Dylan YoungI thought I had a decent handle on Toronto’s art scene. Then I started digging into what’s happening this summer, and honestly, I haven’t felt this excited to explore the city in a long time.
There’s so much happening around the city right now. I found bubble-themed playgrounds, cowboy boots with wild backstories, and a whole exhibit dedicated to Toronto’s deep love for basketball.
Whether you’re into Instagrammable moments, historical deep dives, or just want a fresh reason to leave the house that isn’t “iced coffee,” here are some cool art exhibitions I can’t stop thinking about.
- Home Game: Toronto Loves Basketball
- Bubble Planet
- Pancakes and Booze Art Show
- Yayoi Kusama’s INFINITY MIRRORED ROOM – LET’S SURVIVE FOREVER
- Rough and Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot
- Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
- The New Immersive Van Gogh: The Next Chapter
- Joyce Wieland: Heart On
- MOCA x Heritage Toronto: Visualizing the Junction Triangle
- Neither Here Nor There
Home Game: Toronto Loves Basketball
– Reel credit: harbourfrontcentre
When: May 21 to October 12, 2025
Where: Harbourfront Centre, 225 Queens Quay West
As someone who loves playing and watching basketball, I know I had to check out Home Game: Toronto Loves Basketball at Harbourfront Centre. It’s running until October and is completely free. You can walk in anytime.
It explores Toronto’s deep basketball roots, starting with the sport’s Canadian invention back in 1891, all the way to the Raptors’ rise and the debut of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo.
What stood out to me most were the historic artifacts, like the original Toronto Huskies game ticket and the personal stories from local legends. There’s also an interactive app that lets you design your own jersey and explore basketball history.
They’re even offering curator-led tours, live panels, and hands-on workshops throughout the summer. It’s more than just a quick visit, and I’m already planning to go back for a few of these events.
If you’re thinking about it too, you can find all the details about these special events on this website.
Bubble Planet
– Photo credit: byannagrey
When: August 8, 2024 to August 31, 2025
Where: 30 Hanover Road, North York
Tickets: Buy here
Adult (13+) – $39.90
Child (3-12) – $30.90
Senior and student – $34.90
I visited Bubble Planet in North York, and it honestly felt like stepping into a pastel dream. The whole experience is indoors and takes about an hour, but you can linger in each room as long as you like.
There are 11 themed rooms, each designed to hit all five senses.
My favourites were the Bubble Bath pit where you feel mini-sized in a giant tub, the Infinity Room with endless reflections, and the VR hot air balloon simulator that gives you a surreal view of a bubbly world.
There’s also a robot-led bubble show, a Selfie Room that’s basically made for taking Instagram shots, and a Sketch and Post station where your doodles come to life.
It’s playful, immersive, and surprisingly relaxing. Since it’s open until August, I’m certainly planning to take a couple of my pals for another visit here soon.
Pancakes and Booze Art Show
– Photo credit: pancakesandbooze
When: July 18, 2025
Where: 783 College St.
Tickets: Buy here ($21.99)
If you’re looking to party, then make sure to book your tickets quickly to the Pancakes and Booze Art Show at Revival. As you can probably tell from its name, this one is strictly a 19+ event that runs from 7 PM to midnight.
A huge reason why I think this event will be a must-visit is the mix of over 75 local artists, live body painting, DJ sets, and yes, free all-you-can-eat pancakes.
The whole venue also turns into a buzzing pop-up gallery with more than 300 pieces of artwork lining the walls.
It’s definitely not your typical gallery vibe. It’s loud, messy, creative, and full of energy. I’m planning to go early to avoid the line and soak in as much as I can—art, music, pancakes, and maybe a drink or two.
Yayoi Kusama’s INFINITY MIRRORED ROOM – LET’S SURVIVE FOREVER
– Photo credit: julia_winckler
When: Until May 2026
Where: AGO, 317 Dundas Street West
Tickets: Buy here
Adult (18+) – $30
Attendant – $30
Youth (10-17) – $15
I’ve been meaning to revisit Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room — Let’s Survive Forever at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and I’m genuinely excited it’s still on view through May 2026.
The room itself is surreal. You step into a mirrored space filled with suspended silver spheres and a central column that reflects endlessly in every direction.
Only four people can enter at a time, and you get 60 seconds inside, which sounds short but feels strangely timeless once you’re in there. It’s quiet, reflective, and kind of emotional. It felt like being inside a living sculpture.
I’m planning to go again soon, especially now that the summer crowds are picking up. If you’re heading to AGO, just know that access is first-come, first-served, so it’s worth arriving early or checking in with staff when you get there.
It’s one of those rare pieces that actually lives up to the hype.
Rough and Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot
– Photo credit: saboteusebespoke
When: May 2025 to October 2026
Where: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West
Tickets: Buy here
Adult (18-64) – $16
Senior (65+) – $12
Student – $8
Child/Youth (5-17) – $5
Remember when I mentioned cowboy boots earlier? Well, that’s because I actually got to visit Rough and Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot at the Bata Shoe Museum last week.
This exhibit is genuinely fascinating. It explores the history, symbolism, and cultural impact of cowboy boots in rich detail, starting from their origins in the 1800s to how they became fashion statements and signs of rebellion over time.
