Arts Roundup
Oct. 15, 2026
Design is everywhere — to the point that we may take it for granted. But not during the "method"-themed Edmonton Design Week, where the who and how of the built world go under the Media Architecture and Design Edmonton microscope. Many events are free to attend, such as the Edmonton City as Museum Project's Sensing the City exhibition. Design Week technically ends on Oct. 18, but ECAMP's exhibit runs until Halloween at the Stanley A. Milner branch of Edmonton Public Library. The installation uses all five senses to tell Edmonton stories: "Explore lost waterways, discover stories of Chinese market gardens and hand laundries, listen to local music history, handle pieces of Edmonton's past, and connect with the city in a whole new way," a description reads.
Several Design Week events are concentrated around the Milner, including ones at City Hall. The Student Design Association's Form & Future exhibition exemplifies the method theme, highlighting the "evolution of ideas, processes, and practices" within industrial design, visual communication design, and more. It's on until Oct. 18, the same window during which attendees can take expert-led tours of Edmonton's fourth City Hall. Oct. 15 features the Edmonton Arts Council's public art director, David Turnbull; Oct. 16 features City Hall architect Gene Dub; and Oct. 18 features former city councillor and queer rights leader Michael Phair.
Beyond the Churchill Square area, emerging designers are exhibiting at Made by Young Bloods in The Cobalt at 10146 123 Street NW. The show includes a demo of a civilian-made Edmonton Transit Service route-planning app by MJ Metrunec; a zine celebrating heavy American band Not Enough Space by Ayanna Fata; a proposed inclusive design for MacEwan University classrooms by Jasemeen Nona; and more. The Cobalt isn't far from LightForm, the host of Edmonton Design Week's closing party on Oct. 17. Expect immersive lighting, conversation, and beverages. Ticket buyers will also be entered to win a VIP pass for Edmonton Design Week 2027.
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Music
- Shout Out Out Out Out will play its first show in nearly eight years at Winterruption, which runs Jan. 20 to 24. The lineup also includes Aladean Kheroufi, Billie Zizi and Cam Neufeld, Caylie G, Cassia Hardy, Kaeley Jade, Mr. Kou, Nico Tobias Band, Pearly Moon, Scenic Route to Alaska, and The Western Thistles.
- The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra will launch its Trips series with Light Trip on Oct. 15. The program includes the North American debut of Huw Watkins's Double Concerto for Viola and Cello. "Trips is an invitation to be curious," music director Jean-Marie Zeitouni told Edify.
- Country singer Keira Myer is among 12 artists in AE West's 10th-anniversary cohort, run by the National Music Centre and Canada's Music Incubator. The five-week program starts Nov. 2 in Calgary and includes a free Dec. 2 showcase.
- Nickelback's Everything Under The Sun tour includes a stop at Rogers Place on April 3.
Visual arts
- Maria Wozniak, creative director of Augusta Fashion + Textiles, and multidisciplinary artist Sophia Lengle are turning a former preschool in Westmount into a working studio, gathering place, and showcase for Edmonton's emerging fashion community. "As an aspiring designer at one point in Edmonton, I just felt like there weren't many opportunities for me to find work in Edmonton within the fashion sector or to show my work," Wozniak told Taproot. "I really like to advocate for why fashion is an important part to the culture of a city, why it is storytelling and concept and self-expression, and why it deserves to be supported, funded, and experienced just as much as other art forms in the city, too."
- Alberta Native News profiled Paula Kirman, who has spent more than 20 years documenting social movements and Indigenous events through journalism, video, film, and digital storytelling. Her work began around 2005 when she photographed a peace march and recognized the lack of media coverage of such events. She has since documented movements such as Idle No More and initiatives raising awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, while building an online archive of her work.
See a new, true, Canadian musical at The Citadel
Our Little Secret is the hilarious, moving, and completely true story of Noam Tomaschoff's discovery that he wasn't an only child, and he actually had more than 35 siblings around the world. Blending comedy, drama, and addictive music, Our Little Secret will leave you laughing, crying — and seeing your family in a whole new light.
Theatre and dance
- The four actors in John Wicked of Oz at Spotlight Cabaret "soar with the material they're given — good writing, dedicated performances," said reviewer Lucy Haines.
- The Indigenous Playwrights' Circle will run monthly on Mondays at Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre, with a showcase on Nov. 27 and on April 22 during the Springboards New Play Festival. The Edmonton Playwrights' Circle will run monthly on Saturday afternoons, with a Springboards presentation on April 21. The theatre is also launching The Workshop Series, four staged readings of in-progress work throughout the season. WWPT's home, the Gateway Theatre, recently underwent renovations.
- Fringe Theatre is hiring three permanent, year-round positions.
- Common Ground Arts announced it would be cancelling the remaining performances of I Don't Even Miss You following "the community's call for accountability."
Books and publishing
- LitFest will feature panels, readings, workshops, and speakers including Will Ferguson, Jane Park, and Matthew Stepanic for its 20th anniversary edition. LitFest is one of the largest festivals dedicated to nonfiction in Canada. "There's something very unique about hearing somebody telling their own story," executive director Ellen Kartz told CBC's Edmonton AM.
- On Treason by Patrick Lennox was among the top-selling books on the Edmonton bestseller list from the Book Publishers Association of Alberta. Lennox will speak to Taproot's Karen Unland about the book at a LitFest event on Oct. 15.
More headlines
- David Ridley was recognized for his contribution to the preservation of Alberta's history with a Heritage Award from the Government of Alberta. Ridley's leadership with the Edmonton Heritage Council has supported new approaches and initiatives that strengthen how Edmonton's diverse heritage is preserved, interpreted, and shared, the province said. The City of Edmonton was also recognized for its rehabilitation of four municipal historic resources: the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre/Coronation Pool, Stone House and Summer Kitchen, Ortona Armoury, and Hawrelak Park Pavilions.
- Sylvia Douglas spoke to the Moving Radio podcast about Nemesis, which screens as part of the Alberta Kills shorts package at NorthwestFEARFest.
- The City of Edmonton is looking for feedback from residents on how they use river valley parks and transition into fall and winter.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up soon:
- Oct. 15-16: Mama, Do We Die When We Sleep? at Freemasons Hall of Edmonton
- Oct. 16: The Carrot Friday Nite Spotlight Series presents Audrey Ochoa Qunitet starting at 7pm at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
- Oct. 16: Oil City Opry: Harvest from the Heartland starting at 7:30pm at Winspear Centre
- Oct. 16: Songs of the Harvest Moon starting at 7:30pm at First Presbyterian Church
- Oct 16-29: StarFest at St. Albert Public Library (Downtown)
- Oct. 17-18: Edmonton Short Film Festival at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre)
- Oct. 18-25: Edmonton Games Week at various locations
- Until Oct. 18: Edmonton Design Week at various locations
- Until Oct. 18: NorthwestFEARFest at Garneau Theatre
- Until Oct. 18: LitFest at various locations
- Oct. 20: Carol Off in Conversation starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
- Oct. 21: No Lonely Writers: Library Write-in starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
- Oct. 21: Opera Pub starting at 7pm at The Druid Irish Pub
And here are more to keep in mind:
- Oct. 22-23: Catalyst Film Festival at Citadel Theatre
- Oct. 23: The Bootlegger's Ball at Edmonton Hotel & Convention Centre
- Oct. 25: Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame Annual Induction Ceremony and Celebration at Yardbird Suite
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.