About / Cinars

The CINARS Biennale

Since 1984, every two years in Montreal, CINARS has been organizing one of the most important international showcases and networking events, gathering more than 1 200 professionals hailing from over 51 countries including 332 show presenters, some of whom are the most influential in the business. During one week, 190 shows from Quebec, elsewhere in Canada, and abroad grace the stages while workshops, networking events, as well as an exhibition hall are teeming with participants in some of Montreal’s main cultural venues.

After 20 editions, the CINARS Biennale has made a name for itself as a must-see multidisciplinary event in which participants can develop real international touring opportunities, build solid relationships with stakeholders from all over the world, and sharpen their professional skill set and knowledge base.

The International Conference and networking organization for the Performing Arts CINARS will take place from November 11 to 16, 2024 in Montreal. On the agenda for this 21st edition, more full-length shows, and as many OFF timeslots.

Let's get together to support the performing arts, share our knowledge and continue to offer unique experiences to our audiences!

This year, the CINARS biennale offers you to:

Enjoy contemporary artistic words in their entirety

More than ever, we program contemporary highlights in dance, circus, theater, music or multidisciplinary arts, whether in intimate or large-scale performances.

Make room for new writing

It's time to give a special place to new works of interdisciplinarity and hybridity of forms that reflect new writing in the performing arts.

Discover new Young Audiences timeslots

Extraordinary artistic approaches can be found in the Young Audiences section, across all disciplines. You'll discover intimate works on small stages as well as middle-scale shows.

Bring the music family together

Today's music reflects the world we live in. Whether acoustic, electronic, multi-faceted, contemporary, or performed by high-calibre artists, music brings people together. Let's make sure we find ourselves through it.

Welcome diversity and inclusion

Contemporary words, from here and from every continent, offer rich and plural experiences. We welcome diversity in all its forms.

Attend performances on a variety of stages

The CINARS biennial is also about big stages, medium stages as well as intimate venues. Our official program, selected by five international juries, will be programmed in the most appropriate venues for the works.

Time slots to suit show types and audiences

We'll have lunchtime slots (small audiences), afternoon slots (medium audiences), early evening slots (large audiences) and late evening slots for daring new artists (small audiences)! As in the past, we'll keep as many slots open for OFF!

Take part in conferences and discussions

The CINARS Biennale is also a crossroads for contemporary performing arts professionals converging in Montreal. Get ready for a week of thought-provoking and inspiring discussions at conferences, roundtables and workshops.

Experience Montreal

Our official program takes place in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, around the Place des Festivals.

Enjoy disciplinary encounters and segmentation for better networking

We plan to add a new type of discussion meeting to bring together professionals working in the same discipline. This will enhance opportunities for qualitative, segmented meetings.

Keeping an eco-responsible approach

To take our first steps towards becoming an eco-responsible event, we are working with the Conseil québécois des évènements écoresponsables to help us assess our ecological footprint.