It may be predictable to open an article about Toronto with a reference to Drake, but as someone admittedly uneducated on the city’s cultural scene, he was the first – and perhaps only – frame of reference I had as I boarded an Air Transat flight to “the 6ix”.

Staying at downtown Toronto’s Drake Hotel quickly dismantled that expectation. A brief search confirmed that the hotel has nothing to do with the rapper, but is instead a long-standing, art-forward boutique stay on Queen Street West, one of Toronto’s most creatively charged neighbourhoods, packed with small-plate restaurants and microbreweries.

Inside, contemporary art is scattered throughout the reception spaces, guest rooms and basement venues, where queer parties like Futch and drag shows draw in the city’s creative crowd. It was an early indication that Toronto had plenty to show for its art scene. So, here are some of the projects and spaces to check out if you’re ever in town.

QUEER ART IN THE WEST END

Queer art in Toronto’s West End feels inseparable from the neighbourhood itself, fittingly nicknamed “Queer” Street West. The area has long been a hub for art and nightlife, shaped in part by Will Munro – a queer artist, DJ and curator whose parties and exhibitions in the early 2000s helped carve out space for queer creativity outside traditional institutions. While Munro passed away in 2010, his influence can still be felt across the West End today, from galleries with a strong focus on queer art to initiatives like the Queer Art Crawl, which offers monthly tours for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and allies to explore public murals and street art.

THE CITY’S INDEPENDENT GALLERIES

While many tourists flock to the city’s larger art institutions, some of the most exciting exhibitions can actually be found in the smaller independent galleries tucked between residential side streets and green spaces.

At the time of my visit, Susan Hobbs Gallery was showing Yan Wen Chang’s Gillian, an exhibition exploring themes of immigration and shifting identity. Elsewhere, Arta Gallery sits in the heart of the historic Distillery District, showcasing contemporary work in a heritage setting, while Feheley Fine Arts specialises in Canadian Inuit art, offering a deeper look at Indigenous artistic traditions and their place in the art landscape today.

AN HOMAGE TO INDIGENOUS ART

Indigenous art is central to Toronto’s art scene, with work by First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists visible across both galleries and public spaces. A large inukshuk by Kellypalik Qimirpik rises near the waterfront, murals by artists such as Jason Baerg stretch along river paths, and galleries like the AGO include Indigenous work in their permanent collections.

THE OVERNIGHT ART FESTIVAL NUIT BLANCHE

From large-scale projections on historic buildings to interactive performances in unexpected corners of downtown, Nuit Blanche turns Toronto into a city-wide gallery for a single night. The 2025 theme, Translating the City, featured more than 85 projects across the city and drew on the 200-plus languages spoken locally, highlighting the ways Toronto “speaks” through its people, architecture, sound and public art. The 2026 theme, Tomorrow’s Memories, has already been announced as the city gears up to celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary.

Head to Destination Toronto to find out more about the city's booming art scene