The Gardiner Museum presents the International ceramic art fair (ICAF) 2026, the biennial celebration of contemporary ceramics, returning from May 28 to August 16, 2026 in an expanded format. Transforming from a 10-day fair into a 12-week exhibition and public program, this edition offers an in-depth exploration of how ceramics continues to evolve across art, design, architecture, and emerging technologies. Bringing together leading Canadian and international artists and galleries, ICAF highlights the innovative potential of clay as both a material and a vehicle for contemporary ideas.

Centered on the theme “the city and the commons,” ICAF 2026 examines the role of ceramics in shaping shared urban environments and collective experiences. From architecture and infrastructure to questions of belonging, resilience, and public space, the exhibition considers how ceramic practices can offer new ways of understanding life in rapidly changing cities. Through sculpture, installation, design, and experimental approaches, the participating artists demonstrate how one of humanity’s oldest materials continues to respond to some of today’s most pressing social and environmental questions.

Alongside the exhibition, ICAF 2026 features an extensive program of public events, including a Preview Gala, symposium, artist talks, workshops, tours, and masterclasses. Highlights include a keynote presentation by architect and designer Ronald Rael, whose concept of “AI³” (Artificial, Ancestral, and Additive Intelligence) explores the intersection of traditional craft and emerging technologies. Together, the exhibition and its public programming position the International Ceramic Art Fair as a major platform for dialogue, innovation, and the future of contemporary ceramics.