On October 5, Toronto will be transformed into one of the largest and most unique all-night art festivals in the world, with contemporary art installations scattered throughout the city.

From sundown to sunrise (7 pm to 7 am), Toronto will be yours to discover. And with nearly 89 contemporary art projects by more than 300 local, national, and international artists there’ll definitely be something to pique everyone’s interests.

This year’s event will present two City of Toronto-produced, curated exhibitions in Scarborough and at Fort York, and a large-scale artist installation at Nathan Phillips Square will be presented under the event-wide theme, Continuum.

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This year’s theme follows many paths during Nuit Blanche and will “set against the backdrop of the ever-present renewal of night into day, a continuum of experience and ideas is brought to light by the participating artists.”

“Nuit Blanche Toronto creates significant artistic and cultural energy in our city. By making a wide spectrum of contemporary art accessible and enjoyable for everyone, it is as much a celebration of our diversity as it is a showcase for the creativity of our talented artists,” said Mayor John Tory.

“I encourage Toronto residents from across the city to take part in this celebration of art.”

Here’s what to look out for this year:

• 19 commissioned art projects will be presented as part of the three city-produced exhibitions.
• 48 partner produced and special projects celebrating the diversity of Toronto’s art communities.
• 15 major institutions across the city will feature art projects and exhibitions free to the public throughout the night of Nuit Blanche.
• All art projects will be clustered into nine easy-to-navigate neighbourhoods to make exploring the event more efficient.

Some of the major projects to check out include:

Peace to the Past, Reach for the Future

Created by Bryan Espiritu and Esmaa Mohamoud in partnership with MLSE’s Toronto Raptors. The artists reflect on the team’s past and imagine its future while connecting to the diverse communities which continue to shape both artists and athletes.

Life of the Earth

Toronto’s Director X created the multimedia installation “Life of the Earth” in partnership with the Ontario Science Centre, and it involves a large-scale projection showing the Earth, as if seen from space, changing from the past to present time and the future. This large-scale 360 projection will be on view alongside Death of the Sun, which was commissioned by Nuit Blanche Toronto in 2016.

Lunar Garden

Created by Daniel Arsham, this large-scale reinterpretation of a traditional Japanese Zen garden at Nathan Phillips Square, with a musical score by Charlotte Day Wilson.

For full event programming, click here.

Nuit Blanche Toronto 2019

When: October 5
Time: 7 pm to 7 am
Where: Locations throughout Toronto
Price: Free