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A Black man wearing a black leather jacket stands in front of a display of surreal paintings featuring Black themes and people.
Close-up of two surreal paintings. Left: Black & white painting of a space with a checkered floor & striped walls, a young Black girl gazes at us from the bottom left, resting her chin on her left hand. In the background, a Black teenage boy gazes at the us as he walks through the space, his shadow stretching out and down to the right. Right: Portrait of a bearded Black man, a white cloth bandage attaching a severed right hand to the top of his head, the middle fingers prying his right eye open while his left eye is closed.

What remains? What remains?

Explore the theme EVIDENCE through artworks by Black Canadian artists.

Home Events Art A Black Art Fair 2026

A Black Art Fair 2026

For two days only – Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, 2026 – Nia Centre for the Arts presents the fourth edition of their Black Art Fair, an annual, multidisciplinary exhibition dedicated to the promotion and sale of artworks by Black Canadian artists. This year’s theme, EVIDENCE, invites you to encounter the traces Black artists leave in the world – through memory, material, imagination, experience and cultural contribution.

What traces do we leave behind?

What remains after we have lived, loved, built, imagined, remembered and created? This year’s Black Art Fair explores the theme EVIDENCE – the traces we leave behind and the worlds we make visible. Every work of art leaves a trace. It records a way of seeing, a relationship, a question, a memory, a material gesture or an imagined future. As individual works come together, they form a collective record: not a singular history, but a constellation of lived experiences, ideas and possibilities. Artists were invited to respond to this theme in ways that are personal, conceptual, material or abstract – work that considers evidence as history or future, as presence or absence, as documentation or imagination, and as the enduring imprint of Black life in all its complexity.

Discover & collect Black Canadian art

One of the largest exhibitions of works by Black Canadian artists – spanning painting, photography, sculpture, digital illustration, mixed media and more – A Black Art Fair features show-stopping artworks by Black artists, each with their own unique, stylized perspectives on the complexities of Black life in Canada.

⁠Whether you’re a casual art lover, a serious gallerist, a working artist or a first-time buyer, this weekend-long event will offer you a warm and welcoming space to explore a variety of artistic disciplines, and enjoy the company of artists and community. As Canada’s premier destination for Black artistic experiences, Nia Centre encourages you to support these artists, build your personal collection, and bring home Black art from A Black Art Fair. Artworks will be available at a wide range of prices.⁠

Buying your ticket early doesn’t just guarantee your entry to the Fair’s panel talks, live installations and curated marketplace, it directly supports Nia Centre’s goal of building a self-sustaining ecosystem for Black creators.

“The event is an important way for us to create visibility for Black creativity and give people an opportunity to invest in their work. I think that’s the most powerful way that we can ensure that there’s a continual generation of artists who are documenting, who are showcasing Black Canadian history and their own unique ideas.”

– Alica Hall, Nia Centre Executive Director & A Black Art Fair Co-Curator, from a 2024 interview with CBC 

About A Black Art Fair (ABAF)

Recognizing the vital role that selling artwork plays in advancing the careers and economic sustainability of Black artists, A Black Art Fair (ABAF) returns as a leading platform for the discovery, purchase and long-term investment in Black art in Canada. Presented by Nia Centre, ABAF creates a high-impact, culturally grounded space where Black artists’ work is not only seen, but collected.

About Nia Centre for the Arts

“Nia” is a Swahili word that means “purpose”. Located in the heart of Toronto’s Caribbean neighbourhood, Nia Centre for the Arts is a charitable organization working to advance Black artistic expression to enrich the collective identity of the community. The Centre has offered programs in music, spoken word, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance and interdisciplinary arts, often in partnership with established artists and arts organizations. They have connected thousands of young people and emerging youth artists to mentors, opportunities to build transferable skills and employment. Read more about the Nia Centre and their team here.

Close-up of two surreal paintings. Left: (partial image of a black & white painting) A Black teenage boy gazes at the viewer as he walks through a space with a checkered floor and striped walls, his shadow stretching out and down to the right. Right: Portrait of a bearded Black man, a white cloth bandage attaching a severed right hand to the top of his head, the middle fingers prying his right eye open while his left eye is closed.

(Photo credits: Nia Centre for the Arts. A Black Art Fair.)

 

Event details

Presented by: Nia Centre For the Arts 

Type of event: art fair

Dates: Saturday, October 31 & Sunday, November 1, 2026

Start time: 11:00 AM ET

Duration: 9 hours (each day, till 8:00 PM ET)

Cost: Prices include fees.

  • General admission: $C19.44 (early bird) / C$22.63
  • Students (college & university): $14.00 (early bird) / C$16.24 (valid student ID must be presented upon entry)
  • Seniors: C$14.00 (early bird) / C$16.24 (proof of age identification must be presented upon entry)
  • Weekend pass: C$28.48 (early bird) / C$33.28
  • Youth under 17: Free or by donation (valid proof of age identification must be presented upon entry)

Location: Nia Centre for the Arts, 524 Oakwood Ave., Toronto, ON, M6E 2X1

Parking info: Parking for the Nia Centre is available along Oakwood Avenue, with paid street parking and a nearby Green P parking lot at 406 Oakwood Avenue. The lot is a short walk from the Centre, which is located at 524 Oakwood Avenue.

Booking link: Book your tickets here. You can also purchase tickets at the door.

Contact details: Nia Centre for the Arts, 524 Oakwood Ave., Toronto, ON, M6E 2X1, Canada; (416) 535-2727, info@niacentre.org, niacentre.org

 

Accessibility: Nia Centre is wheelchair-accessible. Since there is no on-site parking at the venue, anyone with accessibility needs can be dropped off at the main entrance on Oakwood Avenue. If you need assistance, please speak to a Nia Centre employee wearing a Nia Centre shirt. The elevator services all three floors of the building, with accessible washrooms on each floor. More info on their space here.

Refund policy: No refunds.