound Design, Projection Design, Stage Management, Technical Direction, or Production Management. Combining specialist instruction, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and opportunities to work on productions of different scales, the program supports students in developing their own artistic identity, leading departments, initiating projects, and building sustainable careers in theatre.

Backstage view of The Neverending Story, NTS’s 2025–2026 graduating production. Technical direction by Katie Webb, a third-year student in the former Production Design and Technical Arts Program. Photo: Maxime Côté.

Innovation as an ongoing commitment   For NTS, innovation is not limited to adopting new technologies or responding to immediate industry needs. It also means questioning established approaches, recognizing emerging professional realities, and adapting its training to support the next generation of theatre-makers. By creating two complementary programs, NTS is reinforcing the value of both technical expertise and artistic leadership, while offering a clearer progression between foundational training and advanced specialization. Applications for the new Technical Arts and Production/Design programs open today, October 30, 2026. For more information, visit: https://ent-nts.ca/en/programme/production-design-technical-arts/ About the National Theatre School of Canada   Founded in 1960, the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) has made an outstanding contribution to the country’s artistic and cultural development for more than six decades. It remains Canada’s foremost theatre training institution, in both French and English, and continues to train actors, directors, playwrights, designers and production specialists whose talent shines on stages across Canada and around the world. It also offers a range of community programs that promote access to theatre for all.

Orchestre Métropolitain 2026: Symphony of Life

ORCHESTRE METROPOLITAINE

Symphony of Life

World premiere

A concert film under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Anaïs Larocque's original score for Marie-Julie Dallaire's film Murmurs

November 1, 2026

The Orchestre Métropolitain (OM) presents Symphony of Life, in collaboration with PVP Média, TV5+ and Maison 4:3, an orchestral and cinematic tribute to the beauty of life and nature, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 3 p.m., at the Maison symphonique. For the premiere of the film Murmurs screened in concert, Anaïs Larocque's evocative score, was commissioned by the OM and created in close collaboration with filmmaker Marie-Julie Dallaire.

A sensory immersion into the heart of the living world

Originally conceived by underwater explorer and cameraman Mario Cyr, this moving, immersive experience at the intersection of symphonic music and cinema plunges audiences into the lives of animals and offers an egalitarian vision of the cohabitation of all living beings on Earth. With no human presence other than the music, the orchestra becomes the voice of this observed world, between stage and screen.

 

Murmurs, in theatres from November 13

Carried by an original orchestral score, the film Murmurs offers a sensory immersion into the planet of the living. With no human presence other than the music, the life observed is that of our non-human housemates, whom we call “animals.” Staying far from the spectacular, we witness privileged moments of their daily intimacy, in which their individuality within the group and the depth of their consciousness and emotions emerge. Through the eyes of our contemporaries, Murmurs lingers with fascination on this mysterious life teeming in tune with our own, leaving us with a sense of unity and belonging to this vast whole called “the living,” at the heart of which we exist as a tiny minority.

Distributed by Maison 4:3, the film will open in theatres in Quebec on November 13, 2026. Murmurs is part of the Official Selection of the 32nd edition of the CINEMANIA festival, in the documentary competition

 

Murmurs | Official Trailer

https://vimeo.com/1227343874?fl=pl&fe=ti

PROGRAM

Original music by Anaïs Larocque

World premiere, commissioned by the OM

With the screening of Murmurs, a film by Marie-Julie Dallaire (80 min)

Tickets and Information

https://orchestremetropolitain.com/en/concerts/symphony-of-life/

 

All photos by François Goupil

 

ABOUT THE ORCHESTRE MÉTROPOLITAIN 

A leading cultural ambassador for Quebec, the Orchestre Métropolitain (the OM) has built a unique bond with audiences through projects driven by emotion and excellence. Whether at the Maison symphonique de Montréal or across the city, through the Conseil des Arts de Montréal Touring Program and free concerts in city parks, every performance is a chance to bring the public together.

For twenty-five years, the OM has grown alongside its principal conductor and artistic director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who brings a bold, modern and contemporary vision to the Orchestra. Their lifetime contract, a rare commitment in the classical music world, has forged a distinct and unmistakable identity for the OM. Yannick Nézet-Séguin's flourishing international career has extended the OM's reach to some of the world's greatest stages, including tours in the United States (2024) and Europe (2025).

