Canada’s Unknown Soldier
2025-05-24 - 2026-05-24 | 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, K1A 0M8, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, K1A 0M8
Marking 25 years since his return, this commemorative panel exhibition reflects on the legacy of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its role in national remembrance.

Resistant Fibres
2025-06-17 - 2026-05-19
Discover Resistant Fibres, a new exhibition at Âjagemô showcasing textile art as a powerful form of protest, celebration, and healing. Curated by Julie Graff, this display features works from the Canada Council Art Bank collection from June 17, 2025, to May 19, 2026.

Qikiqtait
2025-09-26 - 2027-09-06 | 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K1P 6P4, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K1P 6P4
Discover Qikiqtait: Where Inuit Knowledge and Innovation Come Together, a groundbreaking exhibition showcasing the leadership of the Sanikiluarmiut of Sanikiluaq. Through research, education, environmental stewardship, and the harvesting of eider down — the warmest feather in the world — this exhibition highlights their innovation and resilience. Developed by the Arctic Eider Society with the Canadian Museum of Nature, it celebrates the community’s enduring connection to the land, sea, and each other.

Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts
2025-12-04 - 2026-05-03 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
Launched in 1999, the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts (GGArts) celebrate the exceptional careers of Canadian artists. Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Awards are this country’s most prestigious distinction for the artists, curators and craftspeople who make up Canada’s vibrant visual and media arts community.
Up to eight prizes are awarded each year: six for artistic achievement, one for artistic merit in the fine crafts (the Saidye Bronfman Award), and one for an outstanding contribution to the contemporary visual arts, media arts or fine crafts.
To celebrate this year’s Awards, the winners will be displaying their work throughout the Gallery’s contemporary and historical collections. From installations in the Gallery’s public spaces to interventions disrupting narratives within the permanent collection, the eight laureates offer a new and unexpected take on art today.

Sylvia Safdie: TERRA
2025-12-12 - 2026-10-25 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
Sylvia Safdie: TERRA showcases the work of Montreal-based artist Sylvia Safdie, featuring paintings, sculpture, and video. Her work explores memory, dislocation, and the passage of time, often drawing on natural and human-made materials. Safdie combines these elements in unexpected ways, creating symbolic and transformative meanings. Earth – terra – remains a central and enduring material throughout her practice.

2026 Karsh Continuum exhibit
2026-02-26 - 2026-05-17 | City Hall, Ottawa, K1P 1J1, City Hall, Ottawa, K1P 1J1
This exhibition brings together work by Angelina Barrucco, Barry Pottle, and Laura Taler in a presentation that honours the legacy of Yousuf Karsh and Malak Karsh while continuing a tradition of mentorship and lens based experimentation.
Selected by 2023 Karsh Award laureate Christine Fitzgerald, the featured artists explore contemporary themes through photography and photo driven processes. Their practices reflect creative risk taking, thoughtful engagement with the world around them, and a sustained commitment to artistic innovation.Working across abstraction, portraiture, cultural memory, and performance based imagery, the exhibition highlights the evolving possibilities of image making while acknowledging the influence of earlier generations.Admission is free. The exhibition is open daily.

Drag the Archive: Photographs of Queer Gender Performance
2026-04-10 09:00 - 2026-12-12 17:00 UTC | Drag the Archive: Photographs of Queer Gender Performance, 100 Tallwood Drive - Gallery 112
Drag the Archive is a collaborative practicum project by Carleton University students in partnership with the City of Ottawa Equity Team and the City of Ottawa Archives. Through photography, the exhibition showcases the life and work of drag performer Paul ”Peaches Latour” Fournier and queer rights activist, editor, news reporter and diplomat Philip Hannan. The project celebrates drag performance and queer gender expression in Ottawa and beyond. Through carefully curated selections of archival records, students bring forward a powerful visual narrative that highlights local histories while connecting them to broader traditions of queer gender expression.

Judy Nakagawa – Complicated Heart exhibition at City Hall Art Gallery
2026-04-16 - 2026-08-02
This exhibition features sculptural works by Canadian artist Judy Nakagawa. Through delicate materials and expansive forms, the sculptures explore themes of memory, resilience, and cultural heritage. Inspired by the artist’s Japanese Canadian background and her interest in movement and space, the works invite viewers to reflect on the relationship between fragility and endurance.

Ottawa Clay Festival
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-03
Discover the art of clay at the Ottawa Clay Festival. Explore stunning handcrafted ceramics, shop for unique pottery, and meet local artisans. Enjoy live demonstrations, a pottery throwdown, a juried exhibition, and a fun clay area for kids. This spring celebration is for all to enjoy. Admission is free.

Ottawa PoutineFest and Mac My Cheese
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-03 | 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, K1H 7X7, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, K1H 7X7
More than 30 poutine vendors take over Ottawa and offer up their take on Canada’s dish. Get your curd on!

Ottawa International Writers Festival
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-04 | 550 de la Cité, Gatineau, J8T 0A7, 550 de la Cité, Gatineau, J8T 0A7
Attend the celebration of the finest new and established writing from across Canada and around the world with a fall and a spring edition.

Move for Youth 2026
2026-05-01 00:00 - 2026-05-15 23:59 | Move for Youth 2026, NA
Get active and support youth in your community
May 1–15, 2026
Move for Youth is a free activity challenge with a goal to reach 1,500 participants, 75,000 kilometers, 150 million total steps, and $150,000 dollars! Every step you take creates opportunities for local kids to thrive.
By participating, you’ll make sure more kids have safe spaces to play, learn, and grow. From homework clubs to mental health services, you can help children in your community get what they need to succeed.
Get ready to move with us in May. Plus, if you or your team climb to the top of our fundraising and step leaderboards, you can win great prizes!

