ABOUT

Divers/Cité is a LGBT event whose mission is to present and promote arts and music illustrating and celebrating the value of diversity in a spirit of sharing, solidarity and openness with the world. 17 years of constant growth and expansion has established Divers/Cité as an internationally recognized festival with a loyal following.

Most of our events are outdoors and free. Our programming follows set themes covering a wide range of artistic tendencies that appeal to widely varying audiences. Divers/Cité proudly showcases: modern dance, blues, jazz, pop, Latin, rock, world, funk, ambient, techno and electronic music concerts, drag queen performances, an outdoor film screening and a photo exhibition. The 2009 edition - from July 26th to August 2nd - will offer more than 55 hours of free outdoor performances over seven consecutive days. Divers/Cité boasts the longest running, free outdoor programming of any LGBT event in the world.

Some of Divers/Cité’s signature shows include: La Grande Danse, Mascara: La nuit des drags, Sex Garage and New Society, two of which have garnered worldwide recognition. Mascara: La nuit des drags is the biggest drag show on earth  and features over 100 artists in a whopping five-hour, non-stop theatrical extravaganza. The continent’s most impressive outdoor dance event, La Grande Danse offers close to 11 hours of multimedia infused beats spun by the globe’s most impressive DJs.

Past artists and performers have included: Samantha Fox, Martha Wash, Kevin Aviance, RuPaul, Joey Arias, Ashley MacIsaac, Deborah Cox, Henning Von Berg, MazzImage, Los Amigos Invisibles, Lila Downs, Ballet Jazz de Montréal, Grands Ballets Canadiens, The Gossip, The Organ, Gravy Train, Lady Miss Kier, Vive la fête, Kids on TV, Peter Rauhofer, Billy Carroll, Hex Hector, David Knapp, Tracy Young, Angel Morales, Alain Vinet, Offer Nissim, and Ana Paula.

  Brief history of Célébrations de la fierté LGBT de Montréal

Divers/Cité organized the first Montréal LGBT pride celebrations in 1993. From that point and until 2006, Divers/Cité was comprised of three parts: the pride parade, the community fair and the arts and music festival. Following welcomed and increasingly positively views towards LGBT peoples and communities within contemporary society and after analyzing on-site client research, Divers/Cité’s organizing committee moved forward with a vision to create two distinct public LGBT events in Montréal: one event concentrated on community development and the other, a full-fledged arts and music festival. Divers/Cité is very proud to have produced Célébrations de la fierté LGBT de Montréal for 14 years and as such contributed to the evolution and strength of the LGBT movement.

  AWARDS

Divers/Cité's growth in size and importance over the past few years is unparalleled in Quebec and Canada. The event is now officially recognized by both government and industry. 2000: Ulysses Grand Tourism Award. Category: Montreal tourist event, budget below 1 million dollars 2001: Ulysses Grand Tourism Award. Category: Montreal tourist event, budget below 1 million dollars 2001: Tourism Quebec. Bronze Award for event with a budget below 1 million dollars