Art Galleries
Kelowna Art Gallery
Kelowna
THE CITY · KELOWNA & WEST KELOWNA
Catch an indie band on a brewery patio, walk through contemporary gallery exhibitions, or join a massive summer street party.
25 venues · Updated October 2026Culture guide · Go Kelowna
Photo: Kelowna Art Gallery · Kelowna Art Gallery
01AT A GLANCE
The details that matter.
A walkable downtown district acts as the primary hub for galleries and historic performance spaces. Major touring acts play a 6,000-seat arena near the water, while smaller clubs and seasonal outdoor stages keep live music running year-round.
- Main Hub
- Cultural District
- Big Shows
- Prospera Place
- Summer Music
- Parks Alive! series
- Art Walk
- First Fridays
01LOCAL PICKS
Galleries & museums
The Cultural District and beyond.
Museums
The Laurel Packinghouse
Kelowna
Museums
Okanagan Heritage Museum
Kelowna
Museums
KF Centre for Excellence
Kelowna
Art Galleries
Rotary Centre for the Arts
Kelowna
Art Galleries
Hambleton Galleries
Kelowna
Museums
Okanagan Military Museum
Kelowna
Museums
Sncewips Heritage Museum and Gift Store
West Kelowna
Museums
Westbank Museum
West Kelowna
Art Galleries
Geert Maas Sculpture Gardens and Gallery
Kelowna
Art Galleries
Gallery 421
Kelowna
Art Galleries
Lake Country Art Gallery
Lake Country
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•ALSO WORTH A LOOK
Stages & screens
Theatre, concerts, big games and movie nights.
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•LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Inside the Scene
Track down the best local talent and touring shows across the valley.
The short answer
Start your night at Prospera Place for arena-sized concerts and sporting events. If you prefer a smaller room, the Rotary Centre for the Arts and the community theatre next door run a steady lineup of plays and independent musicians.
01Downtown Core
The Six-Block Hub
Six blocks of restored fruit-packing buildings form the core of the city's creative scene. This compact downtown neighbourhood puts studios, performance spaces, and cafes within an easy walk of each other. You can spend an afternoon browsing exhibitions and walking past public murals before grabbing dinner before a show.
Start your walk on Water Street near the Kelowna Art Gallery and the Rotary Centre for the Arts. Just a couple of blocks away, you will spot the Okanagan Heritage Museum and The Laurel Packinghouse, which holds the BC Orchard Industry Museum and the BC Wine Museum. Grab a walking map from the visitor centre to track down the outdoor sculptures scattered along the sidewalks.
When the sun goes down, the area shifts focus to live performances. Audiences fill the seats at the Kelowna Community Theatre and the Mary Irwin Theatre. These stages host everything from symphony orchestras to touring comedians and local dance recitals.
Local tips
- Park at the Library Parkade on Doyle Avenue for central access.
- Time your visit for Thursday to get free admission at several galleries.
- The sidewalks are flat and wide, making the entire area easy to wheel through.
- Pick up a self-guided map to track down the alleyway murals.
02Canvas and Clay
Exhibitions and Installations
Over 800 permanent works sit inside the main art gallery on Water Street, alongside a rotating schedule of contemporary Canadian exhibitions. The space runs regular workshops and artist talks, and they even maintain a small satellite installation at the international airport (YLW) for travellers waiting on flights.
Next door, the Rotary Centre acts as an incubator for emerging talent with changing displays in its public hallways. If you want to see experimental or alternative media, walk over to the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art. Private dealers also operate across the city. You can browse regional landscape paintings and modern sculpture at Hambleton Galleries, Gallery 421, and SOPA Fine Arts.
Outdoor installations play a large role in the city landscape. Walk along the waterfront promenade or through Stuart Park to see large-scale sculptures. These pieces reference regional history and the surrounding environment. The municipal collection grows every year, so you will often spot new metalwork or painted surfaces on a morning jog.
Local tips
- Save your gallery visit for Thursday to skip the admission fee.
- Check the websites of private dealers for their opening night reception schedules.
- Grab a public art map from the waterfront visitor centre.
- Peek into the open artist studios on the main floor of the Rotary Centre.
03Sound Check
Live Sets
Big ticket international tours stop at Prospera Place. This 6,000-seat downtown arena doubles as the home ice for the WHL Rockets and hosts major comedy acts. When you want to see a touring musical or a symphony concert, you will likely find yourself in the 850-seat community theatre just down the street.
Smaller rooms keep the local music scene running. Long-standing watering holes like O'Flannigan's Pub and the Blue Gator Bar pack their schedules with cover bands and local rock acts. Newer rooms like Revelry and Red Bird Brewing put on indie shows in a casual setting. During July and August, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery runs an outdoor concert series with sweeping views of the valley.
Free outdoor music takes over the parks in the summer. The Parks Alive program sets up stages in different neighbourhoods throughout July and August. You can also catch acoustic sets on Bernard Avenue when the city blocks car traffic to create a pedestrian zone during the hottest months.
Local tips
- Secure your arena tickets early, as major tours sell out fast.
- Look up the weekend schedule for downtown pubs to find no-cover band nights.
- Pack a lawn chair or a thick blanket for the park concerts.
- Winery amphitheatre shows are highly sought after, so buy passes in early spring.
04Annual Calendar
Summer and Winter Events
Summer crowds gather for a packed schedule of outdoor celebrations. Early June brings Pride Week, wrapping up with a parade and a massive gathering in City Park. On July 1, the downtown waterfront fills up with food trucks, free concerts, and family games before a fireworks show launches over the lake at dusk.
