​​City ranks first among urban centres and second overall in Canada for cultural participation

BRAMPTON, ON (January 16, 2025) – For the second year in a row , the City of Brampton has been recognized as a national leader in arts and culture, earning top honours on the Culture Days 2025 Top Participating Communities Listing. Ranking first among Urban Centres and second overall nationally, Brampton’s result reflects a city-wide approach focused on neighbourhood access, community participation and meaningful opportunities for local artists to connect with residents. 

​Artist Meegan Lim leading participants at the Brew and Bloom workshop for Culture Days. Credit: City of Brampton ​

During the 2025 celebration period, from September 19 to October 12, Brampton delivered more than 325 registered programs and events, contributing to a record-breaking year for Culture Days across Canada. These programs activated neighbourhoods, public spaces, libraries and cultural venues across the city, offering free and low-barrier opportunities for residents to participate in hands-on arts, heritage and creative experiences close to home.

Each year, Culture Days recognizes communities across Canada for their participation and engagement in the national celebration of arts, culture and heritage. Brampton’s 2025 recognition highlights the collective efforts of local artists, cultural organizations, community partners and residents who continue to champion creativity throughout the city.

 Brampton musician O’Neil Fuller leading participants at the hand drumming workshop for Culture Days. Credit: City of Brampton

About Culture Days in Brampton

Brampton’s Culture Days approach is intentionally community-driven, combining City leadership with strong local partnerships to ensure programming reflects the city’s diversity and reaches residents across all wards. By supporting artists, cultural organizations and grassroots groups to lead programming, Culture Days helps strengthen the local creative sector while fostering community connection and civic pride.

Brampton’s Culture Days programming was made possible through collaboration with local partners including Brampton Arts Organization (BAO), Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA), Brampton Library, Downtown Brampton Business Improvement Area (DBBIA) and many independent artists and community groups. Together, these partners helped deliver a diverse lineup that invited residents and visitors to explore Brampton’s creative sector in meaningful and interactive ways.

Culture Days continues to play an important role in advancing the goals of the City’s Culture Master Plan by increasing access to cultural experiences, supporting local creatives and celebrating Brampton’s diversity. This work reinforces arts and culture as a core municipal service that contributes to community wellbeing, neighbourhood vitality and Brampton’s long-term growth.

Culture Days will return in 2026 from September 18 to October 4. The City will invite local creatives to partner with and host events as part of Brampton’s community-driven lineup. Details, including the call for artists, will be posted at brampton.ca/culturedays.

For more information about Culture Days in Brampton and the City’s arts and culture initiatives, visit brampton.ca/culturedays.

​Quotes

“Being recognized once again as a top Culture Days community speaks to the creativity, collaboration and passion that define Brampton. Our artists, cultural organizations and community partners continue to make arts and culture accessible to residents across the city, and this national recognition reflects the strength of that collective effort.” - Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“Culture Days continues to highlight what makes Brampton special — a city where creativity thrives and culture is celebrated year-round. Being recognized again as a top participating community reflects the passion of our local artists and organizations, and the strong support from residents who show up and engage. I’m proud to see Brampton recognized nationally for making arts and culture accessible, inclusive and community-driven.” - Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5; Chair, Community Services, City of Brampton

“This recognition reflects more than strong participation numbers, it speaks to the value of sustained investment, planning and collaboration in building an accessible cultural system. Culture Days demonstrates how local creatives, community partners and the City can work together to deliver meaningful cultural experiences that reach residents city-wide and strengthen Brampton’s cultural sector.” - Kelly Stahl, Director, Arts and Culture, City of Brampton