​Brampton builds on national Culture Days recognition with free arts and culture experiences from September 18 to October 4 

BRAMPTON, ON (September 4, 2026) – The City of Brampton is inviting residents and visitors to create, share and celebrate during Culture Days 2026, with free arts and culture activities taking place across the city from September 18 to October 4. 

Culture Days in Brampton is presented by the Cultural Services division in collaboration with Experience Brampton, Brampton Arts Organization, Brampton Library, Downtown Brampton BIA and Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives and generously supported by Toronto Pearson.

This year, Brampton is proud to be recognized as a Provincial Festival Hub for Ontario Culture Days. As a Provincial Festival Hub, Brampton is working with artists, cultural organizations and community partners to showcase local creativity and connect residents and visitors through meaningful artistic experiences. 

Artwork in progress during Culture Days 2025 in Brampton. Credit: City of Brampton.

Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture featuring free opportunities for attendees of all ages to experience performances, take part in workshops and demonstrations, meet local artists and creators, discover new skills and explore arts and culture. This year’s festival builds on Brampton’s strong participation in 2025, which earned recognition as the top municipality in the Urban Centres category and second overall in Canada for Culture Days participation. ​

Celebrate Culture Days 2026 across Brampton

​This year’s lineup includes opportunities to experience local talent, take part in interactive activities and celebrate Brampton’s creative community.

Kick off Culture Days at the Flag Raising Ceremony

Kick off Culture Days in Brampton with a special Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall, featuring First Nations singer and songwriter Pam Levi of Elsipogtog First Nation. Meet some of the artists taking part in this year’s festival, including Jiya Kaemra, who will lead an interactive Bollywood dance demonstration.

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026

Time: 10 to 11 a.m.

Location: Ken Whillans Square, 41 Main Street St. S., Brampton, ON

Celebrating 20 years of The Rose

The Rose will mark its 20th birthday with 20 Years in Bloom, a free community celebration. 

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026

Free open house time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Homegrown Concert time: 6 p.m.

Location: The Rose, 1 Theatre Ln., Brampton

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can explore the theatre, enjoy family-friendly activities, browse an artist market and experience live performances throughout the day. At 6 p.m., The Homegrown anniversary concert takes to the Mainstage, featuring This Is Brampton alumni, a dance performance curated by Rachel Chen and JUNO Award-winning artist Kirk Diamond.

The daytime celebration is drop-in and open to all. The Homegrown concert is also free, but tickets must be reserved in advance at therosebrampton.ca.

Putting Brampton’s local creators in the spotlight 

Through a call for proposals, the City is supporting several Brampton-based artists, collectives and cultural organizations to present new interactive experiences during Culture Days. Selected projects include:

• Happy Hands Pottery & Art Studio – Delivering hands-on arts workshop series featuring lock printing, layered paper art, mosaic tile making, and torn paper.
  
• Malachi Watson-Narcisse – Zine making workshop series designed to explore Black Canadian identity, belonging, and cultural pride.
  
• Gardenview Sessions – Local artists perform acoustic sets, followed by an intimate conversation that transforms each show into a genuine exchange between community and creator. Think NPR Tiny Desk set in Brampton featuring Alt/Indie Pop, Hip-Hop/R&B, South Asian Classical and Jazz/Soul.

Residents can explore the complete listing of free Culture Days activities, including dates, locations and registration details, at brampton.ca/culturedays.

Quotes

“This year is an exciting one for arts and culture in Brampton. Our recognition as a Provincial Festival Hub for Ontario Culture Days and The Rose’s 20th birthday celebration reflect the strength and creativity of our local arts and culture community. Culture Days gives residents of all ages the opportunity to discover something new, connect with local artists and creators, and experience the arts in our community.” - Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“Brampton’s outstanding participation in Culture Days last year, when we ranked first among Urban Centres and second overall in Canada, reflects the incredible enthusiasm our community has for arts and culture. From our local artists and cultural organizations to the public art that brings creativity into our everyday spaces, arts and culture help tell the story of who we are as a city. As we build on that momentum in 2026, I’m proud to see Brampton continue to create opportunities for residents to engage with, experience and celebrate the arts in their own community.” - Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 and 5; Chair, Community Services, City of Brampton​

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