Since its founding in 1981, the OM has been committed to introducing children to music, nurturing young people's passion for it, and supporting emerging musicians. Through its cultural and educational initiatives — including school programs, the OMNI competition and the Orchestral Conducting Academy, where Yannick Nézet-Séguin passes on his art to the next generation of conductors — the Orchestra builds a meaningful relationship with its community, young and old alike. 

 

 

 

ELEKTRA BIENNIAL

  

ELEKTRA BIENNIAL F(R)ICTION: ART AND GAMES

AT ARSENAL CONTEMPORARY ART MONTRÉAL

October 15 - November 15. 2026

ELEKTRA presents the 8th edition of its International Digital Art Biennial starting Thursday, October 15, and running until Sunday, November 15, 2026, at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal. Under the theme F(R)ICTION: Art and Games and curated by Lynn Hughes and Ida Toft, this edition brings together 35 works by international and local artists and creators, from both the fields of game design and contemporary art, including Anna Anthropy, Afrane Makof, Ayoung Kim, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Davey Wreden, Leo Castañeda, Maize Longboat, Mélanie Courtinat and Suzanne Treister. 

 

Video games are deeply embedded in popular culture and increasingly used as a form of artistic expression. This meeting point between the two worlds is at the heart of F(R)ICTION: Art and Games. The exhibition reflects the diversity of voices and perspectives that have shaped experimental game-making, bringing together creators of different generations, backgrounds, and regions of the world.

 

All photos above by Nina Gibelin Souchon.

All photos in this article courtesy of ELECTRA BIENNIAL.

 ACTIVITIES

 

 Meeting with the Artists: Talk and Live Playthroughs

Saturday, October 17, from 3 to 7 p.m. - Arsenal Contemporary Art - Free entry, no reservations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting with the Artists: Talk and Live Playthroughs

Saturday, October 17, from 3 to 7 p.m. - Arsenal Contemporary Art - Free entry, no reservations

 

 

Talk : CTRL + AI: Creative Agency at Play When AI agents can create, test, and revise, where does human agency reside?

Monday, October 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. — 4th Space, Concordia University (1400 Maisonneuve Blvd Ouest, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8) - Free admission

Solar Power and Games with Lee Wilkins — Handcraft Workshop

Saturday, November 7, from 2 to 5 p.m. - Arsenal Contemporary Art - From $18, limited to 10 people.

For More information visit the ARSENAL'S website.

  

World Press Photo 2026

  

EXPO WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2026

Montreal 19th Edition

August 26 - October 13, 2025

At Marché Bonsecours

 

The World Press Photo Exhibition is an annual flagship event in the Montreal’s beginning of the fall cultural calendar. As in the past, it is also this year being held at the Bonsecours Market in the Montreal's Old port. Regularly, over 65,000 people attend this large-scale international exhibition, which has been organized in various countries each year since 1955 by the World Press Photo Foundation based in the Netherlands. 

The World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 is travelling to over 60 cities across dozens of countries worldwide as part of its annual global tour.

To discover the exhibition near you, consult here.

 

One of the themes of the Montreal's exhibition deals with the environmental issues. The very first picture in this article deals with the survival of Pandas in its natural environment. The photo just above documents a White bear riding on the back of a Sperm whale.

In addition, the World Press Photo focuses on the subject of Agrotoxins and it's devastating consequences on the inhabitants; health. It is titled "The Human Cost of Agrotoxins" by the photographer Pablo E. Povano, who is the World Press Photo 2026 winner in the South America Long-Term category. He highlights the extension of this problem in Argentina, in the regions like Chaco, Nisiones, Enre Rios, and Cordoba. 

  

The predominant themes of the photos on display deal with the political and regional war conflicts and with the everyday hardship endured by ordinary people in many parts in the world, be they natural or men-made. 

 

There are also photos of human perseverance and success, like Muslim women horse riding and forming horse riding teams, that was previously categorically forbidden to them. 

Also a story of a Chinese woman who got in-vitro fertilization at the age of 60, after the death of her only son, and gave birth to lovely twin girls.

  

 

At the second level of the exhibition, on a balcony overhanging over the World Press Photo exhibit below, are displayed the works of the local Quebec photographers, 7 separate thematic displays.

