October 23-26, 2025
Celebrate the Opening of the 25th Edition of Art Toronto!
We are delighted to renew our partnership with the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and invite you to join us for an evening in support of Canadian art. Art Toronto Opening Night on Thursday, October 24 is hosted by and directly supports Canada’s only museum devoted exclusively to Canadian art.
At the exclusive preview of the fair, you’ll have the privilege of being among the first to view and purchase stunning artworks and engage with fellow art connoisseurs. Savour delectable refreshments and light bites throughout the evening.
Your Opening Night or Collectors First Look ticket will not only get you into Opening Night but also offers you benefits for the duration of the fair, including VIP re-admission and a charitable tax receipt for a portion of your ticket. All proceeds from the evening benefit the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, supporting its mission to preserve and promote the art of Canada.
Collectors First Look
Presented by McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Thursday, October 24, 4 - 6pm
Opening Night
Presented by McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Thursday, October 24, 6 - 10pm
Collectors on Art Toronto Opening Night
We've asked three distinct collectors—corporate, private, and cultural institution—to share their insights on the significance of Art Toronto Opening Night.
Stefan Hancherow, Curator
RBC
What is the advantage to acquiring pieces during the Art Toronto Opening Night? Any tips for those attending for the first time
“The advantage is that many galleries present a new series by an artist, or even a new artist in their booth. In some cases rare works by historical artists are made available at the fair. No matter what you are looking for, you have the ability to find something really special at Art Toronto. There is a reason many collectors want to be first in the door. If this is your first time, I recommend soaking it all in, starting up conversations with gallerists, artists and all the wonderful visual art supporters and collectors at the fair.”
What are you most looking forward to this year?
"Visiting with all the incredible gallerists, collectors and artists who travel from around Canada and the world to be at the fair. I’m and always thrilled to meet new attendees as well!"
What has been your favourite discovery at Art Toronto Opening Night so far?
"Every year there is multiple new discoveries, be that a new gallery, or a new artist. I also really enjoy talking with colleagues and friends about upcoming exhibitions or residencies, but my favourite is being in the presence of masterful artwork and going to visit it a few times over the weekend."
Tony Hailu, Calgary Collector
What is the advantage to acquiring pieces during the Art Toronto Opening Night? Any tips for those attending for the first time
"Artists and galleries tend to send, bring best examples of their works to the art fair. Collectors and institutional buyers descend on the fair on the Thursday Opening Night. If you miss the Thursday Opening Night, you might miss the chance to acquire the best works."
What are you most looking forward to this year?
"This year I am most looking forward to making the time to expand my net work of curators, meeting other Canadian collectors."
What has been your favourite discovery at Art Toronto Opening Night so far?
"Meeting in person and learning about Toronto and international artists, their galleries."
Jean-François Bélisle, Director and CEO
National Gallery of Canada
What is the advantage to acquiring pieces during the Art Toronto Opening Night? Any tips for those attending for the first time
"The diversity of galleries and extremely wide selection of artists exhibited makes Art Toronto one of the best places to buy art in Canada, every year!"
What are you most looking forward to this year?
"Every year at Art Toronto, I love seeing recent productions of some of the best Canadian artists."
The 2023 edition of Art Toronto marked the return of the Opening Night gala format. The generous contributions from attendees and Opening Night sponsors not only raised vital funds for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, but also enabled the acquisition of seven new artworks for the McMichael's permanent collection.
Sandra Brewster, Owning Yellow, 2023 (Olga Korper Gallery) acquired with support from Hatch;
Abbas Akhavan, Study for a Garden, 2017, (Catriona Jefferies).
Gigaemi Kukwit, Sea Monster House, 2010
(2023 Opening Night Photos by Ryan Emberley Photography)
About McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is the largest publicly funded gallery in Canada that focuses exclusively on Canadian and Indigenous art, both historical and contemporary. The permanent collection consists of more than 7,000 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of Canadian art. The McMichael is also the gallery of record for works on paper from the Inuit community of Cape Dorset (Kinngait) as custodians for the Cape Dorset archive, which totals nearly 100,000 artworks.
Built of fieldstone and hand-hewn logs in a modernist design, the McMichael houses thirteen exhibition galleries where floor-to-ceiling windows enable visitors to enjoy views of the densely wooded Humber River Valley. Beyond the galleries are 100 acres of forested land, the Minokamik Garden, and heritage wetlands and waterways.
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an Agency of the Government of Ontario.