Celebrate Culture Days from September 18 to October 4, 2026. Held annually, Culture Days aims to support engagement with, and appreciation for, arts and culture landscapes of Canadian communities.
At the end of each September, millions of people attend thousands of free participatory arts and culture events across the country both in-person and online. Culture Days programs invite the public to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes to highlight the importance of arts and culture in our communities.
The Culture Days national organization supports a Canada-wide network of arts, culture, and heritage organizers to facilitate free public events in their communities every year during Culture Days.
Culture Days aims to:
- FOSTER appreciation and support of the artistic and cultural life that is lived, created and expressed across the country in urban, suburban and rural areas alike;
- PROMOTE direct interaction between creators and the public, as a key to increasing understanding and appreciation of art and culture; and
- AFFIRM that every citizen is the guardian of the cultural life of his, her or their community.
As a registered charity, the national Culture Days organization serves as a year-round catalyst that connects individuals and creators to build measurable support for the entire sector and amplify its contributions. We seek to eliminate barriers to access and participation, and stimulate understanding, appreciation and exploration of arts and culture—so that every person in the country has a deeper connection with themselves, their communities, and Canada.
History
Culture Days was initiated in 2010 by the Canadian Arts Summit, made up of some of Canada's largest arts organizations, and was inspired by the success of Québec’s Journées de la culture weekend. It has since generated enthusiastic interest, participation, and support from a growing network of artists, organizations, municipalities, media, and both the private and public sector across Canada. After a decade of success, Culture Days has expanded beyond the weekend to support year-round communications initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector and inspiring public discourse about the value of arts and culture.
