There is one exclusive party everyone talks about during the Montreal F1 weekend, and it’s this one.
Stepping out of my Uber to attend the Ritz-Carlton’s Bal Interdit, I was immediately reminded of how excited the Montreal fans are during race weekend.
Photograph: dominicgouin.comThe Ritz-Carlton Montreal
The crowd behind the barricades on Sherbrooke Street West was buzzing with excitement, hoping to spot celebrities or racers on the red carpet.
Photograph: dominicgouin.comThe Ritz-Carlton Montreal
I entered the hotel lobby which was transformed into a lush garden with low lights, where humans (barely) dressed as statues stood on marble blocks on either side.
I felt like I had just stepped into the garden of sin.
As I moved through the crowd of beautifully dressed (mostly) black-tie guests, I discovered a towering three-storey room lined with 18 glowing red windows.
Photograph: dominicgouin.comThe Ritz-Carlton Montreal
Dancers in sleek, feline-inspired costumes performed against a backdrop reminiscent of a red light district.
On my right was a Laurent-Perrier champagne bar, and in the main ballroom (complete with leopard-printed floor) I found gourmet stations and edible décor—including trees of grapes surrounded by figs.
Photograph: dominicgouin.comThe Ritz-Carlton Montreal
The centrepiece? An actual Mercedes.
Check out: Montreal Grand Prix 2026 weekend: guide and best events
Photograph: dominicgouin.comThe Ritz-Carlton Montreal
Stepping into the bright green garden I spotted a giant raw-seafood bar, where a mermaid with a blue metallic tail and a beautiful headpiece was sprawled across a bench.
Photograph: dominicgouin.comThe Ritz-Carlton Montreal
Upstairs inside the Holt Renfrew Ogilvy x Cavalli lounge, guests danced to DJ Fafa Khan’s beats while sipping champagne, surrounded by hostesses draped in red lace dresses.
Photograph: dominicgouin.comThe Ritz-Carlton Montreal
Next door? Another surreal scene: a room with a ceiling blanketed in clouds.
I stood in the dreamlike room, soaking it all in, that’s when it hit me: the Ritz party isn’t just another Grand Prix event—it’s an exclusive experience built on surprise after surprise.
For more information about The Ritz-Carlton Montreal, click here.
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