Canada's longest-running international art fair returns to Toronto this autumn with its biggest draw yet: 105 galleries from across the country and around the world, all under one roof at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Art Toronto runs from Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 1, 2026, and this edition marks the first under new director Emily-Jean Alexander, whose stated mission is to make art collecting feel less like a closed club and more like something anyone can walk into.
The headline attractions are strong even for casual visitors. Photography fans should make a beeline for Nicholas Metivier Gallery's presentation of Edward Burtynsky's The Vault Collection — rare prints spanning four decades of the Canadian photographer's career, plus the world premiere of two brand-new works. The fair's Arte Sur section returns with 11 galleries, and the Art Beyond the Booth programme scatters large-scale installations across the venue, including an immersive sound work built from 99 bells.
New this year are several initiatives aimed squarely at first-time buyers. The Ready to Collect Art Advisory Desk offers personalised guidance for people nervous about purchasing their first piece, backed by a free digital learning programme. If you'd rather ease in socially, the Emerging Collectors Evening on Friday, October 30 (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) pairs DJs and cocktails with programming designed to introduce a new generation to buying art. Throughout the weekend there are artist talks, curator panels and expert-led tours of the fair.
Things kick off on the Thursday evening with the Opening Night Benefit in support of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, north of the city. Public hours then run Friday from noon to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Tickets start at $30 for seniors and students and $40 for adults, with discounted options available online. The venue is the North Building at 255 Front Street West, right in the heart of downtown.
Why should a traveller care? If you're in Toronto in late October, this is one of the city's cultural anchors of the season — a chance to see work from dozens of international galleries without a plane ticket, and possibly to buy something you actually love. It's also genuinely beginner-friendly: the advisory desk and tours are built for people who've never set foot in a gallery before. Pair it with a weekend of the city's restaurants and museums, and you've got a well-rounded autumn city break. Even if you leave empty-handed, Burtynsky's new premieres alone justify the entry price for photography lovers. Details and tickets are on the fair's website.
