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 first Habs seat decision: height before section
At the Bell Centre, the best seat for a Montreal Canadiens game is a center-ice seat in the reds, the 100 level, and the best value is a low row in the 300s along the sideline. The arena is listed at 20,962 seats for hockey, the largest in the NHL, so a low upper-bowl row on the side often shows more than a high row in the reds behind a net.
- The ideal height for watching systems: Club Desjardins, the 200 level.
- Habs goals at your end: the end with upper sections 321–325 and 331–335 and the lower sections below them.
- A family outing: the designated family zone upstairs.
- The trade-off seats: 300-level corners, cheap but distant from the far end.
Home games run from October to April.
Reds, Club Desjardins, white and grey
Seat color tells you where you are.
The reds (100 level)
The lower bowl, in red seats, closest to the ice. Center-ice reds are the most expensive seats in the house and the hardest to find for big games.
Club Desjardins (200 level)
The middle premium ring, with club seating and corporate boxes. Many fans consider it the best height for following line changes and structure.
The upper rings (300 level)
White seats sit toward the front and grey seats behind. One seating guide shows section 321 with lettered rows AA to FF in the white ring, then A to F in the grey. The upper level also contains a Ford Zone and a family zone. The top rows are high in a building this size.
Where Montreal shoots twice, and the corners upstairs
Home teams attack one net in the first and third periods. Seating guides put Montreal's two-period end near upper sections 321 to 325 and 331 to 335, with the lower sections beneath them at the same end. Confirm it on the listing's seating chart.
- Upper corners: among the least expensive seats, but the far net is a long way off.
- White ring vs. grey ring: if prices are close, take the white rows at the front of a 300 section.
- High reds behind the net: often a worse view than a low 300 sideline seat that costs less.
- Center-ice reds: the premium, and worth it when the opponent is Boston or Toronto and you want the full noise.
Bruins, Leafs and the nights Montreal sells out
Preseason comes in late September. The 82-game regular season, 41 at the Bell Centre, runs from early October to mid-April, with the playoffs from April into June. Demand for rival and weekend dates regularly outstrips supply.
- Boston and Toronto: the Original Six rivals are the toughest regular-season tickets, and road fans travel in for them.
- Saturday nights: the biggest local draw, and the easiest night for visitors to plan a trip around.
- Ottawa and the other Canadian teams: visiting fans add to an already full house.
- The home opener and any playoff game: these sell at the top of the market.
For the best mix of selection and value, look at midweek games against Western Conference visitors.
Lucien-L'Allier, Bonaventure and the indoor route
The Bell Centre is at 1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, downtown. Transit beats driving: the Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations are close, Exo commuter trains use the Lucien-L'Allier terminal next door, and the arena links to the Underground City, Montreal's network of indoor passages between downtown buildings. On a January night, that indoor walk from a downtown hotel is a strong argument for staying nearby. Downtown parking is limited and pregame traffic heavy.
As of mid-2026, the standard bag limit was about 15 by 10 by 4 centimeters (roughly 6 by 4 by 1.5 inches); some concerts have used separate clear-bag rules. Confirm the current rule in the Bell Centre FAQ before you go. Every Reserved Seat order carries a 100% guarantee.
Singing crowds, 15 retired numbers and Youppi
The crowd is the reason to go. Montreal fans sing and chant through the game and react to every rush, and the size of the building makes it louder. The pregame ceremony and the banners lean on history: 15 retired numbers honor 18 players, including Maurice Richard's 9 and Jean Béliveau's 4.
Arrive early. The restaurants and bars around the arena fill before games, and security lines at a sellout take time. Youppi, the club's first costumed mascot, joined for 2004–05 and works the stands for younger fans.
The Habs nickname comes from Habitants. Madison Square Garden owner Tex Rickard is credited with first using it in 1924, after being told the H on the sweater stood for that word.
1909, the Forum years and a 1993 overtime record
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. Their 24 Stanley Cups are the most of any franchise, including five straight from 1956 to 1960 and four straight from 1976 to 1979. Maurice Richard, Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur and Patrick Roy belong to Quebec's cultural history as much as to sport.
- 1926 to 1996: 70 seasons at the Montreal Forum, closed with a 4–1 win over Dallas on March 11, 1996. Five days later the new arena opened with a 4–2 win over the Rangers. It was the Molson Centre until Bell Canada took the naming rights on September 1, 2002.
- March 17, 1955: Richard's suspension sparked riots in the city, a defining moment in the club's bond with Montreal.
- 1979 to 1995: the Battle of Quebec with the Nordiques, the province's fiercest rivalry until the Nordiques left.
- 1986: a young Roy led the way to Cup number 23.
- 1993: Cup number 24, against the Los Angeles Kings, with an NHL-record 10 straight overtime wins in one postseason.
- 2021: a first Final in 28 years, lost to Tampa Bay in five.
The Canadiens team site lists the current lineup.
Frequently asked questions
What do the seat colors mean at the Bell Centre?
Red seats are the 100-level lower bowl. Upstairs, white seats are the front rows of the 300 level and grey seats the rows behind them.
Is the Bell Centre the largest NHL arena?
Yes. It is listed at 20,962 seats for hockey in its 2025 configuration, the most in the league and second-largest hockey arena in the world.
Can you reach the Bell Centre without going outside?
From much of downtown, yes. The arena connects to the Underground City, and the Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations are close by.
Which end do the Canadiens shoot twice?
Seating guides place it near upper sections 321-325 and 331-335, with the lower sections below them. Confirm on the listing chart.
Where does the nickname Habs come from?
It is short for Habitants. Tex Rickard of Madison Square Garden is credited with first using it in 1924.