Live music drives the summer schedule. Rock The Lake sets up an outdoor stage beside the arena in July to host classic rock veterans. Over at Red Bird Brewing, NESTFEST focuses on indie bands and alternative acts in August. The Summer Edit is a newer addition, bringing electronic music and local food vendors to the waterfront.
Winter brings its own distinct programming. In January, the Living Things International Arts Festival stages puppetry, masks, and experimental performances in spaces across town. From independent film screenings to craft beer gatherings, the event calendar stays full long after the summer tourists go home.
Local tips
- Expect road closures and limited street parking during major downtown street parties.
- Bring small bills to pay the food truck vendors at outdoor events.
- Reserve your hotel room months ahead if you plan to attend a July music weekend.
- Look up individual event websites to find volunteer shifts if you want free entry.
05Curtain Call
Acting and Symphony
Large touring productions and international dance companies book the main community theatre downtown. Just a block away, the Mary Irwin Theatre gives you a smaller room for independent plays and local dance troupes. If you want to see avant-garde or experimental performances, check the schedule at the Black Box Theatre.
Dinner and a show go hand-in-hand at the Kelowna Actors Studio. This long-running local company stages popular Broadway musicals and comedies while serving a multi-course meal. They have built a strong reputation over the years for high production values and elaborate set designs.
Classical music fans can catch the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra playing regular dates downtown. The region also supports several dedicated dance schools that hold public recitals. You can find everything from classical ballet and string quartets to late-night improv comedy on any given weekend.
Local tips
- Buy a multi-show package if you plan to attend several plays in a season.
- You can buy a ticket for just the performance at the actors studio if you want to eat elsewhere.
- Ask the box office about student pricing or pay-what-you-can nights at the independent spaces.
- Sign up for a weekend acting or dance workshop at the arts centre.
06Regional Past
Archives and Artifacts
Regional history comes into focus at the Okanagan Heritage Museum. The exhibits detail the lives of the Syilx people, the arrival of early settlers, and the agricultural boom that shaped the valley. The same building holds the Okanagan Military Museum, detailing the service records and artifacts of local veterans.
The fruit packing industry left a massive footprint on this area. You can learn about it at The Laurel Packinghouse, a restored industrial building that now contains both the BC Orchard Industry Museum and the BC Wine Museum. Up near the airport, the KF Centre for Excellence displays vintage aircraft and maps out local aviation milestones.
Cross the bridge to the Westside to visit the Sncewips Heritage Museum and Gift Store. The Westbank First Nation curates this vital space, focusing on syilx history and culture. A short drive away, the Westbank Museum archives the specific pioneer history of the west side of the lake.
Local tips
- Look up the historical society website to book a guided walking tour of downtown.
- The packinghouse frequently hosts weekend craft markets and wine tastings.
- Give yourself at least an hour to read through the main heritage exhibits.
- Stop at the aviation centre on your way to or from your flight.
Cineplex Cinemas Orchard PlazaLandmark Cinemas West Kelowna, XtremeProspera PlaceLandmark Cinemas Grand 10 KelownaO'Flannigan's PubKelowna Community TheatreKelowna Art GalleryThe Laurel PackinghouseOkanagan Heritage MuseumKF Centre for ExcellenceRotary Centre for the ArtsRevelryBlue Gator BarKelowna Actors StudioHambleton GalleriesOkanagan Military MuseumSncewips Heritage Museum and Gift StoreMary Irwin TheatreWestbank MuseumGeert Maas Sculpture Gardens and GalleryGallery 421Black Box TheatreLake Country Art GallerySOPA Fine Arts
•BOOK A LOCAL
Make a day of it.
Tours, rentals, shops and stays run by Kelowna locals, all bookable from their profiles.
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•THE FULL LIST
All 25 venues.
Search by name, narrow by type or community, and sort by the most-reviewed or highest-rated. Every card opens a full profile.
See them on the map25 places
CinemasCineplex Cinemas Orchard PlazaMovie Theater in Kelowna.★ 4.2 (1,500) · Kelowna
CinemasLandmark Cinemas West Kelowna, XtremeMovie Theater in West Kelowna.★ 4.4 (1,284) · West KelownaLive Music VenuesProspera PlaceProspera Place is Kelowna's premier entertainment arena, hosting world-class concerts, major sporting events, and serving as home to the WHL's Kelowna Rockets.★ 4.2 (1,183) · Kelowna
CinemasLandmark Cinemas Grand 10 KelownaMovie Theater in Kelowna.★ 4.2 (1,055) · Kelowna
Live Music VenuesO'Flannigan's PubIrish Pub in Kelowna.★ 4.2 (1,024) · KelownaTheatresKelowna Community TheatreEvent Venue in Kelowna.★ 4.6 (849) · KelownaArt GalleriesKelowna Art GalleryArt Gallery in Kelowna.★ 4.5 (450) · KelownaMuseumsThe Laurel PackinghouseEvent Venue in Kelowna.★ 4.8 (430) · KelownaMuseumsOkanagan Heritage MuseumExplore the rich natural and human history of the Okanagan Valley at this engaging museum in Kelowna's Cultural District.★ 4.6 (363) · KelownaMuseumsKF Centre for ExcellenceThe KF Centre for Excellence serves as a dedicated hub for its specialized field, offering a focused environment for learning and innovation.★ 4.9 (309) · KelownaArt GalleriesRotary Centre for the ArtsAssociation Or Organization in Kelowna.★ 4.7 (302) · Kelowna
Live Music VenuesRevelryEvent Venue in Kelowna.★ 3.7 (218) · Kelowna•STORIES
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•FAQ
Good to know
Six blocks of downtown house the main art gallery, the Rotary Centre, and multiple performance spaces. You can walk between museums, grab a coffee, and look at outdoor sculptures all in the same afternoon.
