Canada’s First Art Park Is Expanding in Toronto’s Port Lands This Weekend
Toronto’s Lassonde Art Trail is expanding across Biidaasige Park on July 25 and 26, 2026, with new public art and free drop-in activities. The LAT West Opening Weekend runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days, and no registration is required.
Canada’s first art park is brand new this summer, free, and very shareable. The Lassonde Art Trail is a first-of-its-kind project in Canada, with 15 interconnected art sites spread across 4.2 kilometres of Biidaasige Park.
Note: Outdoor programming, TTC service and park access can change. Check the official Lassonde Art Trail event page before heading out.
Toronto’s Lassonde Art Trail Adds New Works at Biidaasige Park
Lassonde Art Trail Opening Weekend: Key Details
| Event: | LAT West Opening Weekend |
| Date: | July 25–26, 2026 |
| Time: | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Where: | Biidaasige Park, Toronto Port Lands |
| Cost: | Free |
For event updates, programming details and visitor information, check the official Lassonde Art Trail website.
The July weekend marks the next phase of the trail’s summer opening. Its 2026 launch season began in June, with more art being introduced through September.
What’s Happening During LAT West Opening Weekend?
This weekend gives visitors their first chance to walk the trail across the full network of paths through Biidaasige Park. Several new sculptures are joining works that opened earlier this summer.
There is more to do than walk around and take photos.
Recreate Place is hosting free drop-in art-making along the trail on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The activities will take place near Homing, against the wind, with the wind, Saverio and Daisy (Navel) and Ernest and Ruth (Exuberant Pink).
Artists and educators Melanie Billark, Amanda McCavour and Raha Medhat are involved alongside youth facilitators.
No advance sign-up is needed. You can stop at an activity while making your way through the park and join in from there.
Which New Artworks Can You See
Several works are joining the trail around the late-July expansion.
They include:
- against the wind, with the wind by Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka
- Lodestar by Lisa Hirmer
- Saverio and Daisy (Navel) by Hank Willis Thomas
- Untitled (Juniper) by Virginia Overton
Ryan Gander’s Stories of relics is also currently part of the 2026 trail program.
These pieces join works by artists including Oluseye, Caroline Monnet, Tracey Emin, Kara Hamilton, Alexandre Arrechea, Nadia Belerique and Tony Romano.
The art is not packed into one building or plaza. Instead, the project uses 15 sites connected by paths running through the park.
That setup also makes this an easy spot for photos. You can move between art, water, pathways and open park space without needing to stay inside one exhibition area.
This Is More Than a One-Weekend Event
The July 25 expansion is a big step for the project, but the Lassonde Art Trail is not finished adding art for 2026.
Kent Monkman’s The Colony is scheduled to arrive in September. The City of Toronto says it will be the Cree artist’s first public artwork.
Monira Al Qadiri’s First Sun is also scheduled for the fall.
Another permanent commission from Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos is planned for 2027.
The trail grew from a $25-million donation from the Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation announced in 2022. The project was planned as an outdoor public art destination in Toronto’s transformed Port Lands.
How Long Does the Lassonde Art Trail Take?
Give yourself some time if you plan to see the whole thing.
The route runs for about 4.2 kilometres, and the full walk takes around three hours. You do not have to complete the entire trail during one visit.
Stopping at a few installations and coming back another day may work better for families or anyone mainly visiting for the weekend activities.
Since the trail remains free and open year-round, there is no pressure to fit every artwork into one afternoon.
Insider Tip
Bring water if you plan to spend a few hours walking around.
Organizers note that trees in newer sections of the park are still young, so there may not be much shade during the afternoon. Checking the weather before leaving is also a good call.
How to Get to Biidaasige Park
Biidaasige Park is located near Cherry Street on Ookwemin Minising in Toronto’s Port Lands. The new island was created through the Port Lands Flood Protection Project and the new mouth of the Don River.
Visitors heading to the western part of the park can use the entrance near 242 Cherry Street.
Cyclists can connect to the area using the Martin Goodman Trail, with bike parking available around the park.
For TTC riders, the 114 Queens Quay East bus serves the Cherry Street and Commissioners Street area. Check the TTC trip planner before leaving in case weekend service changes.
Street parking is available nearby, and a public parking lot is located across from Old Firehall 30 at 39 Commissioners Street.
Public washrooms are also available at Old Firehall 30.
There Are Free Tours Too
Not visiting during opening weekend?
Free Art + Nature Tours are running on Saturdays through August 22, 2026.
Tours are currently scheduled at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and take around 40 minutes. No registration is required.
That gives visitors another way to learn about the art without having to figure out every installation on their own.
And once the July 25–26 activities finish, the trail itself remains free to visit.
For anyone watching their summer spending, this is one Toronto outing that does not start with a checkout page. You can go for the art, walk part of the new park and decide how long you want to stay.
Planning to check out the Lassonde Art Trail this weekend? Which installation are you most curious to see? Drop your pick in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Plan for about three hours if you want to walk the full 4.2-kilometre route and stop at several installations along the way. You can also visit only one section of the trail if you are short on time or mainly heading there for the opening-weekend activities.
Yes. The trail follows Biidaasige Park’s main path system, which is AODA compliant. That makes the main route more accessible for wheelchair users, mobility devices and visitors who prefer paved pathways.
Yes. Public washrooms are available inside Old Firehall 30 at 39 Commissioners Street. It is a useful stop to know about before starting a longer walk through the park, especially since the trail stretches across several kilometres.
Yes. The July 25–26 event marks the LAT West opening, but the trail itself stays open year-round. You can come back later in the summer or at another time to see the installations, and more works are also scheduled to join the trail later in 2026.
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