Upcoming Montreal Canadiens dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The oldest club in professional hockey
The Montreal Canadiens play their home games at the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal, the largest arena in the NHL, and the regular season runs from October to April. Founded on December 4, 1909, the Canadiens are the oldest continuously operating professional hockey team in the world and the only current NHL franchise older than the league itself.
No franchise has won more Stanley Cups. Montreal has 24 titles, including five in a row from 1956 to 1960 and four in a row from 1976 to 1979. The players who built that record, among them Maurice Richard, Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur and Patrick Roy, are part of Quebec's cultural history as much as its sports history. Fans call the team the Habs.
- Boston Bruins. An Original Six rivalry with a long playoff history.
- Toronto Maple Leafs. The other Original Six Canadian club, and the rivalry between the country's two largest hockey markets.
- Quebec Nordiques. The Battle of Quebec was the province's fiercest rivalry until the Nordiques left after the 1994–95 season; it survives in memory and in Montreal's crowd.
Where to sit at the Bell Centre
The Bell Centre opened on March 16, 1996, and Wikipedia lists its hockey capacity at 20,962 in its current configuration, making it the second-largest hockey arena in the world. The seating is stacked in rings, and the seat colors mark the levels.
- The reds (100 level). The lower bowl, in red seats, closest to the ice. Center-ice sections here are the most expensive and the hardest to find for big games.
- Club Desjardins (200 level). The middle premium level, with club seating and corporate boxes. It is the best height in the building for watching systems and line changes.
- Upper rings (300 level and above). The upper bowl, with white seats toward the front and grey seats behind. The arena's size means the top rows are high; the front rows of the upper bowl on the sideline are the value picks.
NHL teams switch ends each period, so the home team attacks one net in two of the three periods. Seating guides place the Canadiens' shoot-twice end near upper-level sections 321 to 325 and 331 to 335, and the lower sections below them sit at the same end. The 300-level corners are among the least expensive seats in the building, but the view of the far end is distant. The upper level also includes a designated family zone. In a building this large, row height matters as much as section: a low row in the 300s on the sideline often beats a high row in the reds behind the net.
Schedule shape and the games that sell first
The NHL preseason runs in late September, the 82-game regular season runs from early October to mid-April, and the playoffs run from April into June. The Canadiens play 41 regular-season home games at the Bell Centre, and demand for rivalry and weekend dates routinely outstrips the building's supply.
- Bruins and Maple Leafs. Original Six rival games are the hottest regular-season tickets, and visiting fans travel to Montreal for them.
- Saturday nights. Weekend games draw the most demand from local fans and visitors who make a trip of it.
- Ottawa and other Canadian clubs. Games against the Ottawa Senators and other Canadian teams add visiting fans to an already full building.
- Home opener and playoffs. The opening night ceremony and any playoff game sell at the top of the market.
Midweek games against Western Conference visitors are the best bet for value and selection.
Metro, the Underground City and entry
The Bell Centre sits at 1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, downtown. Transit is the simplest approach: the Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations are close by, the arena connects to Montreal's Underground City (the network of indoor passages linking downtown buildings), and the Lucien-L'Allier commuter rail terminal operated by Exo is next to the arena. On a cold January night, the indoor route from a downtown hotel is the reason to stay nearby.
- Bags. As of mid-2026, the arena's standard limit for bags was about 15 by 10 by 4 centimeters, roughly 6 by 4 by 1.5 inches, with some concerts using separate clear-bag rules.
- Driving. Downtown parking is limited and traffic is heavy before games; Metro and walking are faster for most visitors.
Check the Bell Centre FAQ for the current bag and entry policy before you go. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Game night at the Bell Centre
The crowd is the draw. Montreal fans sing, chant and react to every rush, and the building gets loud in a way the size of the arena amplifies. The pregame ceremony and the banners above the ice carry the club's history: the team has retired 15 numbers representing 18 players, including Maurice Richard's No. 9 and Jean Béliveau's No. 4.
Plan to arrive early. Downtown restaurants and bars around the arena fill with fans before games, and the security lines at a sold-out building take time. Youppi, the team's first costumed mascot, arrived for the 2004–05 season and works the crowd for younger fans.
From the Forum to the Bell Centre
- The Forum, 1926 to 1996. The Canadiens played at the Montreal Forum for 70 seasons. The final game there, on March 11, 1996, was a 4–1 win over the Dallas Stars; the team opened its new arena five days later with a 4–2 win over the New York Rangers.
- The Richard Riot, 1955. The suspension of Maurice Richard set off riots in Montreal on March 17, 1955, a defining moment in the team's bond with the city.
- 1986. A young Patrick Roy led the Canadiens to their 23rd Stanley Cup.
- 1993. The Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings for their 24th Cup, setting an NHL record with 10 consecutive overtime wins in one postseason.
- 2021. Montreal reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 28 years and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
The arena itself was named the Molson Centre until Bell Canada acquired the naming rights on September 1, 2002. Rosters and coaches change each season; the team site lists the current lineup.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Montreal Canadiens play?
The Canadiens play at the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal, their home since March 1996. It is the largest arena in the NHL, listed at 20,962 seats for hockey.
How many Stanley Cups have the Canadiens won?
Twenty-four, more than any other franchise. The most recent came in 1993, against the Los Angeles Kings.
Why are the Canadiens called the Habs?
Habs is short for Habitants. Madison Square Garden owner Tex Rickard is credited with first using the nickname in 1924, after he was told the H on the team's sweater stood for Habitants.
How do I get to the Bell Centre by Metro?
The Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations are near the arena, and the building connects to the Underground City. Exo commuter trains stop at the adjacent Lucien-L'Allier terminal.
Which end do the Canadiens shoot twice at?
Seating guides place the Canadiens' shoot-twice end near upper-level sections 321 to 325 and 331 to 335, with the lower sections below them at the same end. Confirm on the seating chart when you buy.