As Toronto steps into the spring season, a whole new set of arts events are happening soon! From art exhibitions to literature festivals, it’s time to experience the vibrant art scene the city has to offer. The next few months are packed with new adventures just waiting to be discovered.

If you want to learn more about women artists, take a stroll through the AGO! If community and local art sounds like your vibe, you can’t miss the MOCA’s triennial exhibitions. How about free film screenings for those under 25? Or even a local fashion show spotlighting Canadian talent and artists across the country? This list has you covered across all creative disciplines for all your interests.

Here is our guide to 15 of the most exciting Toronto art events happening this spring 2024!

Sin Wai Kin, A Dream of Wholeness in Parts (still), 2021. Courtesy the artist, Chi-Wen Gallery, Taipei and Soft Opening, London.

Greater Toronto Art 2024 at MOCA Toronto

The second edition of the MOCA’s highly acclaimed triennial exhibitions, Greater Toronto Art 2024 (GTA24) opens on March 22. This constellation of over 25 artists, duos, and collectives challenges the notions of individualism, focusing on communities in metropolitan areas! This exhibition considers the history and context of the GTA, weaving together over 15 newly commissioned artworks and live programmes with existing works as well! There will be life performances, events, and screenings across all three floors of the museum until July 28. Learn more here.

Judith Leyster. Self-Portrait, c.1630

Making Her Mark: A History of Women Artists in Europe, 1400-1800

Learn all about women artists across Europe from 1400-1800 with the AGO’s newest exhibition Making Her Mark, opening March 27. This exhibition will bring together more than 230 objects from royal portraits to metal work, textiles, ceramics and other objects to demonstrate their contributions across Europe. These often forgotten stories will center the work of well-known artists like Sofonisba Anguissola, Judith Leyster, and Artemisia Gentileschi, as well as amateur makers, female collectives, and workshops. This exhibition showcases women artists across genres, time, and borders! Learn more here.

One of a Kind Spring Show

Everyone loves a good unique item, and the One Of A Kind show returns for its spring programming March 27-31 at the Enercare Centre. Running since 1975, OOAK highlights handmade and artisanal objects from artists across Canada. In addition to displays, there will be daily fashion shows, mainstage speakers, and surprises to get your creative spirit on. This show will transform your day into an immersion of creative communities for a vibrant experience from over 400 vendors from coast to coast. Connect with other creative folks and embark on a day of discovery. Learn more here.

Being Scene 2024

Being Scene is an annual juried exhibition of recent artworks by Workman Art members and individuals who have accessed CAMH services. This year, Being Scene will be held at the Remote Gallery opening March 28 and Workman Arts’ offsite location at Artscape Youngplace, opening April 5. These diverse and inclusive spring exhibitions will display over thirty juried artworks selected by curators and artists. The annual event is a celebration of creativity that fosters a sense of belonging. Learn more here.

TIFF Next Wave Film Festival

If you’re looking for a free film festival to attend, TIFF Next Wave runs April 11-14, with brand new movies free for anyone under 25. Come together and celebrate the next wave of Canadian filmmakers at the Young Creators Showcase and connect with film industry professionals for advice and inspiration at TIFF Lightbox. Founded in 2010, The TIFF Next Wave Committee is a group of 12 students ranging in age from 15-18 and selected from a pool of film enthusiasts. This curated film festival tells stories from aspiring filmmakers, writers, and actors. Come out and support young talent! Learn more here.

Artist Project

Over 250 independent Canadian artists will showcase their works at Artist Project in Toronto from April 11-14 at the Better Living Centre. There will be hundreds of artworks, large-scale installations, and curator-led art tours. Visitors will be able to meet local artists and buy art directly from them to support the next generation of Canadian artists. You are guaranteed a unique experience with various artists and stories presented at this event! Learn more here.

