Museums and Culture

A leading public gallery for contemporary art, set in a former power station on the waterfront at Harbourfront Centre. Admission is free all year. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Wheelchair accessible, with an elevator to both levels.

MOCA fills a converted 1919 factory near the Junction Triangle with five floors of contemporary art. Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month, and on the Friday of each month's first full weekend from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (tickets can be booked online). The ground floor is always free, visitors 18 and under are always free, and other times are paid.

A one of a kind museum on Bloor Street devoted to footwear, with shoes and boots from thousands of years of history and cultures around the world. Admission is free for everyone on Sundays, when the museum is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Children 4 and under and Indigenous visitors are free every day; other days are paid for most visitors.

Canada's national ceramics museum, across from the ROM, with pottery and porcelain from ancient Americas to contemporary clay art. Admission is free for everyone on Wednesdays after 4 p.m. (open until 9 p.m.), with no registration needed. Visitors 18 and under, students with ID and Indigenous visitors are free every day; other visitors pay at other times.

Canada's largest museum of world culture and natural history, known for its dinosaur galleries and the striking Crystal entrance on Bloor Street. Admission to most galleries is free for everyone on the third Tuesday of every month from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required (no walk ins) and are released two weeks before; special exhibitions cost extra. Other times are paid.

One of North America's major art museums, with Canadian, Indigenous, European and contemporary collections in a building redesigned by Frank Gehry. General admission is free on the first Wednesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free tickets must be booked online in advance; they are released at 10 a.m. on the Monday before, and everyone, including children, needs one. Other times are paid.

A City of Toronto greenhouse in Centennial Park with tropical plants, a cactus house and changing seasonal flower shows. A peaceful, warm spot for a family outing, especially in winter. Open daily including holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4:45 p.m.). Admission is free.

A historic downtown greenhouse complex with a domed Palm House and tropical, cactus and seasonal flower displays, a warm green escape in any season. Open every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4:45 p.m.). Admission is free.

The Université de Montréal's art gallery, on the garden level of the Faculté de l'aménagement pavilion, presents exhibitions year round plus works from the university collection shown around the building. From November 27, 2026 to February 27, 2027 it shows D'amours et d'amitiés, a group show on love and friendship. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

UQAM's university gallery for contemporary art in the Judith-Jasmin pavilion, next to Berri-UQAM metro. From November 6, 2026 to January 16, 2027 it shows Rift by Anahita Norouzi and Le ciel était d'un bleu éclatant by Lucia Choulakian. Open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Concordia University's main contemporary art gallery, on the ground floor of the McConnell Library Building downtown. Until December 5, 2026 it presents FOODWAYS, a group show of 12 artists about food and food cultures in photography, print, video, sculpture and installation. Open Tuesday to Friday noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Concordia University's Faculty of Fine Arts gallery, showing contemporary art by students, faculty and invited artists in the EV Building downtown. Open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed weekends and university holidays. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. The fall shows The Earth We Carry and Kandis Friesen's solo exhibition run until November 20, 2026.