Art Toronto 2026: What to See, Ticket Prices and Weekend Highlights
Art Toronto returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from October 29 to November 1, 2026. Its 27th edition brings together 105 exhibitors, large-scale installations and new programs for first-time art buyers.
Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky leads the highlights with archival images and two new mining photographs. Elsewhere, talks and guided tours offer ways to engage with the art without planning a purchase.
If you are visiting for the first time, here are the works, events and ticket details to know before you go.
Art Toronto 2026 Dates, Hours and Tickets
| Venue | Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front St. W., Toronto |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | Collectors First Look: 4–6 p.m. | Opening Night: 6–10 p.m. (separately ticketed) |
| Public hours | Friday, Oct. 30: noon–9 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 31: noon–7 p.m. | Sunday, Nov. 1: noon–6 p.m. |
| General admission | Adults $40 | Seniors (65+) and eligible students $30 | Night Out ticket $30 after 6 p.m. Friday or Saturday |
| Other tickets | Emerging Collectors Evening $45 | Premium Fair Pass $60 | Opening Night $350 | First Look $440 |
Tickets include talks and guided tours for public fair days. The Emerging Collectors Evening requires its own ticket. See the official ticket page for current options and checkout totals.
Edward Burtynsky Brings Four Decades of Photography to the Fair
At Nicholas Metivier Gallery, The Vault Collection gathers Burtynsky photographs dating from 1985 to 2016. The selection includes artist proofs from his archive and larger prints of early photographs originally made on film.
Two photographs from his forthcoming Mining: For the Future project will also debut at the fair on Thursday, October 29. Created after a 2025 trip to Western Australia, they examine mining landscapes tied to lithium, copper and cobalt production.
Burtynsky has long photographed the relationship between industry and land. This presentation puts that history beside his latest work, making the gallery a useful starting point for visitors interested in photography and the environment.
Installations Bring Art Into Shared Spaces
You will find works outside the usual gallery booths. Abraham Anghik Ruben’s Danish Shaman greets visitors near the entrance, while Kathy Slade’s Sinking in the West considers landscape and the passage of time.
At the centre of the fair, Karine Giboulo’s Joy is a Resistant Bacteria (The Living Room) depicts a damaged domestic setting. Small figures and new growth suggest how life might return after a disruption.
In the lobby, Ottawa artist Rich Loen presents Databells, a free sound installation made from 99 individually controlled bells. The work converts statistical information into changing patterns of sound, offering a stop even before entering the ticketed fair.
New Programs Help First-Time Buyers Find Their Footing
Art Toronto is giving more attention to people considering their first purchase. Its new Art Advisory Desk connects visitors with art advisors who can suggest galleries and works based on their interests.
There is also The Insider’s Eye at Art Toronto, a free one-hour digital module. It explains how to approach a gallery booth, speak to a gallerist and think through an acquisition.
If you are considering a piece, ask the gallery about the price, edition size, framing and delivery before paying. You can still use these resources to learn about collecting without committing to a purchase.
Friday’s Emerging Collectors Evening Has Its Own Program
Friday, October 30, brings Emerging Collectors Evening from 5 to 9 p.m. A $45 ticket includes admission to the evening, DJ sets, a complimentary drink and programming focused on starting an art collection.
At 6 p.m., art advisor Nico Epstein leads the tour Top Picks to Start a Collection With. At 7 p.m., Megan Paterson leads This Is How I’d Spend $5,000 for You, which looks at potential purchases through a defined budget.
These are advisor-led tours, not seated stage talks. Meet at the information booth at the top of the main entrance escalators, and check the schedule for any updates.
Talks, Gallery Tours and Arte Sur Add More to See
Arte Sur returns for a second edition under curator Karen Huber, with 11 galleries presenting work by Latin American artists. Its participating galleries include spaces based in Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru and Toronto.
Friday’s Platform Stage program includes a 5 p.m. conversation with Steve Wilson, co-founder of 21c Museum Hotels, about building and sharing an art collection. On Saturday at 1 p.m., a panel examines the history and growth of Latin American art in Canada.
Visitors can also join curator-led and specialist tours across the weekend. Standard adult admission includes public talks and guided tours; check the daily schedule to choose a day that fits your interests.
Opening Night Supports the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Thursday, October 29, is reserved for ticketed opening events rather than regular public admission. Collectors First Look runs from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by Opening Night from 6 to 10 p.m.
Opening Night ticket proceeds support the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. For a more straightforward gallery visit, public admission begins Friday at noon and continues through Sunday, November 1.
Before heading downtown, compare the ticket options on Art Toronto’s official site and pick a talk or tour you want to catch. Leave some time to browse the booths without a fixed route.
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