Free This Week
From artist talks and gallery openings, to winter festivals and community celebrations, February is off to a frenzied start! Check out an Exposure Photography Festival exhibition, learn about the creativity and legacy of Calgary’s Black community at Studio Bell, explore Chinook Blast’s second weekend of winter fun, and plenty of other events that’ll get you out of the house!
Nickle@Noon: Dr. Leah Clark: Collecting in the Early Modern World
January 5, 2026, 12 – 1pm
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (435 Campus Lane NW)
Free to attend
Art historian Leah R. Clark (University of Oxford) explores collecting in the early modern world through the senses, challenging Eurocentric approaches to global art history. Drawing on research and curatorial work, she considers objects, exchange and community co-production across cultures.
events.ucalgary.ca
Winter Exhibitions Opening Reception
February 5, 2026, 5 – 8pm
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (435 Campus Lane NW)
Free to attend
Join Nickle Galleries for the opening of Yvonne Mullock’s Why don’t you…, which playfully examines human behaviour through clothing and bodily intimacy, while Heather Leier’s Practice Pinny considers repetition, care and labour through textiles, prints and soft sculpture.
events.ucalgary.ca
Free First Thursday
February 5, 2026, 5 – 9pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend
Experience the dynamic world of contemporary art as Contemporary Calgary extends its hours. Take in the opening of the 2026 Exposure Photography Festival, an artist-led tour of Erik Olson: In the Garden and lots of other activations and opportunities to socialize.
contemporarycalgary.com
Artist Talk with Kristine Zingeler
February 5, 2026, 6 – 7pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Kristine Zingeler’s artistic practice emerges from a process of slow and attentive looking, curiosity and wonder. In this artist talk, Zingeler discusses the ideas and process behind her Project Space installation In the Balance, and her exploration of wasp nests as a source of material ingenuity, ecological balance and wonder.
eskerfoundation.com
Grinning — Opening Reception
February 6, 2026, 4 – 7pm
Norberg Hall (333b 36 Ave. SE)
Free to explore
Norberg Hall welcomes the new year with Grinning, a two-person exhibition by Larissa Tiggelers and Emma Welch. Through repetition, mirroring and doubled forms, the works hold a grin in place — playful, tense and deliberately off-kilter.
norberghall.com
Building on the Bow, A Retrospective — Opening Reception
February 6, 2026, 5 – 8pm
Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Revisit one of Calgary’s most significant urban photography projects through a focused selection of 15 large-scale works. Printed as archival carbon images on handmade Japanese Washi paper, the photographs are drawn from Speer’s landmark Building on the Bow publication.
christineklassengallery.com
Nigel Midwinter: Cryoscapes — Opening & Artist Talk
February 6 & 7, 2026 | Opening February 6, 6:30pm; Artist Talk February 7, 7pm
Framed on Fifth (1209 5 Ave. NW)
Free to explore
In Cryoscapes, Nigel Midwinter explores the tension between fragility and force within Alberta’s winter landscapes. Shot on the frozen surface of Abraham Lake, these black-and-white photographs transform cracked ice, pressure ridges and trapped methane bubbles into abstract forms.
framedonfifth.com
Chinook Blast
February 6 – 8, 2026
Eau Claire Plaza (101 Barclay Parade SW)
Free to attend
Chinook Blast brings the second of three weekends of free winter programming to downtown Calgary. Expect public art, live performances, outdoor skating and rotating markets at Eau Claire Plaza and beyond.
chinookblast.ca
Black History Month 30-Year Celebration
February 7, 2026, 10am – 5pm
Studio Bell (850 4 St. SE)
Free to attend
Celebrate Black History Month with a full-day showcase of music, fashion and more, highlighting the creativity and legacy of Calgary’s Black community. Enjoy live performances, a curated fashion show, community conversations and a vibrant market featuring Black-owned vendors.
studiobell.ca
Lunar New Year Celebration at The District
February 7, 2026, 11am – 4pm
The District Beltline (227 11 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Celebrate the fourth annual Lunar New Year as The District Beltline welcomes the Year of the Horse. Enjoy lion dances, special food and drink menus, local vendors, family-friendly workshops and festive entertainment for all ages.
instagram.com
Cold Spell Fun for All!
February 7, 2026, 12 – 5pm
The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (750 9 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
East End Cold Spell is Calgary’s newest winter festival, taking over The Confluence with retro style, cowboy stunts, live music and outdoor fun. Join the community for a full day of free, all-ages activities, including skating, hockey lessons, wagon rides and more.
theconfluence.ca
A Love Letter to Lupercalia Art Market
February 7, 2026, 12 – 6pm
Renfrew Community Association (811 Radford Rd. NE)
Free to attend
Celebrate the weird and wonderful at A Love Letter to Lupercalia Art Market, a free, all-ages showcase of Calgary’s oddest and most peculiar art. Browse creations from 65+ local vendors and discover something delightfully unexpected.
instagram.com
Valentine’s Group Show: RED — Opening Reception
February 7, 2026, 2 – 5pm
Wallace Galleries (500 5 Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Discover a thoughtfully curated selection of artworks perfect for collectors and art lovers alike, featuring rare finds and works by a wide range of gallery artists. From painting to sculpture, this exhibition offers something special for every taste.
wallacegalleries.com
ProArts@Noon: Healing Strings
February 11, 2026, 12:10 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SE)
Free to attend
Healing Strings is a professional duo from Ukraine who met in Calgary in 2023 and started playing around the city, bringing fresh ideas and sharing Ukrainian culture. Join them for a noon-hour concert!
proartssociety.ca
Calgary on Purpose
February 11, 2026, 7 – 8:30pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Join host Dave Kelly for an evening spotlighting fascinating Calgarians with performances, conversation and community vibes. Featuring magician Simon Mallett, country/blues artist Sonia Deleo, tech leader April Hicke and a closing story that invites everyone into the conversation.
contemporarycalgary.com
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
