Recapping the 2026 Canadian Arts Summit
Recapping the 2026 Canadian Arts Summit
Arts Together:
Charting a National Vision for Engagement and Action
From April 9-11, 2026, over 150 arts leaders from across the country came together at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity for the 2026 Canadian Arts Summit. This year’s Summit — Arts Together | Unis pour les arts — brought together senior arts leaders, including artistic directors, executive directors, and volunteer board chairs from Canada’s largest arts institutions.
The Canadian Arts Summit plays a vital role in convening leading voices from across Canada and internationally to help shape the future of the arts. This year’s gathering centred on artist engagement, coordinated advocacy and collective action. Over three days of programming, participants explored the sector’s most pressing challenges and opportunities, including how to centre artists in our institutions, navigate the impacts of digital technologies, and strengthen the infrastructure and investment needed to sustain our creative future.
Stay tuned for the Summary Report, which will be shared in the coming months!
Photos by Philip Maglieri
The Summit also marked the official launch of the 2026 Executive Leadership Program. Ten leaders from the arts, culture, and heritage sectors joined the gathering to connect with mentors, engage in Summit programming, and build their national networks. Throughout the year, participants will engage in quarterly peer-to-peer (P2P) meetings. These sessions will facilitate reciprocal learning, foster collaboration, and enhance leadership skills, creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment. Meet the participants.
2026 Summit Communiqué
Developed by the board chairs, this document captures key themes from the three-day event. One message resonated throughout: Canada must act now to strengthen its arts and culture sector as a cornerstone of civic engagement, social cohesion, national identity, sovereignty, resilience and global influence. Thank you for helping us share it across your networks. Access the communiqué here.
See you in PEI from April 29 to May 1, 2027!
We look forward to gathering at the Confederation Centre of the Arts from April 29 to May 1, 2027, for the 2027 Canadian Arts Summit. Please add these tentative dates to your calendar and stay tuned for more updates as we finalize the event schedule.
Thank you to our 2026 partners for their ongoing support!
Executive Leadership Partner and Supporting Partner
Panel Discussion Partners
Executive Leadership Supporting Partner
Supporting Partners
