Toronto’s streets will come alive on October 4, 2025, as Nuit Blanche transforms the city into an all-night playground of art, culture, and creativity. From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., you can explore over 85 works by local, national, and international artists across three main exhibition areas; North York, Etobicoke, and downtown Toronto. This year’s theme, Translating the City, invites us to consider how art reflects and reshapes the urban experience, revealing new ways to connect with our surroundings.

Light Speed: Bridging Distance by various artists, 2024, at the Aga Khan Museum. Photo by Akber Dewji.

Pair the event with a stay at one of Toronto’s best downtown hotels, and you’ll have the perfect 48-hour getaway: art, food, culture, and rest, all in the heart of the city.

What day is Nuit Blanche 2025?

Nuit Blanche takes place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, running overnight until the early hours of Sunday, October 5. Whether you’re an early bird exploring installations before midnight or a night owl catching the sunrise art moments, the city will be buzzing with activity.

What time does Nuit Blanche start in Toronto?

The event officially begins at 7 p.m. and continues until 7 a.m. the following morning. For the full experience, start downtown at dusk, when the first works light up, and wander into the night as Toronto becomes a vibrant, living gallery.

Does Nuit Blanche have a theme each year?

Toronto – October 1: The Oblivion (Death of the Sun by Director X) is night night-long exposure of the light installation in Nathan Phillips Square during the Nuit Blanche in Toronto, on October 1, 2016.

Yes. Every year, Nuit Blanche is shaped by a new curatorial theme. In 2025, the theme is “Translating the City.”

• Downtown Exhibition: Poetic Justice – Curated by Charlene K. Lau, this exhibition explores Toronto’s multilayered histories as Indigenous homelands and as a city of global arrival, engaging with land, treaties, justice, and reform.

• North York Exhibition: Collective Composition – Curated by Artistic Director Laura Nanni, this participatory exhibition highlights how creativity and care weave together the urban fabric.

• Etobicoke Exhibition: From Here, There, Everywhere – Curated by Renata Azevedo Moreira, this show explores the layered meanings of home, shaped by Toronto’s many cultures.

The theme reflects Toronto’s identity as one of the world’s most multilingual and multicultural cities, reimagining what a city can mean through visual, sonic, and performative storytelling.

Is TTC free during Nuit Blanche?

Yes! To make it easy for visitors to explore the installations across the city, the TTC is free from 7 p.m. on October 4 until 7 a.m. on October 5, 2025. Trains and streetcars will run all night, ensuring you can hop from one exhibition zone to another without worrying about transportation.

Where to Stay: Downtown Toronto Hotels for Nuit Blanche 2025

With the downtown Toronto exhibition, Poetic Justice, at the core of Nuit Blanche, staying central means you’ll be steps away from the action. Here are six standout hotels to make your overnight art adventure unforgettable:

Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown

A waterfront escape with spectacular views of Lake Ontario and the city skyline. After a night of art-hopping, relax in contemporary comfort or take a morning stroll along the harbour.

Reserve your stay online at the Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown overlooking the harbour.

Union Hotel

Toronto’s newest boutique property in the Financial District, Union Hotel is hyper-local and stylish, blending artful design with community-driven spirit. The perfect match for a weekend celebrating creativity.

The Union Hotel offers Swanky King/Queen, Groovy Two Doubles, Chic Solo Double/Twin, and Posh Suite options, with a mix of urban chic and cozy comfort. Book your stay today!

Novotel Toronto Centre

Modern and versatile, Novotel offers both comfort and convenience just minutes from key Nuit Blanche downtown installations. It’s ideal for couples, families, or groups exploring late into the night.

Hotel Victoria

A historic gem reinvented for today’s traveler, Hotel Victoria combines character with boutique style. Its location on Yonge Street puts you right in the heart of downtown Toronto’s energy.

Save when you book your next stay in advance at Hotel Victoria! Check out the Special Offers here.

The Anndore House

Chic and effortlessly cool, The Anndore House pairs boutique luxury with a creative vibe. Known for its design-forward rooms and vibrant lobby lounge, it’s a natural fit for the Nuit Blanche crowd.

The Anndore House is a whole new way to experience Toronto. It’s eating, sleeping, working and playing in a one of a kind destination with a distinctively creative soul. Book your stay today!

Pantages Hotel Toronto Centre

Located steps from Yonge-Dundas Square, Pantages offers spacious suites and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Perfect if you’re planning to make Nuit Blanche part of a weekend of theatre, shopping, and culture.

Check out rooms & offers now!

Plan Your Stay for Nuit Blanche 2025

Toronto’s biggest night of contemporary art deserves a front-row seat. Book your stay at one of the best downtown Toronto hotels and turn Nuit Blanche into a full cultural weekend, art by night, boutique comfort by day.