Face of Edmonton in 2026
Vote here for your favorite image before the end of March. The winner will be announced in early April.
The 2026 Face of Edmonton focuses on the bison (aka buffalo), a keystone species that is central to our region's identity.
Many millions of these magnificent animals roamed here for around 13,000 years and sustained those who lived here.
They are depicted in art by Lance Cardinal, Lloyd Pinay, Joe Fafard, Ken Lum, Beth Zaiken, Josh & Nathan and Lacey & Layla.
Buffalo inspired a pending new name for Grandin Station, and bison were the namesake of The Royal Bison Art & Craft Fair.
Hundreds of bison can be seen nearby at Elk Island National Park, and are repopulating herds across Canada.
Herds are also growing nearby at Thundering Ground Bison, True Grit Buffalo and Alberta Bison ranches.
They are on the menu at RGE RD, Tee Pee Treats, Normands, Native Delights, Mitsoh, Darcy's, Real Deal and Homefire Grill.
Bison feature in the Edmonton Valley Zoo expansion, the film "Singing Back the Buffalo" and Terry Lusty's song "Welcome Back Buffalo".
Thanks to Min Dhariwal, CBC Radioactive Co-Host and Courtney Theriault on 880 CHED for inviting people to vote for their favorite image.
The winner of the public vote will be announced in April and made available on T-shirts and stickers in shops from May.
Edmonton River
A new Face of Edmonton is co-created here with the public each year to reflect
a dimension of this place, which hosts hundreds of festivals and outdoor activities.
The public voted the magpie as the 2025 Face of Edmonton and the Edmonton City Bird,
as covered by CBC Radio, CBC TV, City News, CTV and the Edmonton Journal.
Face of Edmonton Images from 2015-2025
2025 Face of Edmonton at EAC, Muttart, JJNC & TMK
Beaver in bough (2024) at EAC, The Makers Keep
Play la Bamba Baby (2024) at The Makers Keep
amiskwacîwâskahikan by High Vibration at AGA & EAC (2023)
Edmonton, Canada contoured into the "e" (2022)
Map of Edmonton (2021) with green parks and blue water.
Play Tic-Tac-Toe using the sites in Edmonton (2019)
Edmonton Puzzle (2018): connect letters to form words
Go North (2017) points YEG out as a northern city
City of Champions (2017) displays the Edmontonian spirit
Edmontonians tend to think outside the box (2016)
Made in Edmonton (2016) celebrates the creativity here
Edmonton "e" (2015) shows the river and ring road
We work with great printers and designers including
Our limited edition cotton tees and custom printed stickers are available at shops including:
Edmonton Festivals
Over a hundred festivals are held here in the winter, spring, summer and fall.
We're planning an Art Walk along the river valley and invite your input.
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Winter pipon ᐱᐳᐣ
Festival of Trees Nov 27–30
Glow Edmonton – Indoor Holiday Light Festival Nov–Dec
Luminaria at the U of A Botanic Garden Nov–Dec
Zoominescence – Festival of Light at the Edmonton Valley Zoo Dec
Ice Castles Edmonton Dec – Feb
Skating at City Hall Dec – Feb
CP Holiday Train (Edmonton stop) Dec
Winter City Weekends – Ice Grooves and Swing ’n Skate Jan –Feb
Art Battle Edmonton Jan 11
Full Moon Birkie Jan 11
Orpheus in the Underworld Jan 12–13
Chinatown Dining Week Jan 18–28
Chiseled Ice Carving Competition Jan 18–20
Ice on Whyte Jan 18–Feb 28
Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival Jan 18–19
Cronos Awakening Jan 19
Winterruption YEG Jan 22–26
Cross‑country Ski with the RVA Jan 26
Black History Month Jan 27–Feb 24
Flying Canoë Volant Jan 29–Feb 1
Togather Chinatown Arts Festival Feb 1–2
Feel the Soul YEG Feb 2–11
International Festival of Winter Cinema Feb 7–16
Silver Skate Festival Feb 7–15
Trail Walk with the RVA Feb 8
Canadian Birkie Ski Festival Feb 9–24
Winefest Feb 14–15
BCW Black History Month Feb 15
International Indigenous Tourism Conference Feb 17–19
Coldest Night of the Year Feb 22
Art Gallery of Alberta – Free Admission Feb 27
Alberta Baroque Music Society Award Competition Feb 27
Bird Sanctuary @ Trinity Lutheran Church Mar 2
Inaugural Anne Burrows Music Competition Mar 2
LATE HOURS: Western Canada Tour 2025 Mar 5
Edmonton Craft Beer Festival Mar 6–7
Dance Nation @ Gateway Theatre Mar 6–16
SkirtsAFire Festival Mar 6–16
Sue Foley @ St. Basil's Cultural Centre Mar 7
Celebrating Our Healing – Dene Drum Dance Mar 7
