Nuit Blanche 2023: UNEARTHING our INTERDEPENDENCE

Date: Saturday, September 23—Sunday, September 24, 2023
Price: FREE

The City of Toronto's Nuit Blanche celebration is returning to the Aga Khan Museum on the evening of September 23–24. 

From sunset to sunrise, reflect on the Museum's 2023 theme, UNEARTHING our INTERDEPENDENCE and escape on an exciting journey of art, dance, and music at the Aga Khan Museum, Aga Khan Park, and the Ismaili Centre, Toronto. Embark and enjoy an inspiring night filled with live music, dance, and visual art. Featuring contemplative poetry and storytelling, entrancing music, and ritual from diverse traditions, this year’s event is inspired by the timeless legacy of one of history's most famous poets, Rumi. 

Take in performances by international, national, and local artists, and explore vibrant art installations, including GO FISH, an outdoor video tryptic created by Nettie Wild and Scott Smith.

Schedule

7 pm–7 am | GO FISH by Nettie Wild and Scott Smith | Aga Khan Park

GO FISH takes viewers inside the annual herring migration — when hundreds of millions of herring return to the Salish Sea. Their spawn paints a milky turquoise collar along its shores. For a few chaotic days, the Salish Sea is transformed. GO FISH captures the patterns of this mayhem as the herring “set the table,” and we discover the extraordinary cast of wildlife and humans who come to dinner.

10 am–midnight | Gallery Hours* | Aga Khan Museum

7 pm | Opening Ceremony | Aga Khan Park

To mark the opening of Nuit Blanche at the Museum, Pamela Carter, a team member of the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre and from the Tsimshian and Ditidaht First Nations on the Coast of BC, will welcome to Tkaronto, Elder Barb Whyte of the K'ómoks Territory, where GO FISH was filmed. The ceremony will conclude with remarks from Nettie Wild and Scott Smith about their installation.

7 pm–7 am | Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre Tipi and Sacred Fire | Aga Khan Park
Sacred Fire | Fire-keepers: Norman Irish and Julian Robbins
Tipi | Painted by Indigenous Artist Phil Cote

7:15 pm | Whirling Workshop | Ismaili Centre, Toronto
 Limited spots available.

7:30 pm | Haiku reading by Lara Okihiro Presented by the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre | Courtyard

8 pm and 9 pm | Storytelling with the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre | Aga Khan Park
Storytellers: Anthony Gladue and Kevin Myran

8 pm | Divine Trio Presented by Raag-Mala Toronto | Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium

8:15 pm–1:15 am | TD Pop-up Performances | Courtyard

8:45 pm | Ginan and Qasida | Ismaili Centre, Toronto

9 pm | Shizue’s Path reading by Mark Sakamoto Presented by the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre | Courtyard

10 pm | Fethi Nadjem and Moneka Family | Ismaili Centre, Toronto

11:30 pm | ISHQ | Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium

12 am | Sama with Soley Ensemble | Ismaili Centre, Toronto

1:30 am | Mekaal Hasan Band | Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium

*Enjoy FREE admission to the Museum Collections Gallery from 5:30 pm–12 am with reduced $10 admission to our current special exhibition, Rumi.

Please note: tickets to performances in the Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium and the Ismaili Centre, Toronto will be released one hour prior to the start of the performance.

Learn more about this year's performances.

Getting to the Museum
The Museum is easy to get to by public transit. From downtown, take the 100, the 25, or the 925 from Pape station. From the north, take the 925  bus southbound on Don Mills Rd (route begins at Steeles).

Be advised that there currently are a number of TTC route changes. Use the TTC's Trip Planner to plan your route.

The Museum is accessible by car via Don Mills Rd, Eglinton Ave East, or the Don Valley Parkway (DVP). Take the Wynford Dr exit.

Bicycle parking is available free of charge.