Culture Days, the national celebration of arts & culture, returns to Richmond from September 18 to October 4. The 17th annual event offers barrier-free opportunities for everyone to participate in arts and culture experiences, celebrating the diverse communities that make up Canada’s creative sector and reaffirming the importance of the arts in our well-being. Last year’s Culture Days saw more than 9.5 million people participate in more than 5,000 events across the country.
September 18th, from 6-9pm, the 2026 Richmond showcase kicks-off with an Open Studios and Launch Event at the Richmond Cultural Centre. Mayor Malcolm Brodie presides over the Culture Day opening ceremony, an evening offering people a chance to explore the Cultural Centre’s art studios and creative spaces with hands-on arts activities, workshops, demonstrations and tours. Artist-led programs will be offered by BC Ballet Outreach, Gateway Theatre, Chinese Ink and Brush Society, Richmond Gem and Mineral Society, Richmond Photo Club, Richmond Potters Club, Textile Arts Guild of Richmond and Richmond Weavers and Spinners Guild.
Richmond Culture Days’ events take place daily at venues all around the city including :
- September 18:
Open Studios and Launch Event by City of Richmond @ Richmond Cultural Centre Skateboard Stories in Motion by Richmond Museum @ Richmond Museum
Richmond Photo Club Public Open Evening by Richmond Photo Club Society @ Richmond Cultural Centre (Painting Studio)
A Life in Plein Air – New Landscape Paintings by Junyi Ji @ Lipont Gallery (until October 1)
Textile Art Display: Where Fringe Dances by Ming Yeung @ City Centre Community Centre (until October 4) - September 19:
Create a Portrait Together, Hosted by ZL Photography & Art Studio in collaboration with Coast to Coast Visual Arts Association @ ZL Photography & Art Studio
Richmond Arts Coalition Open House by Richmond Arts Coalition @ Richmond Cultural Centre Annex
Marion Webber Open Studio: Celebrating 30 Years of Art! @ Marion Webber, Brown Road Studios (until September 20)
Family Crafts for Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 by Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site@ Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, Steveston (until September 27)
New Cannery Tour Sneak Peek: Nikkei Stories of the West Coast by Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society @ Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site (until October 4)
- September 20:
Indigenous Authors Series: Writing the Everyday – Journaling As A Creative Practice by Richmond Public Library @ Richmond Public Library
Camilli String Quartet – Free Drop in Concert in the Town Square Park by The Community Arts Council of Richmond (CACR) @ Town Square Park - September 21:
Indigenous Authors Series: David Alexander Robertson by Richmond Public Library | @ Richmond Public Library
Richmond Concert Band Open Practice by Richmond Community Concert Band | Ukrainian Community Society of Ivan Franko (until September 28) - September 22:
Yuanji Dance – Try It – Cantonese by Minoru Seniors Society @ Minoru Centre for Active Living (Seniors Centre)
Open Rehearsals by Richmond Orchestra and Chorus Association @ South Arm United Church and Fraserview Church (until September 29) - September 23:
Watercolour and Acrylic Painting – Try It – by Steveston Community Society @ Steveston Community Centre
Introduction to Improv Theatre – Try It – 55+ by Minoru Seniors Society @ Minoru Centre for Active Living (Seniors Centre) - September 24:
Art at Work: Arts and Culture Grant Program Information Session by City of Richmond @ Creativity Lab at Richmond Cultural Centre - September 25:
Art After Dark: Youth Takeover (Ages 13-24) by Richmond Art Gallery @ Richmond Art Gallery - September 26:
Kai’s Open Studio at Branscombe by Kai Liu@ Branscombe House - September 27:
Alexandra Neighbourhood Public Art Walking Tour by City of Richmond Public Art Program @ SmartCentres Richmond
Richmond Carvers Showcase 2026 by Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site @ Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site - September 28:
Discover Choral Singing: Open Rehearsal with “The Richmond Singers” @ Broadmoor Baptist Church - October 1:
Platinum Players – Performance by Minoru Seniors Society @ Minoru Centre for Active Living (Seniors Centre) - October 2:
Minoru Community Line Dancers (Mandarin and Cantonese) – Try It – by Minoru Seniors Society @ Minoru Centre for Active Living (Seniors Centre)
- October 3:
Writers for Readers 2026 by Richmond Public Library @ Richmond Public Library
Tram Meets Bus: From Rails to Rubber by Steveston Tram @ Steveston Tram
Peking Opera – Performance by Minoru Seniors Society @ Minoru Centre for Active Living (Seniors Centre)
- October 4:
Open Studio by Richmond Artists Guild @ Richmond Cultural Centre?
Arabic Calligraphy and Geometric Pattern Demo and Studio Tour by Islamic Art of British Columbia @ Richmond Arts Village
Tap Amongst the Trees by Gateway Theatre @ Gateway Theatre
This is just a sampling of the locations and plethora of events taking place for Richmond Culture Days from September 18 to October 4, 2026. For a complete list of events and descriptions, visit culturedays.ca/richmond. Advance registration may be required for some activities.