There is a Beginning and No End @ Harcourt House Mar 7–Apr 17
Women of Folkways Mar 8
UNCEDED: Voices of the Land Mar 8–Jun 21
International Women’s Day @ Fort Edmonton Park Mar 8–9
Pride March and Opening Ceremonies Mar 10
Pride Week – Rainbow Market Mar 10–12
Night of Artists Gallery Mar 14–16
Annual Round Dance @ Alberta Aviation Museum Mar 15
RVA Community Walk Mar 15
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Spring miyoskamin ᒥᔪᐢᑲᒥᐣ
Expanse Festival Mar 20-28
Indigenous Youth Summit Mar 20-22
Métis Crossing Spring Equinox Mar 21
ArtBus Mar 22
2nd Memorial Round Dance Mar 22
GOBfest Mar 27-29
Downtown Defrost Apr 3-4
Native Provincials Market Apr 4
Métis Inspired Easter Brunch Apr 5
Edmonton Poetry Festival Apr (dates vary)
Dreamspeakers International Indigenous Film Festival Apr 15-19
Edmonton Tattoo and Arts Festival Apr 17-19
Stage Struck! One Act Play Festival Apr 17-18
Ukrainian Film Festival in Edmonton Apr 17-19
Great Canadian Trade Fair & Sale Apr 10-12
Edmonton Music & Speech Arts Festival Apr 20-May 1
Shumka Dance Festival Apr 23-28
Vaisakhi Mela Edmonton Apr 24
ChocoFest Apr 24-25
Jane's Walk May 1-3
Edmonton Jewish Film Festival May 3-13
National Red Dress Day May 5
Bent Arrow Traditional Pow Wow May (dates vary)
NorthwestFest May 8-14
OddBird Art & Craft Fair May 8-10
Magic of Birds – Guided Bird Walk May 10
Rainbow Visions May 16-18
Freewill Shakespeare Festival Late May
UFest Ukrainian Festival May 29-30
Edmonton Drag Festival May 29-31
Kids of Steel May 30
International Children’s Festival of the Arts May 29-June 1
NextFest Early June
Africanival Jun 5-7
The Works Art & Design Festival Late June
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Summer nîpin ᓃᐱᐣ
National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21, 2026
Alberta Circus Arts Festival June 18-21
Improvaganza Late June
Freewill Shakespeare Festival June–July
Edmonton International Jazz Festival June 19-28
The Works Art & Design Festival Late June–July 1
Canada Day Celebrations July 1, 2026
Historic Festival and Doors Open Edmonton July 5-12
Grindstone Comedy Festival Early July 2-6
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival July 3-12
Edmonton Jerk Festival Early July
Whyte Avenue Art Walk July 10-12
Rockin' Thunder July 11-12
Great Outdoors Comedy Festival July 17-19
Taste of Edmonton July 16-26
K-Days July 17–26
Edmonton Carnaval Late July
Edmonton Heritage Festival Aug 1–3
Edmonton Folk Music Festival Aug 6–9
Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival Aug 7-9
Animethon Aug 7-9
Symphony Under the Sky Mid August
Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival August 13-23
Servus Edmonton Marathon Aug 16
Edmonton Pride Festival Aug 21-23
Alberta Day Aug 30
Edmonton Mural Festival Aug–Sept
Purple City Music Festival Sept 11-13
Strathearn Art Walk Sept 11-13
Kaleido Family Arts Festival Sept 18-20
Edmonton EXPO 18-20
Edmonton International Film Festival Sept 24-Oct 3
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Fall takwâkin ᑕᑳᐧᑭᐣ
Edmonton Comedy Festival Sept 25-28
Edmonton International Film Festival Sept 25-Oct 4
Alberta Culture Days @ The Citadel Theatre Sept 26–28
Culture Days @ Royal Alberta Museum Sept 27-28
Culture Days on the Square @ Churchill Square Sep 27-28
Play the Fool Sept 26-28
Pumpkins After Dark Sept 26-Oct 31
Deadmonton Sep 26-Nov 8
Orange Shirt Day Walk/Run Sept 28
National Truth and Reconciliation Day at Metis Crossing Sept 30
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation at RAM Sept 30
National Day of Truth & Reconciliation at Fort Edmonton Sept 30
Canadian Pro Rodeo Oct 1-4
Festival of Edmonton Seniors Theatre Oct 3-4
National Indigenous Cultural Expo Oct 3-4
Sisters in Spirit Oct 4
Harvest Festival in Windermere Oct 4
Public Colloquium in Honour of George Hunter at UAlberta Oct 7
Public Art Celebration @ Churchill Square Oct 11
Edmonton Design Week Oct 14-19
LitFest Oct 15-19
NorthwestFEARFest Oct 15-19
Edmonton Underground Film Festival Oct 18
Edmonton Short Film Festival Oct 18-19
Boo at the Zoo! Oct 18-19; 25-26
Colour Me Comedy Festival Oct 23-25
Picklefest Oct 17
Drag Me to the Archives Oct 28
Farmfair International Nov 5-8
Yikes Film Festival Nov 6-8
International Inuit Day in Stony Plain Nov 7
Indigenous Veterans Day Ceremony Nov 8
Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival Nov 7-8
