Nuit Blanche, Toronto’s dusk-to-dawn contemporary art showcase, will take over the city once again this weekend for its 19th edition. This year’s showcase will feature more than 85 art installations and exhibits by local, national and international creators. Here’s everything to know ahead of the event.
When does Nuit Blanche take place?
Nuit Blanche is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, ephemeral affair, taking place from 7 p.m. on Saturday until 7 a.m. on Sunday — essentially from dusk until dawn. By midday Sunday, most installations will be disassembled.
However, a select few exhibits will have longer runs. These include the Museum of Toronto’s “The 52,” an exhibition celebrating 52 iconic Toronto women (until Dec. 20), and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s “The Shape of Loss,” looking back at the Japanese Canadian fishing boats confiscated during the Second World War (until Jan. 23, 2026).
Where are the installations located?
As in previous years, there’s no one central hub for Nuit Blanche 2025. Exhibits will be spread across every corner of the city, though often grouped in clusters.
In downtown Toronto, one such cluster will be in and around Nathan Phillips Square, stretching westward along Dundas and Queen streets. Nuit Blanche’s North York hub will be centred at Mel Lastman Square, with more than a dozen exhibits around that area. In Etobicoke, meanwhile, there will be another cluster of 15 installations around Humber Polytechnic’s Lakeshore campus and the nearby Colonel Samuel Smith Park.
Unlike in previous years, there are no exhibits programmed in Scarborough for this upcoming edition of the festival. The closest events for east-end residents will likely be the trio of exhibits clustered at the Aga Khan Museum and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, or at Nuit Blanche’s eastern hub near Danforth and Coxwell Avenues.
What is this year’s theme?
The exhibits curated for Nuit Blanche 2025 are built around the theme of “translating the city,” conceived by artistic director Laura Nanni. The theme, explains Nanni, is inspired by the multilingual nature of Toronto, whose residents collectively speak more than 200 languages.
What are some of the major exhibitions?
There are three major exhibits produced by the city at Nuit Blanche 2025. Nanni, who’s wrapping up her tenure as artistic director with this year’s edition, has curated “Collective Composition” in North York. The exhibition comprises of eight works, including a multilingual light installation (“We Change Each Other”) and a performance installation (“S’imbriquer”) that sees two people construct a giant landscape, brick by brick.
At Humber Polytechnic in Etobicoke, curator Renata Azevedo Moreira’s “From here, there, everywhere” features seven works displayed near the waterfront. Meanwhile, Charlene K. Lau assembles nine installations in downtown Toronto for her exhibition “Poetic Justice,” exploring ideas of displacement, Indigenous homelands and immigration.
What even is Nuit Blanche?
Nuit Blanche, which literally translates to “white night” or, more accurately, “sleepless night,” was established in Toronto in 2006. It was inspired by other similar all-night art festivals around the globe. Each year, the event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators. Since its inception, Nuit Blanche in Toronto has featured more than 1,800 art installations.
How can I get around?
Cyclists can make use of Bike Share Toronto’s special 24-hour pass for Nuit Blanche, offering unlimited 90-minute rides for $10. Meanwhile, the TTC will be implementing all-night subway service between Saturday and Sunday.
What is this weekend’s forecast?
The weather is looking good for this weekend. On Saturday evening, temperatures are forecast to be around 21 C, dipping down to 17 C by Sunday morning. Expect partly clouded skies throughout.
