Toronto 
Events Description
The opening day of Toronto Biennial of Art 2026’s three-day Convening centres Indigenous perspectives and practices, and will feature an array of contemporary traditional foods, followed by a facilitated drum social where participants are invited to bring drums and rattles to share and learn songs. TBA artists Bonnie Devine, Taqralik Partridge, and Rebecca Belmore will discuss their artistic practices and new commissions for the 2026 Toronto Biennial.
Day 2 – A Grounding – Toronto Biennial of Art artist Nirbhai (nep) Singh Sidhu will lead the day’s programming, bringing together speakers, musicians, Simran, and sangat in the context of his new permanent living sculpture, A Deathless Potential In Remembrance By You.
Day 3 – A Departure – Curator Allison Glenn invites participants to share in a tasting and conversation between Toronto Biennial of Art artists Céline Semaan and Jean-Marc Bullet, in dialogue with Jacqueline Dwyer, and Noel Livington of the Toronto Black Farmers and Food Growers Collective. They will discuss their approach to and process of collective, multi-site growing, developed for their collaborative project, Notebook of Return / Carnet de Retour.
Who is it for?
All ages
HOW MUCH
Tickets : $0
This program is free, but registration is required in order to attend.
How to get tickets?
WHEN & WHERE
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026 @ Native Canadian Centre, 16 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2S7
Schedule as follows, subject to change:
1:00 PM: Gather at the Native Canadian Centre.Opening remarks from curator Allison Glenn and co-curators Bert Whitecrow and Mikinaak Migwans.
1:30 PM: A shared meal will be served as guests gather and connect.
2:15 PM: A conversation with Bonnie Devine, Rebecca Belmore, and Taqralik Partridge, exploring their practices and their work within the Biennial.
3:30 PM: Break & Set up for Drum Social
3:45 PM: Drum Social led by Jamie Whitecrow. Extra drums and rattles will be available for guests who would like to participate or you are welcome to bring your own.
4:45 PM: The drummers bring the Convening to a close with a closing song.
Saturday, October 17, 2026 @ Scarborough Gurdwara, 905 Middlefield Road, Scarborough, ON M1V 4X1
Schedule as follows, subject to change:
12 PM: Buses departs from near Union Station for registered bus-users
1:00 – 1:30 PM: Buses arrive at Scarborough Gurdwara (food and refreshments available throughout the day in the Langar Hall)
1:30 – 2:15 PM: Artist talk at the sculpture with Nirbhai (nep) Singh Sidhu, Allison Glenn (Curator), and Bhai Harpal Singh
2:15 – 2:45 PM: Ongoing Simran program in the Main Hall
2:45 – 3:30 PM: Musicians Dhadi Jatha Bibi Veerpal Kaur Khalsa perform
3:30 – 4:00 PM: Words and insights from Ranbir Perhar in Punjabi and English
4:00 – 5:30 PM: Honorary speaker Bhai Harpal Singh of Sri Fateh Ghar Sahib speaks in Punjabi (attendees are welcome to stay/leave as they wish)
4:15 PM: Buses depart Scarborough Gurdwara for registered bus-users
5:30 PM: Arrival near Union Station
6-7 PM: Social hour, exact location forthcoming (optional)
7PM: Collective viewing of Andrés Ramírez Gaviria’s Sources (Toronto) on the CN Tower (optional)
Sunday October 18, 2026 @ Toronto Black Farmers and Food Growers Collective Farm, Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave, North York, ON M3K 2C5
Schedule as follows, subject to change:
10AM: Buses depart from Art Museum at the University of Toronto for registered bus-users
10:45AM: Buses arrive at Toronto Black Farmers and Food Growers Collective farm
10:50AM: Farm visit with Collective leads
12:00PM: Introduction to the Toronto Black Farmers and Food Growers Collective Hub, menu and approach.
12:15PM: Céline Semaan and Jean-Marc Bullet in conversation with Allison Glenn, pickled food tastings, tea drinking. Joined by Joséphine Denis and Hannah Somers.
2:00PM: Formal closing remarks by Allison Glenn
2:30PM: Buses depart Farm for registered bus-users
3:30PM: Arrival at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto for a tour of the central Things Fall Apart exhibition
Wheelchair accessible