National Canadian Film Day

National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) is a massive, coast-to-coast celebration of Canadian cinema on April 17! Launched in 2014, this event has spotlighted thousands of Canadians to celebrate stories and the achievements of local talent. Visitors can attend various screenings or watch films from the comfort of their homes! CanFilmDay is your day to connect to cultures across the country and bring people together. Learn more here.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra Concerts – Brilliant Bach & Brahm’s First

Experience a live orchestra with the glorious music of J.S. Bach! Take in the most beloved and inventive masterpieces of the Baroque era at this concert, running from April 24-28. Led by Concertmaster Jonathan Crow, this will spotlight the incredible artistry of several women musicians in the TSO. On May 1 and 2, feel the emotion in Brahms’s monumental First Symphony, accompanied by stunning vocals from Emily D’Angelo. Learn more here.

Hot Docs Film Festival

Each year, the Hot Docs Film Festival supports the Canadian and international film industry with local filmmakers and other initiatives. From April 25 – May 5, check out a stellar lineup of documentary films that promise to inspire and inform. The 2024 presentations will delve into narratives of power, corruption and tragedy, offering a critical lens on societal issues, as well as immersive journeys into the worlds of base jumping, magic, psychics, and cats. Learn more here.

Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD)

Held in downtown Brampton, The Festival of Literary Diversity spotlights diverse authors and storytellers across disciplines. It is so important for Canadians to uplift these voices, and FOLD provides one-of-a-kind events for children and adults alike to engage, inspire, and empower. With over 35 local and international authors, attendees will be able to learn about the art of storytelling through panels, discussions, workshops, and interactive events. The 2024 festival will return this spring from April 28-May 5 with remote and in-person options. Learn more here.

Felicia Byron, Buna: The Goddess of Ceremonial Coffee, 2022. Courtesy of the artist

Contact Photography Festival

There is an abundance of Canadian talent when it comes to photographers and lens-based artists, and the Contact Photography Festival is here to showcase the best. The festival will critically and creatively frame social, cultural, and political events of our times throughout May 2024. There will be exhibitions around the Greater Toronto Area that embody a broad range of lens-based practices and bring together the photography community. Learn more here.

GradEx 109 at OCAD U

For their 109th annual graduate exhibition, OCAD returns with GradEx, inspired by the works of over 800 emerging artists and designers. The event will feature displays from graduating students in every discipline, sales of student work, an alumni lounge, and a special exhibition of award-winning student work in the Great Hall. The five-day exhibition opens to the public on May 1 and is set to run until May 5, with a bar, DJs, food trucks, and art installations. For those that will not be able to attend the exhibition in person, a supplemental online exhibition will also launch on May 1! Learn more here.

Fashion Art Toronto Spring  Fashion Week

Put on your best outfits and attend Toronto’s longest-running Fashion Week from May 2-5 at the Black Creek Assembly. Fashion Art Toronto is taking over a 20,000 square feet industrial warehouse for its spring event. The show will feature runways and presentations from over 50 designers, style-inspired art installations from Canadian artists and a retail area from local artisans and brands. Various ticket tiers will be available for the runway room which will highlight the latest works on the runway, a fashion playground with interactive areas, and a boutique. Learn more here.

Inside Out Film Festival

For more than three decades, the Inside Out Film Festival has brought together Toronto’s 2LSLGBTQ+ community to celebrate the best queer films from Canada and around the world. They recognize and acknowledge all identities and expressions within the larger spectrum, and are dedicated to challenging audiences and supporting queer filmmakers. This in-person and online festival will take place May 24 – June 1! Learn more here.

Motive Crime & Mystery Festival Toronto

Crime and mystery are growing genres in the realm of literature, and from cozy crime to psychological thrillers the MOTIVE Crime and Mystery Festival has it covered. From June 7-9, the Toronto International Festival of Authors will shine a spotlight on crime and mystery writing at the Harbourfront Centre. This three-day festival will celebrate writers from Canada and across the world. Being widely accessible to most, these stories offer various perspectives on the world around us! This event will keenly explore contemporary social issues through different narratives. Learn more here.