Seven new additional exhibitions

The World Press Photo Montreal Exhibition will showcase seven new complementary exhibitions, including Jacques Nadeau Page-One Material!, Claire Beaugrand-Champagne’s To Live, Martin Chamberland’s And Life Goes On, Dot Dot Dot, Tracing Human Ground, a collection of works by 28 students from Cégep du Vieux Montréal, and the finalist photographs from the 21st edition of the Antoine-Desilets Award of the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes (FPJQ). 

 

Click on Images for a photo gallery.

All photos @ Nadia Slejskova

Click on the title above the first photo in this article for the article's dedicated website address.

See all previous World Press Photo Montreal articles, under this year's, here.

For more information visit 

World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 

 

 

MUTEK 2026

MUTEK Festival 27th Edition

Six evenings of amplified sound and visual experiences

August 25 - 30, 2026

MUTEK, the international festival of digital creativity and electronic music, takes place in the heart of Montréal.

For six days and nights, artists and audiences from every corner of the globe will converge in the Quartier des spectacles for an expanded experience at the intersection of sound, image, and innovation. True to its spirit of bringing people together, the esplanade Tranquille remains the beating heart of the festival, featuring a series of free outdoor performances every evening starting at 5 p.m. This year, the indoor program takes a new step forward by taking over iconic venues: the Society for Arts and Technology [SAT] and MTELUS, as well as the Maison symphonique and, for the first time, Les Grands Ballets’ Studio-Theatre.

Designed to offer a broad, diverse, and contrasting panorama of contemporary electronic music and digital creation, the 27th edition features venues whose technical and sensory characteristics complement the artistic presentations. With its monumental architecture and unique acoustics conducive to attentive listening, the Maison symphonique will host three extraordinary evenings of performances alternating between classical instrumentation and electronic music. As for Les Grands Ballets, the Studio-Theatre will open up a new space for experimentation for the Play series, returning after several years, in an environment conducive to enhanced audio-visual experiences.

With an artistic lineup that remains rich, eclectic, and . multifaceted, the 27th edition is all about amplifcation: an edition that continues to push boundaries, driven by the enthusiasm

and excitement that audiences around the world continue to show. MUTEK reaffirms its status as the must-attend summer event celebrating the diversity and vitality of digital cultures.

A broad view of contemporary sound and visual art

Nearly 120 artists from 28 countries will be featured across 18 programs, the majority of which are Montréal premieres. From live performances and immersive audio-visual works to dance experiences and hybrid creations, the 27th edition showcases a wide range of contemporary practices in electronic music and digital creativity. Structured around five series, the programs other different intensities, aesthetics, and ways of engaging with sound, image, and space.

Nocturne Series | Society for Arts and Technology | August 26–30, starting at 10 p.m. | $40/$45 (+taxes and fees)

The backbone of the Festival, the Nocturne series takes over both the Espace SAT and the Satosphere’s dome, bringing together future revelations and essential pioneers. On the program: groundbreaking works that reinvent contemporary music, enhanced by a state-of-the-art visual environment.

Métropolis Series | MTELUS | August 28 and 29, from 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. (Friday) and 6 a.m. (Saturday) | $50 (+taxes and fees)

The Métropolis series returns to MTELUS for back-to-back all-nighters devoted to sensory immersion. A dynamic sequence of rhythmic performances, presented within a spectacular stage design orchestrated by BelleyFERRIS, shaping a space conducive to memorable collective experiences.

Play Series | Grands Ballets’ Studio-Theatre | August 29 and 30, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | $25 (+taxes and fees) The Play series returns with a program dedicated to audio-visual performances, presented

in the afternoon. Conceived as a space where sound, image, and technological staging converge, it brings together projects in which the visual experience plays as central a role as the music. Through analogue experiments, DIY interfaces, and digital environments, Play

explores different ways of producing images and narratives through performance, in formats that are accessible, spectacular, and rooted in contemporary audio-visual practices.

Expérience Series | Esplanade Tranquille | August 25–30, from 5 p.m. to midnight (until 11 p.m. on Tuesday) | Free admission

Every day starting at 5 p.m., the free outdoor stage transforms the esplanade Tranquille into a lively gathering place where people, sounds, and energy come together. With eclectic discoveries, vibrant atmospheres, and unexpected musical collaborations, Montréalers and

visitors are invited to celebrate together throughout the evening. Several surprises, to be revealed in the coming months, will enhance the experience.

For more information: https://montreal.mutek.org/en/box-office