Free This Week
From cinematic screenings to hands-on jam sessions and thought-provoking exhibitions, Calgary is alive with creativity. Get into the artistry of coin design at Nickle@Noon, check out Esker’s latest Project Space Exhibition, celebrate UCalgary’s 60th birthday and more!
Nickle@Noon – Abstract Art on Coinage
April 9, 2026, 12 – 1 pm
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (435 Campus Lane NW)
Free to attend
Join Rowan Apps-Brown as she examines Celtic and Anglo-Saxon coin art, revealing how abstract designs reflect cultural worldviews. Drawing from the Nickle Numismatic Collection, this talk uncovers what these coins reveal about the societies that minted them.
events.ucalgary.ca
Calgary Dance Stampede Official Kick-Off Party
April 9, 2026, 5 – 9 pm
Ranchmans (9615 Macleod Tr. S)
Free to attend
Don’t miss the official Kick Off Party of the 2026 Calgary Dance Stampede! Join a night of two-steppin’ fun with five-time UCWDC Masters Champions Mike Wagner & Satu Ketellapper, then keep the party going with music by DJ Jason Brown.
ranchmans.ca
MFA in Craft Media Thesis — Exhibition & Reception
April 9, 2026, 5 – 7:30 pm
Illingworth Kerr Gallery (1407 14 Ave. NW)
Free to attend
Join AUArts for the opening reception of the MFA Thesis Exhibition 2026. Mentored by internationally acclaimed artists and scholars, students produce a body of work and research that expands the field of contemporary craft.
eventbrite.ca
Jam Session featuring HDN JEM
April 9, 2026, 7 – 9 pm
Alcove Core (244 7 Ave. SW)
Free to attend/participate
Thursday Night Jam Sessions are a welcoming space for musicians, poets, singers and attendees to play non-stop music with one another in an open circle, “living room” setting. All skill levels are welcome to participate. This week’s jam is hosted by HDN JEM.
alcoveartscentre.ca
Residency Opening
April 10, 2026, 6 – 9 pm
Sparrow Artspace (36 4 St. NE)
Free to attend
Step into Where Wings Carry Us, a collaborative residency by Shared Flyght Collective, explores migration, shared stories and cultural connection through works in progress. Meet the artists, enjoy a welcoming atmosphere and take part in conversations.
sparrowartspace.com
Ukrainian Film Festival in Alberta
April 10 – 12, 2026 (see website for schedule)
Globe Cinema (617 8 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Enjoy a festival of eagerly awaited contemporary Ukrainian cinema. This year’s program features award-winning dramas and compelling documentaries exploring themes of identity, justice and human empathy.
ukrfilmfestival.com
UCalgary60 Community Day
April 11, 2026, 11 am – 5 pm
University of Calgary (230 University Court NW)
Free to attend
Celebrate UCalgary’s 60th birthday at its Main Campus with a day full of festivities for everyone in the UCalgary community. Enjoy live music and free food at the Calgary Stampede Community Stage, try a trivia challenge at the Den and more!
ucalgary.ca
Weekend Art Shows
April 11 & 12, 2026
Various Venues
Free to attend
Celebrate Calgary’s local art scene at five different shows this weekend featuring original paintings, handmade cards and diverse creative styles. Meet the artists, and explore unique works with door prizes and purchase local art.
Find the list of this weekend’s shows here.
Rock the Village
April 12, 2026, 1 – 4 pm
Various venues
Free to attend
This one-of-a-kind live music event presented in partnership with the National Music Centre is bringing the beats to the streets of East Village, with three outdoor stages and three incredible performances. Follow the sound of live music as you stroll through the heart of East Village.
evexperience.com
Bomi Yook: K-DIALECTIC
Opens April 13, 2026
Esker Foundation (Street Level, 1011 9 Ave. SE)
Free to view
This Esker Project Space photographic installation explores the afterlives of Japanese colonialism in Korea through archival materials and fragmented imagery. The exhibition reflects on memory, loss and how histories of trauma continue across generations.
eskerfoundation.com
I Like Movies
April 15, 2026, 7:30 pm
Studio Theatre, cSPACE Marda Loop (1721 29 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Celebrate Canadian storytelling with a special free screening of I Like Movies as part of National Canadian Film Day. This heartfelt film follows a teenage cinephile working at a video store in early-2000s Ontario.
eventbrite.ca
ProArts@Noon: Collegium Musicum
April 15, 2026, 12:10 – 1 pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SE)
Free to attend
Collegium Musicum at the University of Calgary has been focused this year on a semi-staged performance of Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell. In this concert, you will hear excerpts of the full opera with student singers and continuo players.
proartssociety.ca
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
