The Canadian Explorer
The Canadian ExplorerDiscover Canada · Explore Beyond
CONTACT Photography Festival hero

Photography · Spring

CONTACT Photography Festival

Toronto, Ontario Month of May

The world's largest photography festival — 200+ exhibitions city-wide.

Plan My Visit

Type

Photography

Family Friendly

Yes

Setting

Both

About This Event

The story of CONTACT Photography Festival

The world's largest photography festival — 200+ exhibitions city-wide.

Every May, Toronto becomes a month-long photography gallery with exhibitions in museums, storefronts, billboards, and public spaces, alongside talks, portfolio reviews, and outdoor installations.

Why travelers love it

Reasons to go

What makes CONTACT Photography Festival unforgettable.

01

200+ exhibitions

02

Public art installations

03

Artist talks

04

Portfolio reviews

Best areas to stay

Where to stay

Curated accommodations across price tiers and neighbourhoods.

  • The Drake Hotel
  • Ace Hotel Toronto

Explore beyond the event

Things to do nearby

Make Toronto the start of a wider Canadian adventure.

  • AGO
  • MOCA
  • Ryerson Image Centre

Make the most of your visit

Suggested itineraries

Plans for every length of stay — from a single day to an extended adventure.

Suggested visit

  1. Day 1

    AGO · Queen West galleries

  2. Day 2

    MOCA · Junction art walk

  3. Day 3

    Ryerson Image Centre · billboard walk

Know before you go

Local insider tips

Editorial advice from on-the-ground travelers.

Weather

Pack for the season and check the forecast the week of.

Transit

Use public transportation where possible — venues fill quickly with festival traffic.

Arrive early

Marquee events draw crowds — give yourself 60 minutes of buffer.

Cash

A small amount of cash speeds up small-vendor and food lines.

Photography

The hour before sunset gives the best festival light.

Photo gallery

A visual taste

A glimpse of CONTACT Photography Festival and the surrounding destination.

CONTACT Photography Festival feature photo
CONTACT Photography Festival gallery 1
CONTACT Photography Festival gallery 2
CONTACT Photography Festival gallery 3
CONTACT Photography Festival gallery 4

Editorial photography curated by The Canadian Explorer.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Explore more of Canada

Related destinations

Continue the journey from where the festival ends.

Trip planning assistance

Need help planning your visit?

Tell us about your trip and we'll send a tailored plan with recommendations for hotels, transport, itineraries and surrounding destinations. This is travel planning assistance — not a booking form.

Curated by Canadian travel editors