About
The Toronto Biennial of Art’s mission is to make contemporary art accessible to everyone.
A twelve-week event every two years, the Biennial commissions artists to create new works for a city-wide exhibition in dialogue with Toronto’s diverse local contexts. Year-round public and learning programs bridge Biennials and invite intergenerational audiences to explore the ideas that inspire our events. Building upon past editions and offering new ways of seeing and listening, each Biennial connects people to spark meaningful dialogues and imagine new futures.
The Toronto Biennial of Art launched in 2019 and was a popular and critical success. The Biennial provides expanded understandings of contemporary art practices and is building a legacy of free, inclusive, and accessible contemporary arts programming in Toronto and surrounding communities.
Learn more about the 2026 Biennial here.
FREE. INCLUSIVE. ACCESSIBLE.
TBA: Canada’s Biennial
The Toronto Biennial of Art is Canada’s preeminent Biennial. In its first three editions, TBA has established itself as a leader in creating access to highly engaging and relevant contemporary art exhibitions, public programs, and learning experiences.
The 2024 Biennial welcomed a record 850,000+ visitors. Over 10 weeks of free art, TBA featured 36 exhibition artists, including 16 from Canada, at 11 venues across the city. TBA’s 2024 exhibition included 20 newly commissioned artworks, two of which have since been acquired by the National Gallery of Canada.
115
exhibition artists
200+
Partners
1.3M
visitors
155+
public programs arTists
$60M+
Impact on TOronto economy
75
commissioned artworks
Our Unique Approach
We see contemporary art as a powerful catalyst for learning, understanding, and empathy-building, providing a window into the lived experiences of others. Our unique approach is built on the following pillars:
Place-Based
Since its inception, the Biennial has centred Indigenous placekeeping and ways of knowing, and aims to root all of its work in the diverse histories and contexts of Toronto, in particular those that have gone untold or hidden.
TBA’s structure, programming, and curatorial vision celebrate the many voices that make up the city, from the region’s Indigenous context and culture to more recent settler, immigrant, and refugee stories.
Collaborative
TBA is an ecosystem builder, collaborating with partners across the arts sector, from artist-run centres to national institutions. Through meaningful partnerships, TBA aims to elevate and showcase Canada’s contemporary arts on the world stage.
Artist-Centred
The Biennial provides a platform for artists to create new work, take risks, reach diverse audiences, and grow professionally. Artists gain access to paid work opportunities, production assistance, mentorship, career development, and public exposure.
TBA aims to be at the forefront of commissioning works from a diverse range of artists that speak to the moment. In our first three editions, works commissioned by the Biennial have been acquired by leading institutions including the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, Tate Modern, Remai Modern, and Forge Project
Responsive
The Biennial commissions and curates contemporary artworks that speak to timely and urgent issues. This responsive approach enables TBA to be nimble and dynamic, showcasing work that is highly relevant. These works spark conversation, reflection, and learning about critical issues from climate change to Indigenous reconciliation to the experiences of refugee and diaspora communities.
As conversations about Truth and Reconciliation as well as inclusion, equity, and accessibility continue to evolve, the Biennial is committed to developing new ways of seeing and listening.
Learning Focused
TBA’s Learning Programs provide educators and students across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond with access to free, culturally relevant learning experiences, helping to address social and economic barriers in access to arts learning in our community.
TBA’s artist-led Mobile Arts Curriculum tools enable educators to bring the Biennial into the classroom. These tools centre the perspectives of communities often underrepresented in school curricula, including Indigenous, Black, and diaspora communities.
TBA’s free School Program welcomes students to its exhibition sites for tours and hands-on arts learning activities led by local artist Storytellers, prioritizing groups from low-resource schools and low-income communities.
Engaging
TBA places special emphasis on its Public Programs, which are designed to engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds. These artist-led programs may include hands-on workshops, artist talks, panel discussions, and performances. Many programs are presented with local artistic partners and community groups, further supporting the important work of our incredible participating artists and partners.
Accessible & Inclusive
Access and inclusion are central to TBA’s mission.
With the cost of living crisis challenging household budgets, fees to access museums or arts events have become prohibitive for many individuals and families. TBA believes art is essential to fostering a sense of belonging and connection for all audiences — that’s why all TBA exhibitions, programs, and learning programs are free.
Not only does everyone deserve access to the arts, but also to feel included in art spaces and conversations. TBA is committed to showcasing the work of artists that reflect the diverse communities that call Toronto home and to creating a welcoming environment for everyone in our community.