One artifact that stood out to me was a pair of boots worn by Gene Autry, the famous singer from the 1930s. They had this beautiful blue bird pattern that immediately caught my eye and made them feel really unique compared to the rest.
Beyond the artifacts, the exhibit includes themed events such as country music trivia nights and creative workshops throughout the season. If you’re thinking of checking it out, all the event details are up on this website.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
– Photo credit: expo_titanic
When: June to September 2025
Where: 30 Hanover Rd
Tickets: Buy here
Adult (18-64) – $39.90
Senior (65+), Student, Youth (13-17), or Disabled – $33.90
Child – $29.90
Even after all these decades, the Titanic still feels wrapped in mystery. I’ll admit my knowledge of its story mostly comes from the award-winning film, so I was genuinely curious when I heard about Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.
The exhibit features over 200 real artifacts recovered from the wreck, including personal items, china sets, clothing, and even a lifeboat davit.
There are life-sized room recreations of first-class and third-class cabins, plus a walkable replica of the Grand Staircase where you can pose for photos.
One of the coolest parts is the VR experience that takes you on a virtual dive to the wreck site, which I’ve heard is incredibly moving.
It’s all happening at YZD Hangar Bay 12, and the whole experience takes about 60 minutes. I’ve always been fascinated by the Titanic story, so getting to see these pieces up close feels like a rare chance to step into history. I can’t wait to go!
The New Immersive Van Gogh: The Next Chapter
– Photo credit: nadirasworld
When: April to September 1, 2025
Where: Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto, 1 Yonge St.
Tickets: Buy here
Adult (17+) – $24
Child (6-16) – $16
Premium access – $28
VIP access – $36
I’ve been keeping tabs on The New Immersive Van Gogh: The Next Chapter at Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto, and I’m genuinely excited to check it out soon.
What makes it so special is how it reimagines the way we experience his art. Instead of just viewing paintings on a wall, the show uses advanced projections to turn his brushstrokes into full-scale environments.
You get to walk through the scenes and feel completely surrounded by his work.
The exhibition takes you on a visual journey, from the bright fields of Provence to the more emotional moments near the end of his life. Music and moving visuals add to the atmosphere as you explore the space.
I’ve seen clips online, and the colours, movement, and scale look incredible. I’m planning to go with a couple of friends next week, and I already know it’s going to be one of those experiences that sticks with you.
Joyce Wieland: Heart On
– Photo credit: agotoronto
When: Until January 4, 2026
Where: AGO, 317 Dundas Street West
Tickets: Buy here
Adult (18+) – $30
Attendant – $30
Youth (10-17) – $15
Another exhibit in the Art Gallery of Ontario I think is worth checking out this summer is Joyce Wieland: Heart On. It runs until January next year, so there’s plenty of time to catch it, but I don’t want to wait too long.
The exhibition covers over five decades of Wieland’s work, from the 1960s to the 1980s. You’ll see her textiles, collages, prints, drawings, and experimental films, all packed with humour, bold visuals, and sharp political commentary.
Her pieces explore themes like feminism, Canadian identity, environmentalism, and even Arctic sovereignty, which I find especially relevant right now.
One of her most iconic works, Reason Over Passion, is part of the show, and I’ve heard it’s even more powerful in person. I hope I can carve out some time in July to catch it before the buzz really builds.
MOCA x Heritage Toronto: Visualizing the Junction Triangle
– Photo credit: mocatoronto
When: July 27, 2025
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, 158 Sterling Rd #100
Tickets: Buy here ($18.46)
If you’re up for something a bit different this summer, I recommend grabbing a ticket to MOCA x Heritage Toronto: Visualizing the Junction Triangle on July 27.
It’s a mix of a historical walking tour and a museum visit, making it a great way to see Toronto in a whole new light.
The tour starts at Perth Square Park and ends at MOCA Toronto. Each person gets a headset to follow the guide clearly, and the route covers about two kilometres with stops at nearby parks and landmarks.
We’ll learn about the area’s industrial past, its churches, bridges, and even a few quirky local legends, including a famous boxer and some old “death-trap” intersections.
After the walk, there’s a guided tour of Margaux Williamson’s exhibition at MOCA, which features paintings inspired by everyday Toronto life.
I love that this event blends art and history in such a grounded way. I’ve already booked my spot and can’t wait to see the Junction Triangle from this new perspective.
Neither Here Nor There
– Reel credit: ocaduiss
When: July 10 and 11, 2025
Where: The Great Hall, Main Campus, OCAD University, 100 McCaul St.
I’m really looking forward to Neither Here Nor There at OCAD University. It’s a free exhibit that’s open to everyone, and there’s no need for tickets, so you can drop in whenever you like.
This show features work by international students at OCAD, and the theme is all about living between worlds. The pieces explore identity, cultural displacement, and the feeling of not fully belonging anywhere.
I’m expecting a mix of paintings, installations, and multimedia work, all reflecting personal stories and perspectives that don’t often get the spotlight.
I really appreciate exhibitions like this that feel honest and grounded. It sounds like a space filled with quiet moments and meaningful reflections, and I’m definitely planning to stop by and support these emerging voices.