Metis Week Nov 10-16
Metis Week Events Nov 15-22
Broad View International Film Festival Nov 13-16
Fall Métis Market @ Kingsway Mall Nov 15
River Cree Holiday Market Nov 20-22
Downtown Winterval Nov 22
Christmas Holiday Market at Metis Crossing Nov 20-22
YEG Xmas Market at Fort Edmonton Nov 29-Dec 21
Snowflake Festival at St Alberta Kinsmen Nov 28
Zoominescence Festival of Light Nov 28 - Jan 4
OddBird Art & Craft Fair Nov 28 - Dec 7
Leduc Santa Claus Parade, Nov 29
Luminaria December weekends
Butterdome Craft Sale Dec 4 - 7
Celebrate the season at ABLeg Dec 5 - 20
Unleash the Magic of Glow at Edmonton Expo Centre Dec 4 - 31
Luminaria UAlberta Botanical Gardens weekends from Dec 14
Full Moon Birkie, Cooking Lake, Dec 14
New Year's Eve at Edmonton City Hall, WEM, St. Albert, Stony Plain Family Fest, Metis Crossing, Rapid Fire Exchange, Varscona Theatre or Yardbird on Dec 31
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Community concerts include Live at Lunch and Green Shack Shows.
A plethora of farmers' markets provide locally made goods, food and drinks.
These are organized by thousands of citizens who bring people from all over together.
When Make Something Edmonton and Edmonton Made asked people to contribute ideas
we re-imagined our city, and formed as a local startup based in Edmonton to share our creations.
We also run DiscoveryLab events for entrepreneurs to pitch plans for free to improve our world.
Edmonton Activities
There's lots to experience here including in our arts district as well as winter fun.
Explore the river valley from the SW corner to downtown to see
Terwillegar Park sculptures and footbridge
Talus Dome at the Quesnell Bridge/Whitemud Drive
Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park
Black Artifex and Keillor Stone House by Whitemud Equine Learning Centre
The End of the World at Keillor Point overlooking the North Saskatchewan River
Parks including one named after the controversial Emily Murphy
Rossdale Traditional Burial Grounds Memorial and Indigenous Art Park by the Walterdale Bridge
110 Street Funicular to head downtown by the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
Citadel Theatre, Winspear Centre, Library, City Centre & City Hall around Churchill Square
Rogers Place, home of the Oilers and Alex Janvier mosaic
Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Centre in Spruce Grove
Turtle Rock Effigy in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
Tawatinâ Bridge with art by David Garneau's team
plus there are hundreds of playgrounds.
Our attractions include:
ACUA Gallery & Artisan Boutique
Arts and Heritage in St. Albert
Art Society of Strathcona County Loft Gallery
Commonwealth Stadium, home of the Elks
Edmonton Convention Centre and Medicine Wheel Garden
Edmonton Expo Centre and Art Pavilion
Gallery@501 in Sherwood Park
Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum
Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts
Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre
Painted Door on Main in Beaumount
Provincial Archives of Alberta
RE/MAX Field and Riverhawks baseball team
Royal Alberta Museum and Manitou Asinîy Gallery
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
University of Alberta Botanic Garden
Enjoy the wildlife along the 160 km of trails as listed by the City, RVA, alltrails and trailforks.
This independent, grass-roots, citizen-driven project was formed in response to a
request by the Mayor and City Council to develop an authentic and resonant place brand.
We have grown into an open community co-creating imagery to reflect the dynamic identity of this place.
We respectfully acknowledge the traditional land where Edmonton is located,
which is known as amiskwacîwâskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ.
This is the Territory of the Treaty 6 First Nations
and the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 4.
This river valley has long been a gathering place for
Cree, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, Tsuut’ina, Dene, Saulteaux, Anishinaabe, Inuit and Métis peoples.
We thank the many communities whose ancestors called this valley home for millennia.
Their histories, languages and cultures continue to enliven this place
as shown at Voices in the Land and in stories from families of residential school survivors.