The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta, is opening its normally secretive Leighton Artist Studios to the public for one afternoon only on Saturday, July 11, 2026. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., anyone can get a free behind-the-scenes look at the secluded forest studios where more than 1,000 artists have created everything from novels and operas to sound art over the past four decades.
The nine studios are tucked away in a wooded part of the campus that visitors rarely get to see. Since 1985, they have hosted notable Canadian creators including Joni Mitchell, Yann Martel, and k.d. lang. The open house is part of the wider 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival, which runs over 100 free and ticketed events from May through September.
Although the event is free, anyone wanting to attend must register in advance because space is limited. Once inside, guests can wander through the uniquely designed studios, grab a refreshment on the Painter House Studio deck, and chat with staff at information tents set up for the day.
The studios were built after Banff Centre commissioned eight leading Canadian architects in 1983 to each design a one-of-a-kind creative workspace. Architects like Douglas Cardinal and Richard Henriquez contributed structures that range from a spiral log palisade to a restored fishing boat on a cradle. A photography studio with a darkroom was added in 1988, and a collaborative space called Painter House opened in the late 2000s.
The studios are named after David and Peggy Leighton. David Leighton was president of Banff Centre from 1970 to 1982 and is credited with helping transform the school into a year-round arts institution. The complex was officially opened in August 1985 by Prince Philip.
