The Quebec Crafts Fair celebrates 70 years of Quebec creation with a completely reinvented anniversary edition at the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal
The Salon des métiers d’art du Québec (SMAQ) is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year with an exceptional edition that will mark the start of a new chapter in its history. From December 15 to 20, 2026, the SMAQ will take over the Grand Quai of the Port of Montreal for the first time and will offer a renewed, immersive and resolutely forward-looking experience. Under the theme “Inspired for 70 years”, this anniversary edition pays tribute to the generations of creators who have shaped Quebec’s artistic professions while highlighting those who are shaping their future.
Since 1956, the SMAQ has been a privileged place for discoveries, meetings and transmission. For seven decades, thousands of visitors have found inspiration there through the works, stories and know-how of passionate artisans. Today, this heritage continues in a completely redesigned event that celebrates the excellence, creativity and innovation of local crafts.
More than 200 local artisans gathered under one roof For this anniversary edition, more than 200 artisans from different regions of Quebec will present their creations in a structured route allowing visitors to discover all the richness and diversity of Quebec crafts. From glass to ceramics, from jewelry to textiles, from cabinetmaking to the most contemporary practices, the show will offer a living portrait of current Quebec creation. Visitors will also be able to meet several star artisans, discover emerging creators and interact directly with those who imagine, make and reinvent the objects around us.
A living tribute to 70 years of creationAt the heart of this edition will be an immersive space dedicated to the history of the SMAQ. Through archives, photographs, testimonies and stories from creators, visitors will be invited to relive the significant moments that contributed to making the Salon des métiers d’art du Québec an unmissable cultural event, in partnership with Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec. This retrospective will highlight the pioneers who built the influence of Quebec crafts while illustrating the evolution of practices, materials and generations of creators who have succeeded one another over the decades.
A privileged place for the next generation and living cultures Because the future of artistic crafts is being built today, the SMAQ 2026 will give an important place to the next generation through in particular the Hatching component and the participation of young graduates from programs specialized in artistic crafts. The 2026 edition will also highlight the richness of living cultures thanks to the presence of indigenous artisans whose works bear witness to traditions, know-how and visions that enrich the Quebec creative landscape.
A cultural experience to be enjoyed with all the sensesBeyond the works, the SMAQ 2026 will offer a complete cultural experience where the discovery will continue through the flavors of Quebec. A gastronomic offer highlighting local producers, biofood artisans and culinary creators will allow visitors to extend their immersion in Quebec know-how. Another new feature, the entry ticket will give access to a 10% reduction applicable in the stores of the Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec, inviting visitors to continue their discovery and support of creators well beyond their visit to the show.
A pivotal edition for the future of artistic crafts “For 70 years, the SMAQ has celebrated the talent of those who shape our culture with their hands, their creativity and their vision. Today, as we begin a new chapter at the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal, we wish to reaffirm the fundamental role of artistic crafts in Quebec society. The SMAQ is not just a place for exhibition or sales. It is a space of transmission, dialogue and inspiration where pioneers, today’s creators and the generations who will take over come together. Through this anniversary edition, we invite the public to rediscover the richness of our living heritage, to support local creators and to participate in the future of Quebec creation.”