Montréal, October 30, 2025. – In 2024, there were 12.4 million visits to Québec museum institutions. This number was up 3% from 12.0 million in 2023, but remained 11% lower than the 2015–2019 average. Admissions to off-site museum activities totalled 0.9 million in 2024, down 20% from 2023 and 33% from the 2015–2019 average.
These findings come from the publication La fréquentation des institutions muséales au Québec en 2024 released by the Observatoire de la culture et des communications of the Institut de la statistique du Québec. It presents the most recent annual data on visits to museums, exhibition centres, and interpretation sites.
Museum institution attendance1 by type of attendance, Québec, 2003 to 2024
Notes
1. Museums, interpretation sites and exhibition centres.
2. Number of on-site admissions to museum institutions. Excludes admissions to museum exhibitions and activities offered off-site.
3. Number of admissions to museum exhibitions and activities offered off-site, meaning at locations that are not on the museum institution’s property, such as a municipal park or school.
Source
Institut de la statistique du Québec, Observatoire de la culture et des communications du Québec.
Science museums still on top
With 3.9 million intramural (on-site) admissions in 2024, science museums were the only category that posted better results than their 2015–2019 average (3.4 million). They retained their title of most visited museum category in Québec despite a 5% decline in attendance compared with 2023 (4.1 million).
Museum attendance by region
In 2024, most regions had not yet returned to museum attendance levels comparable to their 2015–2019 average. The largest losses were observed in the Laurentides and Outaouais regions, where the number of intramural admissions decreased by 40% and 27%, respectively. Museum attendance also declined in the regions of Capitale-Nationale (-21%), Laval (-21%), Lanaudière (-20%), Abitibi-Témiscamingue (-17%), Centre-du-Québec (-15%), Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (-12%), Chaudière-Appalaches (-9%), and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean (-9%).
However, certain regions recorded an increase in museum attendance in 2024 compared with their 2015–2019 pre-pandemic level. This was the case for Mauricie, where the number of intramural admissions was up 24%, and Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec, where it increased by 18%. The number of visits remained relatively stable in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Montréal regions.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and an essential source of information for all those wishing to learn more about Québec.