Welcome to the ACE District

Ottawa’s Arts, Culture & Entertainment District

See
it.
A man stands in front of a monitor, appearing engaged with the screen's content
Hear
it.
A band performs on stage while a lively crowd enjoys the music in front of them
Feel
it.
Dancers in colorful traditional Mexican dresses perform outdoors for a crowd in a lively city square, with vibrant buildings, a clock, and restaurants in the background.
Taste
it.
A group of friends sitting at a colorful outdoor area, smiling and raising their drinks together for a toast under string lights, with pink benches and umbrellas in the background.

From national arts exhibits to legendary taverns, award-winning restaurants to late-night dance parties, this is where Ottawa’s arts, culture and entertainment comes together.

See it. Hear it. Taste it. Feel it.
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View of ByWard Market

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Stories from the district

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Hear it, See it

Reimagining the Plaza Bridge for Ottawa 200 and Beyond

  • Sep 22, 2026
Have you noticed anything different under the Plaza Bridge this month? Seen purple lights and heard unusual sounds below street level at the intersection of Elgin and Wellington? Or noticed the screen and sculptures along the Rideau Canal between the first locks and the National Arts Centre? Then you’ve caught…
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Feel it, Hear it, See it

The ACE District Illuminated: Nuit Blanche returns to Ottawa

  • Sep 18, 2026
Think you know downtown Ottawa? Here’s your chance to see it in a whole new light. For the first time since 2015, our city is hosting Nuit Blanche — an all-night festival of art, culture and technology. On September 26, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., the festival will transform…
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Nuit Blanche

Feel it, See it

Bytown Together Celebrates 200 Years of Local History

  • Sep 18, 2026
On September 26, Ottawa is celebrating its 200th anniversary, and what better way to mark the day than with a historical celebration? Look no further than Bytown Together, a free eclectic event hosted by the Bytown Museum. Sitting next to the locks that connect the Rideau Canal to the Ottawa…
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Bytown Museum