In 1966, author andsocialite TrumanCapote hosted the most iconic ball of the decade. There were 450 guests—artists, actors and actresses, European aristocrats, American politicians, debutantes, and “it girls.”
It was at the Plaza, in the grand ballroom, and the dress code was black and white. Guests ate spaghetti and drank hundreds of bottles of Taittinger champagne. It wasthe place to be. In her article for Vogue, the iconic journalist Gloria Steinem said,“Before the party began, it had already gotten off the ground.”
Even today, people seek to recreate this kind of soirée—with the aura of inclusive exclusivity found at major social events like debutante balls and the Rothschilds’ surrealist balls—which bring together and stoke the creative fire of the world’s coolest cities.
You need a theme, a touch of mystery, incredibly interesting and very sexy guests, and a time-honored concept—the ball, the society dinner, the salon. Montreal, which isn’t exactly “old world,” nonetheless has its own society dinner with a polished aesthetic concept: the Dîner en Blanc. It’s on Friday, August 28 this year…
THE DÎNER EN BLANC
This weekend, theDîner en Blanc—which recreates this kind of evening with a certain degree of success—returns to Montreal every year at the end of summer.
Everyone is dressed in white, there’s as much champagne as at TrumanCapote’s Black and White Ball, and it’s being held at a secret location. For a social event that artists will be talking about for years to come, it’s important to cultivate an aura of mystery.
The evening is meant to be more than just an event; it is—like the grand balls of artists and aristocrats—a cultural movement that builds community around theFrench joie de vivre.
The event, like all great parties, has its roots in the French arts scene. The first “dîner en blanc” was a picnic in the Bois de Boulogne—on the outskirts of Paris—where everyone had to wear white so they could recognize one another, organized by a reserve officer returning from a stay in Polynesia.
Since then, the Dîner en Blanc has been held once a year, and the location is kept secret until the last moment—it’s always a historic, public venue. There are Dîner en Blanc events in Paris, New York, Mexico City, Ho Chi Minh City, and Miami… Montreal’s first Dîner en Blanc took place in 2009, inaugurated by the founder’s son.
THE BELLE ÉPOQUE!
Every Dîner en Blanc has a theme that puts the guests’ creativity to the test. Last year, it was flowers—this year, it’s LA BELLE ÉPOQUE.
The dress code, of course, is to wear white, and when it comes to flowers, everyone can add their own personal touch. This year’s look features crinolines, lace parasols, brooches, hats, corsets, and big bows in the back.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The Dîner en Blanc is more like a picnic, and depending on the ticket you buy, you either get a seat or you can bring a folding table, a canvas chair, or a (white) picnic blanket.
You have to buy your tickets in advance, but the dinner venue remains a secret until the last moment—a meeting point is provided, and all the guests gather there and walk to the dinner venue.
Then, once everyone was settled in, white napkins were waved in the air, and people ate, drank liters of champagne, and danced late into the night.
And, unlike most society dinners, cameras are encouraged.
Where? InMontreal—location kept secret
When? Friday, August 28, 2026
How? To attend the dinner, you must sign up for theguest list (membership fee: $14.00 per person) and then purchase tickets;
Tickets are sold in pairs (2 people per table)
mode of transportation:
– Pedestrians (Bring your own table and chairs): $48.00 per person
– Standing room (table and chairs included): $65.00 per person
– Bus (Bring your own table and chairs): $75.00 per person
