Gallery Guidelines

Welcome to the AGO! One of the largest museums in North America, with a collection of more than 120,000 artworks, there is always something new to see and do at the AGO. For a list of current and upcoming exhibitions visit ago.ca/exhibitions and follow us on social @AGOToronto.

We want to help you to make the most of your visit to the AGO. For more details about museum hours and directions, please visit AGO.ca/visit.

AGO Members and Annual Passholders can visit as often as they like – always for free. Learn how to become a Member or $40 Annual Passholder.

Single Day Admission tickets can be booked in advance online or purchased in-person at the AGO. To skip the line, buy tickets online at visit.ago.ca.

Questions? Concerns? Requests? The AGO Contact Centre is here to help at 416-979-6648 (Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm and Saturday 10 am - 3 pm) or [email protected].

Maps

Handheld maps are available free of charge to all visitors and can be picked at the Welcome Desk on arrival. Digital maps are also available to download. 

Parking

The AGO does not have visitor parking, however there are paid parking lots nearby. Visit http://toronto.bestparking.com to find parking options. The AGO does not have a designated bus parking area. 

Coat Check and Umbrellas

The coat check is open. Please travel light, as wait times for coat check may be longer than usual. 

Any bag larger than 18 inches x 16 inches x 6 inches qualifies as oversized and must be left at coat check. A $8 fee per oversized item applies. Bag sizers are available at the coat check.

Coat Check charges are as follows:
Single item: $4
Family: $8
Oversized: $8

Use of the unsupervised umbrella stand is free.

Please note that on First Wednesday Night Free, bags in the museum are limited to small purses. All other bags including backpacks and totes must be left at coat check for a fee.

Prohibited Items

Bicycles, skateboards, skate shoes, rollerblades and scooters are not permitted in gallery spaces, and we are unable to store them at Coat Check at this time. 

Food, flowers and plants, non-collapsible umbrellas, pets (except for service animals), drones, tripods, and selfie sticks are not permitted in gallery. 

Protection Services Officers (PSO) reserve the right to limit entry for any other item that may be considered a risk to visitors or artwork. See below for exceptions under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Nursing, Strollers & Carriers

Small children and strollers are welcome at the museum. Please store diaper bags underneath the stroller or on handles. Children’s wagons or buggies that are pulled behind the visitor are not permitted in gallery spaces.

Baby slings and carriers are permitted in museum spaces. You are welcome to nurse your baby in any of the museum’s seating areas. Walker Court on our main level and Galleria Italia on the second floor both have comfortable seats and benches. For more privacy or quiet space, we recommend the seating areas on the Concourse level. 

Washrooms

Throughout the AGO, we’re working to ensure that has everyone a washroom option that they feel comfortable with. Some washrooms are labelled by what you’ll find inside them: toilet, urinal or wheelchair accessible -- everyone is welcome to use them. Others are single occupancy or gender specific. Please consult the map for the washroom closest to you.

Photography

The AGO allows hand-held photography for personal, non-commercial use only, except where indicated. Selfie-sticks and tripods are not permitted. Please consult the AGO photography and filming guidelines for more information.

Food and Drink

Food and drink are not permitted in the Galleries. Sealed water bottles and baby bottles are allowed into gallery spaces but must be consumed in Walker Court or Galleria Italia. 

Located on Level 1, AGO Bistro is open Tuesday – Sunday. For hours, menus and to make a reservation, visit ago.ca/dine/ago-bistro.

Located on Level 1 in the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Sculpture Atrium, the Espresso Bar is open every Tuesday – Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available to visitors free of charge. Wheelchairs may be reserved  at AGO.ca/assistive-mobility-device-reservation through the AGO website, or may be requested on site on a “first come first serve” basis. 

Health & Safety

Following Ontario provincial health guidelines, visitors to the AGO are not required to wear a mask, however we strongly recommend they do so. Health and safety precautions, including enhanced cleaning routines and UV sanitizing lighting remain in place, and the museum asks that visitors who feel unwell postpone their visit.

Member Tickets

Members do not need to book tickets in advance – just scan your digital membership card when you arrive. As a member, you can visit as many times as you like but you can only book one set of tickets at a time.  For information about membership and benefits enjoyed by members at various levels, please see our page on membership comparison.

Groups

Plan on visiting with ten or more people? Plan your visit with us and get the most from your exploration of the AGO. Visit our Groups page for more information and to view the Group Visits guidelines or email us at Group Sales for more information. 

Third-party tours

To provide a consistent and enjoyable experience for all visitors, the Art Gallery of Ontario does not permit third parties to lead groups through the galleries. Any independent or unauthorized tours will be asked to conclude.

Protecting the Art

Please do not touch the artwork. Keep a safe distance of 1 metre (39 in.) between you and the works of art

Video Surveillance

For the protection of visitors, staff, volunteers and works of art, the Gallery is monitored by video surveillance.

Cell Phones

Please turn your cell phone to the vibrate setting and be respectful of other visitors when using it.

Appraisals

The AGO does not offer appraisals for artworks. We suggest Sotheby’s Auction House at 416-926-1774 or Christies at 416-960-2063 for valuations.

Exceptions for Prohibited Items

Visitors to the AGO are now allowed to carry certain prohibited items into the galleries for specific medical conditions in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). These items may include water bottles, oversize bags with medical supplies, liquid medicines or other items.

The Protection Services Officer (PSO) at the front desk will approve visitors’ requests and will affix a visible sticker to the prohibited item(s) so that other staff throughout the Gallery will know permission has been given. All other prohibited items must be left at coat check for a fee.

Limitation of Liability

Any public space where people come together, like the AGO, produces a risk of exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Help keep each other healthy by following health & safety guidelines, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a face mask during your visit to the AGO. By being in public spaces like the AGO you voluntarily assume all the risks related to exposure.