Jane’s Walk Ottawa
2026-05-02 - 2026-05-03
A coordinated series of free neighbourhood walking tours given by locals who care passionately about where they live, work, and play.

Orchidophilia - Ottawa Orchid Show
2026-05-02 - 2026-05-03
Whether you’re new to orchids or are already an orchid fanatic, you’ll love learning more at Orchidophilia.

ORAPEX
2026-05-02 - 2026-05-03 | 1701 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, K2G 1W2, 1701 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, K2G 1W2
Ottawa’s national stamp show, with 40 stamp dealers and many philatelic exhibits.

Orchidophilia
2026-05-02 12:00 - 2026-05-03 16:00 | Orchidophilia, Algonquin College, Building D, 1385 Woodroffe Ave
Need a spring pickup? You are invited to the Ottawa Orchid Society’s 42nd annual orchid show
on May 2-3, 2026, featuring many blooming orchids in stunning, colourful orchid displays, a
photographic exhibition, and orchid vendors selling outstanding orchid plants and orchid
supplies. Society members will provide growing tips and educational displays for visitors.
For avid shoppers or those who want a little space an exclusive premium ticket costing $30 is
available at Eventbrite for entry to the vending area one hour before the show opens 11-12 only
on Saturday. Only 100 tickets will be sold and are not valid for any other time. Entry to the show
displays is not permitted before 12 p.m.
Photographers with tripods welcome Sunday 9-11am.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
2026-05-03 | 55 ByWard Market, Ottawa, K1N 9C3, 55 ByWard Market, Ottawa, K1N 9C3
Celebrate Mexican heritage at the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in ByWard Market! Dance to live music, savor mouthwatering cuisine, and admire vibrant folkloric art beneath dazzling “papel picado.” A fiesta full of color, culture, and fun awaits—don’t miss it!

CN Cycle for CHEO
2026-05-03
Cycle along fully supported, traffic-free urban routes (15K, 35K and 70K) and enjoy Ottawa’s scenic beauty and top landmarks while raising money for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre
2026-05-03 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-04 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-06 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-07 11:00 - 16:00 | The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre, 1200 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, ON, Canada, Ontario
The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre
Discover your fall style with The Shop List, running September 16–30 alongside our Share It to Win It Contest for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree! ✨Visit the Rules and Regulations for more information about the contest.
📅 Event Hours
Saturday, September 20 & Sunday, September 21 | 11 AM – 4 PM
Saturday, September 27 & Sunday, September 28 | 11 AM – 4 PM
🎁 What’s happening during event hours:
Free limited-edition tote bags (while supplies last)
On-site brand styling ambassadors to guide you through The Shop List and curated fall capsule collections from St. Laurent retailers
Step into the season with style inspiration, shopping perks, and your chance at an unforgettable shopping spree.

Parkdale Public Market
2026-05-04 - 2026-10-31
Join for a day filled with festivities suitable for all ages. From live entertainment to delicious treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Come be a part of this historic milestone as we commemorate a century of community and tradition at Parkdale Market. This is a free outdoor event.

Ottawa Titans Baseball Club
2026-05-05 - 2026-05-06 | 300 Coventry Road, Ottawa, K1K 4P5, 300 Coventry Road, Ottawa, K1K 4P5
Join fellow sports fans and catch professional baseball games from May to September in Canada’s capital at Ottawa Stadium, just east of downtown.
The Ottawa Titans Baseball Club plays in the Eastern Conference of the Frontier League, which includes 15 teams from Ontario, Québec, and the U.S. northeast. The team’s mascot, Cappy, is a family favourite. During non-game days and the off-season, the 10,000-seat RCGT Park stadium is also used to host concerts, festivals and other events.
The venue is conveniently located along Ottawa’s main highway, and parking is available. The stadium is also easily accessible by public transportation via the light rail O-Train Confederation Line, which stops at the VIA Rail station just a short walk from the stadium.

MASC Young Authors & Illustrators Festival
2026-05-05 - 2026-05-06 | 1867 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, K1G 5A3, 1867 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, K1G 5A3
The MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival features an award-winning lineup of Canadian authors and illustrators.
Students in grades 4 to 8 are invited to sign up for one or two days of literary activities, including artist presentations and hands-on master classes, where they will work with a professional author or illustrator of their choice.
Bring your imagination. Leave inspired!

Spark Soirée 2026
2026-05-06 18:00 - 22:00 | Spark Soirée 2026, Infinity Convention Centre, 2901 Gibford Drive, Ottawa, ON K1V 2L9
Join the Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) for the 2026 Spark Soirée, presented by TAAG. This fundraising evening brings together community leaders and supporters to raise funds for ONFE’s School Breakfast Program. The night features live entertainment, auctions, and a breakfast-inspired culinary experience.

Urban Art Collective Hintonburg Night Market
2026-05-07
Stroll through the Hintonburg Night Market to pickup local eats, treats and all things handmade. Sit back, relax, eat and be entertained by local musicians, buskers and entertainers.
All markets are carefully curated to bring you new vendors and the best of the best each week!
Situated at the gateway to Hintonburg, in the Wellington West food and shopping district.

Cranium Conference & Showcase
2026-05-07 - 2026-05-10 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
This music event will connect active industry professionals with musicians, artists and people making moves in the arts and entertainment business. The weekend will feature networking sessions, information panels with music professionals, masterclasses, and a showcase featuring some great emerging talent. Free and paid events.
