National Gallery Offers a Rich, Affordable Winter Escape This Season

By Patrick Griffin

OTTAWA, ON – December 18, 2025 – As winter's chill settles over the nation's capital, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) is transforming its iconic glass-and-granite structure into a vibrant hub of artistic discovery and festive warmth. With a compelling lineup of major new exhibitions, interactive family activities, and unprecedented admission discounts, the institution is positioning itself as an essential destination for both local residents and tourists seeking an enriching escape from the cold.

This holiday season, the Gallery is rolling out a comprehensive program designed to engage visitors of all ages, running daily with special hours until January 4, 2026. The initiative aims to make world-class art more accessible than ever, providing a creative and contemplative alternative to the usual holiday bustle. From hands-on art-making to thought-provoking exhibitions, the offerings cater to a wide spectrum of interests, ensuring that a visit to the Sussex Drive landmark is a memorable part of the winter season.

An Accessible Haven for Family Creativity

At the forefront of the Gallery’s holiday push is a strong emphasis on family engagement and affordability. The cornerstone of this effort is the Canada Strong Pass, a returning initiative that offers free admission for all visitors aged 17 and under, along with a 50% discount for young adults between 18 and 24. This significant cost-saving measure, available until January 15, 2026, removes a major barrier for families and young people, encouraging them to explore the national collection without financial strain.

Inside, the Gallery has curated a series of drop-in activities designed to spark creativity. The Open Studio invites visitors to play with colour, transparency, and light, creating art to hang in their own windows to brighten the dark days of winter. For those seeking a moment of quiet reflection, the Inspiration Space offers a welcoming area to relax and engage in fun, self-guided activities. Furthermore, the popular Drawing in the Galleries program continues daily from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., where aspiring artists can collect free drawing materials and sketch their own interpretations of the masterworks on display.

Adding a layer of interactive wonder is the return of Spaghetti Chorus. This beloved installation by the art collective Daily tous les jours transforms the soaring Scotiabank Great Hall into an enchanting symphony of light and sound. Visitors speak or sing into microphones, and their voices are instantly translated into a chorus of musical notes and a corresponding light show, creating a collaborative, poetic experience that emphasizes the music of human speech. Its return for a second season, running until April 6, 2026, speaks to its proven popularity and ability to captivate a diverse audience.

Beyond the Festive Fun: A Season of Deep Cultural Exploration

While family fun is a key component, the National Gallery of Canada has also unveiled a trio of powerful new exhibitions that offer profound cultural engagement. These shows provide an opportunity for deeper reflection, showcasing a diverse range of artistic voices and mediums.

Opening just in time for the season, Winter Count: Embracing the Cold (until March 22, 2026) presents a sweeping exploration of winter's influence across cultures. Featuring over 150 works from the 19th century to today, the exhibition is a landmark collaboration between the museum's departments of Indigenous Ways and Decolonization, Canadian Art, and European Art. It juxtaposes historic Indigenous belongings and works by contemporary Cree and Inuit artists like Kent Monkman and Pitseolak Ashoona with paintings by Canadian Impressionists and their European counterparts like Claude Monet, offering a multi-faceted dialogue on tradition, identity, and the shared human experience of the coldest season.

Simultaneously, Camera and the City (until March 15, 2026) offers a compelling journey through the urban landscape. Drawing from the Gallery's extensive photography collection, the exhibition features 180 works by 106 photographers, including iconic names like Diane Arbus and Walker Evans alongside Canadian talents such as Fred Herzog and Cheryl Sourkes. The show is thoughtfully divided into themes of Movement, Idea, and Community, capturing the energy, social fabric, and hidden narratives of city life from the street level.

Rounding out the new offerings is Sylvia Safdie: TERRA (until October 25, 2026), a major solo exhibition dedicated to the Montreal-based artist. The show delves into Safdie's decades-long fascination with memory, nature, and the passage of time. A central, monumental piece, Earth II, consists of 500 unique soil samples collected by the artist over 48 years, forming a deeply personal archive of her life and travels. This exhibition, alongside her paintings and video works, provides a meditative and moving look at our connection to the material world.

Bolstering Ottawa's Winter Economy and Cultural Scene

This robust holiday programming does more than just fill the Gallery's halls; it plays a vital role in bolstering Ottawa's winter tourism and local economy. In a city with a competitive cultural landscape, the NGC's unique blend of high-caliber exhibitions and highly accessible, interactive experiences sets it apart. While other national museums offer their own excellent holiday attractions, the NGC’s focus on visual arts, combined with the powerful draw of the Canada Strong Pass and free admission on Thursday evenings, creates a unique value proposition for both residents and visitors.

By attracting a steady flow of people during what can be a slower period for tourism, the Gallery contributes to a vibrant downtown core. Visitors drawn to the exhibitions are likely to extend their stay, spending at local restaurants, shops, and hotels. The Gallery's own boutique is also smartly positioned as a destination for last-minute holiday shopping, offering art-inspired gifts and memberships that support the institution's mandate.

Ultimately, the National Gallery of Canada's festive strategy reinforces its identity not just as a repository of art, but as a dynamic, living institution dedicated to serving all Canadians. By opening its doors wide this winter, it offers a warm and inspiring public space for connection, creativity, and contemplation.