stories-from-the-middle-2026

STORIES FROM THE MIDDLE 2026

A

When in Winnipeg

take a walk (or skate) at The Forks

relax at Thermea Spa Village Winnipeg

explore your artistic side at WAG-Qaumajuq taste honey dill sauce

see the Golden Boy

Winnipeg...

step back in time at the Manitoba Museum

build understanding at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

chill with the polar bears at the Assiniboine Park Zoo

visit the historic neighbourhoods of Saint-Boniface and the Exchange District

Welcome to Winnipeg

Canada’s middle child

Sitting at the geographic centre of Canada, this prairie city embraces its middle-child status. Often overlooked but never forgettable, Winnipeg blends big city energy with small-town warmth. From our flexible spirit (we thrive in +30°C summers and -30°C winters) to our inventive streak (cell phones, James Bond, Pizza Pops and Bugs Bunny all trace roots here), Winnipeg shines with creativity and character.

Winnipeg’s story spans more than 6,000 years, grounded in its longstanding role as an Indigenous meeting place at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. In the 17th to 19th centuries, it grew into a hub for Canada’s fur trade and later became a pivotal railway centre, layering commerce, migration and culture into the city’s identity.

Today, Winnipeg invites you to uncover compelling stories through hands-on experiences and real connections. Spend a day at one of our year-round festivals, pull up a chair in a top-tier restaurant or wander into a gallery, market or museum. Winnipeg’s tight-knit community, filled with passionate storytellers, is at the heart of that experience. Unpretentious, vibrant and deeply welcoming, Winnipeg sends visitors home with fresh perspectives and more than a few reasons to come back.

Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism acknowledges that we are located on Treaty One Territory, the home and traditional lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree) and Dakota peoples, and in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. Our drinking water comes from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, in Treaty Three Territory.

Story starters

• Tap into a worldclass arts and culture hub with a festivalpacked calendar, striking architecture and a creative scene full of local voices, plus recognizable streetscapes that have doubled as big-screen backdrops.

• Taste a foodie paradise that punches above its weight with fresh openings, bold flavours and talented chefs making an impact in Winnipeg and beyond.

• Exp erience a city where winter comes to life, from getting lost in the world’s largest snow maze to skating (or even dining) on a frozen river, with plenty of cozy spots to warm up, too.

• Exp lore Indigenous culture and history woven throughout the city, which is home to the largest Indigenous population in Canada, through attractions and cuisine to handson experiences, tours, and meaningful local connections.

• Catch a sports destination with bigleague teams, loyal fans and game days that feel like citywide celebrations — including marquee moments in 2026 like the PWHL Takeover Tour (March 22) and NHL Heritage Classic (October 25).

Hi, it’s me Winnifred!

Like all good middle children, I won’t be ignored!

As the “o fficial” new tourism mascot for the city, I’m here to show you around this city at the centre of it all.

New, notable and on the horizon

New and extended exhibitions

At the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a new exhibit exploring Palestinian perspectives will open in June 2026 within its Rights Today gallery. Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present will connect historical and contemporary human rights violations related to the ongoing forced displacement and dispossession of Palestinians.

The Museum has extended Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge through fall 2026. Using personal testimonies and archival material, it examines the decades-long targeting of thousands of 2SLGBTQI+ members of the military, RCMP and federal civil service under the guise of “national security.”

Fresh bites

Winnipeg’s food scene has been on a roll, and if you haven’t visited lately, there’s plenty that’s new (and delicious).

Forge Bagel Co. , led by father-daughter duo Glen and Rachelle Demetrioff, is drawing daily lineups for hand-stretched, traditional poke-and-stretch bagels inspired by their travels through Poland and the UK.

SOHO kitchen + wine in the Exchange District delivers an ItalianEuropean breakfast and lunch menu from Ukrainian chef Oleksandr “Sasha” Bohdan, with egg-forward plates, crepes, pastas and standout coffee. After earning a spot on Canada’s Top 100 Best Restaurants list once again in 2025, chef Edward Lam is closing Yujiro and turning the page with a new concept launching in 2026 that reflects Lam’s Hong Kong roots.

Snack Haus marks chef Dustin Pajak’s Winnipeg return, serving craveable small plates inside Low Life Barrel House after his stint in notable Toronto kitchens.

A historic re-opening

Followin g renovations, Le Musée de Saint-Boniface— dedicated to French-Canadian and Red River Métis culture— will reopen this summer. The museum is housed in one of Winnipeg’s oldest buildings and the largest oak structure in North America. Celebrations of the building’s 175th anniversary kick off in September 2026.

Red River Métis National Heritage Centre (2027)

Winnipeg is preparing to welcome a landmark cultural institution with the Red River Métis National Heritage Centre, opening in 2027 in the former Bank of Montreal building at Portage and Main. A first of its kind in Canada, the centre will showcase the history and contributions of the Red River Métis Nation, rooted in the very place where so much of that story began. Early momentum is already visible through the 142-piece “Our Grandmothers Collection,” recently unveiled at the future site.

Railside at The Forks (2027)

The Forks, Winnipeg’s most-visited destination at the meeting point of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, is about to evolve again. Two surface parking lots are being reimagined as Railside, a mixed-use neighborhood slated for completion by summer 2027, adding homes, shops and new public plazas to the riverfront. The project aims to weave history, culture, and everyday city life into a place already known for markets, trails, and gathering spaces, giving visitors more reasons to linger, explore, and see how Winnipeg is growing right at its heart.

Mark your calendar!

Festival du Voyageur

February 13 to 22, 2026

Embrace the cold at Western Canada’s largest outdoor winter festival, a lively celebration of Red River Métis and Franco-Manitoban culture, art, music and food.

Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival

July 15 to 26, 2026

Explore Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District as it transforms into North America’s secondlargest fringe, hosting 140+ theatre companies and 1,000+ performances across every genre.

Pride Winnipeg Festival

May 26 to June 7, 2026

Celebrate Winnipeg’s vibrant 2SLGBTQI+ community with a week of events, capped by a joyful Pride Day parade, rally and dance party downtown.

Folklorama

August 2 to 15, 2026

Travel the world without leaving Winnipeg during Folklorama, the world’s largest and longest-running multicultural festival, where 40+ pavilions create a feast for the senses with authentic bites and cultural performances.

TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival

June 16 to 21, 2026

Catch world-class jazz as the Exchange District swings for nine days, filling clubs, stages and patios for Winnipeg’s largest downtown music celebration.

Culture Days & Nuit Blanche

September 19 to October 12, 2026

Dive into city-wide exhibitions, tours and workshops during Culture Days, then stay up for Nuit Blanche, an all-night contemporary art crawl through Winnipeg’s iconic neighbourhoods.

Winnipeg Folk Festival

July 9 to 12, 2026

Immerse yourself in musical discovery at this internationally acclaimed festival, where 70+ acts, standout local food and easy-going community vibes unfold beneath expansive prairie skies.

Manito Ahbee Festival

October 30 to November 1, 2026

Feel the drum beat at this premier showcase of Indigenous arts and culture, featuring an international pow wow, marketplace, live performances and cultural celebrations.

Share stories from the middle

Discover what sets Winnipeg apart, and the stories waiting when you look a little closer.

For image requests, press releases, media trip inquiries or story ideas, reach out today! You can also subscribe to our quarterly travel media newsletter for the latest updates on Winnipeg’s attractions, events, culinary scene and more.

We look forward to helping you uncover more of our middle-child magic and bring Winnipeg’s vibrant stories to life.

Taylor Fenn (she/her) Manager, Media Relations & Partner Communications

P 204.285.6729

taylor@w innipegedt.com