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Description
- When: Friday, October 2, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Free First Friday Night runs 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
- Where: Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
- Cost: Admission by donation
- Hosted by: Vancouver Art Gallery
The Vancouver Art Gallery celebrates 95 years of art and creativity with an Admission by Donation Day, opening its doors on a pay-what-you-wish basis. Since opening on October 5, 1931, the Gallery has grown alongside Vancouver, offering a space where people from all walks of life can encounter art and artists, exchange ideas, and come together in community.
What to Expect
Explore Current Exhibitions
Visitors can spend the day exploring the Gallery's current exhibitions with friends and family, or bring someone new to the Gallery for the first time.
Admission by Donation
All contributions help support exhibitions, education, and public programming at the Gallery while expanding access to art.
Free First Friday Night Continues
From 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the regular Free First Friday Night presented by BMO carries on as usual, so the Gallery is open to visitors from morning into the evening.
Tickets & Access
Booking tickets online in advance is recommended for prompt entry, as capacity is limited each hour to keep the experience safe and comfortable. Get tickets for Admission by Donation Day.
Gallery Members and Access Pass holders are admitted free as always, and are also encouraged to reserve in advance.
Access to Art at the Gallery
Last year, roughly 40% of admissions were complimentary. The Gallery offers free admission for children and youth aged 18 and under, Free First Friday Nights presented by BMO, complimentary admission for Indigenous Peoples and caregivers, and participation in BC Parks Foundation's nature prescription program, PaRx.
Help Shape the Next Chapter
With less than 25% of its funding coming from government sources, the Gallery relies on community contributions. Donations help advance Community Access, Exhibitions and Artist Support, Arts Education and Learning, the Art of Wellbeing Lab, and the Centre for Global Asias, creating opportunities for people to engage with art and ideas, supporting artists, and nurturing the next generation of artists and thinkers.
Plan Your Visit
- Event: Vancouver Art Gallery 95th Anniversary: Admission by Donation
- Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Location: Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
- Admission: By donation; members and Access Pass holders free
- Website: Admission by Donation Day at Vancouver Art Gallery
Pay what you wish to explore the Vancouver Art Gallery as it marks 95 years of art and creativity, then stay into the evening for Free First Friday Night, all in support of making art accessible to the whole community.
