Toronto tween garage rockers Lego Money headline March Break at the AGO with sounds of the 1960s
Free audio guide features McCartney’s personal reflections on select works in the exhibition
TORONTO — This February, the Art Gallery of Ontario presents the Canadian debut of Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm, an extraordinary archive of more than 250 photographs made by Paul McCartney at the moment The Beatles catapulted from British sensations to global superstars. To celebrate, the AGO presents an inspired line-up of programs revealing the enduring cultural impact of Beatlemania in Toronto and around the world. Tickets for all events go on sale today. AGO Members and Annual Pass holders receive a discount.
Opening February 18, Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm is a unique portrait of the early 1960s, a moment when photography and music were changing rapidly. The exhibition and complimentary programming events offer an unparalleled opportunity to consider the role of photography and popular music in shaping a new, emergent visual culture.
“There is culture before The Beatles, and there is culture after The Beatles,” says Jim Shedden, AGO Curator, Special Projects & Publishing. “Paul McCartney’s photographs reveal a singular moment in time, and through them, and through our programming line-up, I hope visitors can see just how cataclysmic Beatlemania was globally.”
“Sir Paul McCartney is a living legend – a prolific musical artist whose work has captivated audiences of all ages for more than 60 years,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “This photo exhibition welcomes visitors inside his world as The Beatles began their meteoric rise to fame in the early 1960s. Thank you to the AGO for treating us all to a rare glimpse into the life of a musical titan. You don’t want to miss this experience.”
On view through June 7, 2026, admission to Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm is always free for Ontarians under 25, Indigenous Peoples, AGO Members, and Annual Passholders. For more details on how to book your tickets or to become a Member or Annual Passholder, visit AGO.ca.
Programming Highlights
Talks & Performances
- On Saturday, March 14, and Saturday March 21, rockers of all ages are invited to catch Toronto tween garage band sensation Lego Money, as they pay homage to The Beatles with original songs and classic rock hits from the 1960s and beyond in Walker Court. These performances are free with General Admission and part of March Break at the AGO.
- On Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m., join Toronto music historian Mike Daley as he unpacks, through song and archive, the relationship and evolution of the Toronto music scene in the 1960s to The Beatles. Presented in Baillie Court, Dr. Mike Daley Presents The Beatles and the Toronto Sound, features a re-staging of The Beatles’ very first Toronto concert, held at the Maple Leaf Gardens in September 1964. Tickets for this presentation are on sale now. AGO Members receive a discount. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/beatles-and-toronto-sound.
- On Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m., the AGO presents The Beatles Never Went Out of Fashion, a fashion forward panel discussion about The Beatles impact on contemporary style in Baillie Court featuring Deirdre Kelly, author of Fashioning the Beatles: The Looks that Shook the World; Joey Gollish, creative director of Roots and proprietor of the Mr. Saturday brand, Toronto designers Lori Mancuz and Catherine Robinson, from Call and Response Clothing and fashion designer and advocate David Dixon. Tickets for this event are on sale now. AGO Members receive a discount. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/beatles-never-went-out-fashion.
- On Saturday, May 2 at 2 p.m., the AGO presents Reliving the Magic of Beatlemania with Paul McCartney’s Eyes of the Storm, a talk in Baillie Court by esteemed cultural historian Kenneth Womack, author of The Beatles: The Long and Fabulous Road. Tickets for this talk are on sale now. AGO Members receive a discount. For more information, visit ago.ca/events/reliving-magic-beatlemania-paul-mccartneys-eyes-storm.
Shop & Dine
- The Shop offers a curated selection of artful keepsakes inspired by the exhibition — from t-shirts, books, and prints to stationery and more. Highlights include 1964: Eyes of the Storm, the 336-page hardcover exhibition catalogue; a double-sided concertina photo book; and limited edition prints of McCartney’s photographs. Starting February 18, 2026, visitors can shop the full range of products online at shop.ago.ca, in-gallery at the Shop and at the exhibition’s dedicated satellite pop-up on Level 5.
- In celebration of Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, the Bistro will present a special all-vegetarian Afternoon Tea inspired by the exhibition served in The Norma Ridley Members’ Lounge. The menu will play on nostalgic flavours of British and American cuisine from the 1960s during the height of Beatlemania. AGO Members receive a discount. Stay tuned for full menu and reservations at ago.ca/dine/ago-bistro.
Audio Guide
On the exhibition’s 24 stop-audio tour, visitors can listen to McCartney’s personal reflections about selected works. Available on Bloomberg Connects, a free digital app, the audio tour will be available for visitors beginning February 18. Visit ago.ca/exhibitions/paul-mccartney-photographs-1963-64-eyes-storm for more information on how to download.
For a full list of upcoming events, visit ago.ca/events.
About Paul McCartney
Born in Liverpool, England, Paul McCartney rose to prominence as a founding member of The Beatles. Throughout his lifetime, McCartney has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of popular music and culture.
Exhibition Credit
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm has been organized by the National Portrait Gallery, London, England, in collaboration with Paul McCartney. It is curated by Sir Paul McCartney with Sarah Brown for MPL Communications and Rosie Broadley for the National Portrait Gallery. The presentation at the Art Gallery of Ontario is organized by Jim Shedden, Curator, Special Projects & Director, Publishing.
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Signature Partner
RBC
Contributing Sponsor
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Generous Support
DH Gales Family Foundation
Lorne Gertner & Emily Masuda
Steven & Lynda Latner
Rob & Cheryl McEwen
Anonymous
ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. The AGO is embarking on the seventh expansion it has undertaken since the museum was founded in 1900. When completed, the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery will increase exhibition space for the museum’s growing modern and contemporary collection. With its groundbreaking Annual Pass program, the AGO is one of the most affordable and accessible attractions in the GTA. Visit ago.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts, and generous contributions from AGO Members, donors, and private-sector partners.
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