LUMINO PRO 2026 – The international forum of winter creativity, culturel placemaking and light art

 

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

 

LUMINO PRO 2026

The international forum of winter creativity, cultural placemaking and light art
February 25 to 27, 2026

 

Montreal, February 18, 2026 – The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, in collaboration with Quartier des Spectacles International, presents the second edition of LUMINO PRO, the international forum dedicated to transforming winter into a cultural high season through innovative uses of public space, placemaking and light art. From February 25 to 27 this year, Montreal welcomes 30 international guests and as many participants from Quebec, Canada, the United States and Europe, including municipal decision makers, managers of public spaces, exhibitors, programmers and creative studios with a common goal: to make winter a driver of cultural, economic and regional attractiveness. 

Hosted in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, a district known for its ability to turn cold weather into shared experiences, LUMINO PRO offers a unique immersion in a fully activated winter district. 

The event is produced by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership in collaboration with Quartier des spectacles international, and made possible by the financial support of SODEC, with the participation of the Caisse de la culture and the Ville de Montréal. 

 

A gathering of international experts 

For three days, LUMINO PRO features a high-level program of presentations, panel discussions, case studies, practical workshops, creative showcases and professional meetings. Peer-to-peer discussions and networking activities allow participants to directly experience the benefits of an ambitious winter program. 

Opening day puts the spotlight on proven strategies for transforming public spaces into dynamic winter destinations. Participants from Finland, Norway, the United States and Canada will share their expertise. The presenters include:  

• Päivi Raivio (Finland) on Nordic participatory design and winter placemaking; 

• Max Musicant (United States), on the winter capitals of the northern United States; 

• Madeleine Stout (Canada), on the strategies of Canadian winter destinations; 

• Luca Roncoroni (Sweden), on the ephemeral as a driver of attractiveness; 

• Anastasia Isachsen (Norway), on the Nordic network of light-art festivals; 

• Juha Rouhikoski (Finland), on the power of light art. 

The program includes 12 panels and presentations, including a session on winter cities (Toronto, Helsinki, Edmonton, Boston, Detroit, Niagara Falls, Montreal), as well as professional showcases and practical workshops. The program is a testament to the scope and quality of the content being presented.  

 

A professional showcase for sharing expertise 

LUMINO PRO is also an excellent opportunity to forge new links between municipalities, exhibitors and the producers of winter experiences.  

 

The showcase focused on Montreal-based expertise and LUMINO Pro brings together 15 producers of experiences for professional meetings dedicated to sharing knowledge. The goal is to generate new collaborations, promote the development of new initiatives and position the Quartier des Spectacles and QDSinternational as key partners in the wintertime design and programming of public space. By forging an international network of winter cities, LUMINO PRO affirms its role as a strategic platform where expertise, urban innovation and creativity meet in Montreal. 

QUOTES

“LUMINO PRO gives professionals an opportunity to explore ways to showcase digital works and develop new urban design approaches for winter settings. The event, now in its second year, sparks collaboration, innovation and creativity. SODEC is pleased to support this young international gathering with such immense potential, which puts the expertise of our cultural and creative industries in the spotlight,” said SODEC president and CEO, Louise Lantagne. 

“Since the beginning, LUMINO has proven that winter can be a powerful driver of cultural and urban innovation. By transforming the downtown core into an open-air museum, we have put Montreal’s creativity in the international spotlight and built a level of expertise that is now highly recognized and exported. With LUMINO PRO, we are building on that strength and making winter an engine of attractiveness and development. By bringing together winter cities, decision makers, and creators from around the world, we are building a strategic network and positioning Montreal as an essential reference in winter creativity and the animation of public space,” said Monique Simard, chair of the boards of directors of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and Quartier des spectacles international. 

 

 

LUMINO PRO 2026 

 

February 25 to 27, 2026
Esplanade Tranquille Pavillion, Quartier des Spectacles 

Complete program: quartierdesspectacles.com 

 

ABOUT QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES PARTNERSHIP 

 

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal. 

 

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com 

 

ABOUT QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES INTERNATIONAL 

 

QDSinternational is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership. It creates, co-produces, and distributes immersive and participatory installations for public spaces around the world, in collaboration with artists, cultural institutions, and cities committed to urban innovation. 

 

More information: qdsinternational.com  

 

ABOUT LUMINO 

 

LUMINO, initiated and produced by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, offers an original, captivating and participatory winter experience from November to March. Its light and sound installations in public spaces transform the Quartier and the wider downtown core into a vast open-air museum. The event, which has become a staple of winter in Montreal, showcases local creativity on the international stage, and its unique experience has inspired cultural districts and light festivals around the world. Several works are now on display in other cultural districts across the globe thanks to Quartier des Spectacles International. 

 

More information: luminomtl.com 

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MEDIA CONTACT 

Mélanie Mingotaud
Communications Mingotwo
melanie@mingo2.ca
(514) 582-5272

 

SOURCE 

Marie Lamoureux
Partenariat du Quartier des spectacles
marie.lamoureux@quartierdesspectacles.com
(514) 923-6772