The Montreal Audiofest opens its doors this Friday at Hotel Bonaventure for its 37th edition, running March 20 to 22, 2026. With more than 100 exhibitors representing upwards of 300 brands and an expected attendance of over 6,000 visitors, it remains one of the largest high-fidelity audio events in North America. For anyone who has never been, organizer Michel Plante has a straightforward pitch. “It’s an opportunity to meet knowledgeable, passionate people who truly care about what they do,” he says. “You can move from one room to another and listen to hundreds of systems and brands in excellent listening conditions, all under one roof, with no pressure, just for the enjoyment.”
The venue plays a central role in what makes the show work. Hotel Bonaventure, connected directly to the Bonaventure metro station, the REM and Central Station, is stripped back and reconfigured each year to accommodate the demands of serious audio demonstration. “We use two floors where we remove the furniture from the rooms and transform them into listening spaces similar in size to what people have at home,” Plante explains. “We also use the convention areas for larger systems, including conference rooms and ballrooms. This isn’t a pipe-and-drape-style exhibit; these are all solid-wall rooms designed for proper listening.” For first-timers, he suggests starting on the lower level with the larger rooms before working up to the bedroom floors for a more intimate experience.
The show runs Friday from 11:00 to 20:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. General admission is $25 per day or $50 for a full three-day pass, with children under 18 admitted free. Hotel Bonaventure is also offering preferential room rates for attendees through a dedicated link on the show’s website.
At its core, the Audiofest is about the emotional experience of listening, and Plante is clear that the gear is a means to an end. “While we are there to showcase the equipment, the goal is to move you with the music,” he says. “You might listen to a Nina Simone recording from 1958 and feel like you’re hearing the best sound ever and have tears in your eyes, or you might hear Angine de Poitrine and find yourself dancing in the room.” That balance between hardware and feeling shapes the entire programming philosophy of the event, from its demo rooms to its special events.
Running across all three days in the St-Laurent 1 and 2 rooms is a vinyl market presented by Passion du disque vinyle Quebec, one of the show’s most reliably popular draws. For Plante, its continued presence says something real about where the audiophile community’s priorities lie. “The passion for vinyl has never faded, and turntable sales are stronger than ever,” he says. “Spinning records is an intentional listening experience; you take the time to appreciate an artist’s work as a whole, rather than just playing a playlist. It’s not for everyone, but once you get hooked, it tends to stay with you for life.” He adds that the market moves a significant number of records each weekend, describing it as “one of the hottest spots at the show.”
Also in the St-Laurent rooms all weekend is a rare opportunity to meet Richard and John Grado in person. The Grado family’s Brooklyn-based operation is one of the last iconic family-run businesses in the audio industry, and until recently the brothers rarely made public appearances. “For many attendees, this is a unique opportunity to meet the creators behind the products,” Plante says, “and gain a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship and passion that go into their work.”
Two VIP events offered this year have already sold out. Prohibition Night, a whisky and music pairing on the opening evening of March 20 from 20:00 to 22:30, brought together tastings of six whiskies with demonstrations on high-end audio systems, priced at $125 including a three-day pass. The Musical Wine Tour offered a guided visit to six exhibitors in small groups led by a sommelier, with six wine tastings on the same ticket. Plante describes the thinking behind both events as an effort to reach people through unexpected entry points. “We want enthusiasts of all kinds to discover the powerful experience of listening to music while enjoying their passions,” he says. “It’s also a way to reach people who may never have taken the time to truly sit down and feel the emotions that music can evoke.”
That outreach extends to the show’s broader demographic ambitions, which have shifted considerably over the past two decades. “Twenty years ago, about 80% of our visitors were over 60; today, that number is closer to 30%,” Plante notes. “Our core audience now falls between 35 and 55 years old. We also see roughly twice as many women attending as before, along with a growing number of visitors under 25.” Around ten years ago, the show launched Audiofilles to spotlight women’s engagement with audio, running its own room with a mix of high-quality affordable systems, cocktails and popcorn. More recently, Plante’s daughter launched Audiolescents, a contest running this weekend near the escalators aimed at drawing teenagers into the fold; admission is free for under-18s throughout the show, and on Sundays adults accompanying an Audioteen also get in free, with a draw for donated audio systems taking place that day.
As for what lingers after the weekend is over, Plante keeps his answer open. “What’s remarkable is that every room offers something special and unique,” he says. “If you come in without preconceived ideas about brands or technology and take the time to be present, you’re likely to discover something memorable in each and every space, whether the system costs $10,000 or $350,000.” He also hints at something less predictable: if you’re lucky, he says, you might find yourself in a room where an artist is performing live alongside the playback of their own recording, “creating a truly unforgettable experience.”
Tickets for general admission are available online, with separate purchasing options for visitors, industry professionals and press. More information, including the show floor plan and accommodation details, is at montreal.audiofest.ca.
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