Your Guide to the 2026 Gabriola Thanksgiving Studio Tour

For 30 years, the Gabriola Arts Council has been inviting visitors, locals, art lovers, and the art-curious to do something you don't normally get to do: step right inside the places where Gabriola's artists create.

The Gabriola Thanksgiving Studio Tour returns this October, opening studio doors across the island for one big weekend of art, exploring, meeting the makers, and inevitably finding something you absolutely did not plan on buying.

And with Gabriola just a quick ferry ride from downtown Nanaimo, getting there is pretty easy.

This year, 64 artists are participating in the tour. Could you visit all 64 over three days? Maybe.

Are we going to encourage you to try? Well...

Day 1 - Friday: Welcome to the Isle of the Arts

Afternoon 

Are you ready for the arts? Hop aboard the ferry in downtown Nanaimo and, about 20 minutes later, welcome to Gabriola Island.

Now, we could tell you to ease into things. Take your time. Maybe visit a studio or two.

But there are 64 artists on this year's tour and you've only got three days, so let's get to it.

Grab your Studio Tour map, pick an area of the island and start exploring. Painters, potters, jewellers, photographers, sculptors, textile artists, woodworkers - you'll find a little bit of everything behind those open studio doors.

Could you knock the first 20 off the list this afternoon? That feels ambitious… but we support it.

But don't get too caught up in the numbers. Half the fun is getting to actually meet the artists, see where they create, ask questions and inevitably spend far longer in one studio than you planned.

That's the point.

Evening

Okay, Picasso. You've done enough for one day.

Make your way to Burro Rosa for dinner before settling into your home away from home for the weekend.

And when it comes to staying on Gabriola, you've got options. Pitch a tent at one of the island's campgrounds, cozy up in a B&B or guesthouse, or settle into one of Gabriola's lodges.

Whatever you choose, get some rest. You've got approximately 44 artists left. No pressure.

Day 2 - Saturday

Morning

You know what every Saturday morning needs? A farmers market.

Start Day 2 at the Gabriola Agricultural Co-op Saturday Market, which keeps things going year-round. Grab a coffee and something for breakfast, browse local produce and goods, and meet even more of the island's makers and growers.

Yes, technically you're taking a break from the Studio Tour by visiting more local creators.

Welcome to Gabriola.

Take your time wandering the market, stock up on a few island-made goodies for later, and then it's time to get back on the road.

Afternoon

Back to the studios!

Choose another part of Gabriola and start making your way through today's stops.

Maybe yesterday was ceramics and paintings. Today could be jewellery, textiles, photography and woodworking. Or maybe you're abandoning all strategy and simply following whichever Studio Tour sign looks interesting.

Also acceptable.

If you're still committed to our wildly ambitious 64-artist challenge, you've got another 20-ish studios to tackle. If you've already accepted that you're not going to make it to all 64? Congratulations. You're officially on island time.

Either way, leave room for the unexpected stops. Pull over at a farm stand. Take the scenic road. Stay an extra 15 minutes chatting with an artist.

Evening

After a full day of studio hopping, it's time to see another one of Gabriola's masterpieces.

Except nobody painted this one.

Head to Malaspina Galleries and wander along Gabriola's famous sandstone formations as the sun starts making its way down. Take in the views across the water, breathe in a little salty air, and give your wallet a brief break from buying art.

Then make your way to Surf Lodge & Pub for dinner and settle in for the evening.

Day 3 - Sunday

Morning

Last day of touring! Which means we're going to need breakfast. 

Start your morning at Mad Rona's for something hearty, grab your coffee, pull out the Studio Tour map and assess the situation.

How many studios are left? Don't answer that. Just eat your breakfast.

Afternoon 

All right. One last round.

Use your final afternoon to visit the studios you starred on the map but haven't made it to yet, return to one you haven't stopped thinking about since Friday, or venture into a corner of the island you haven't explored yet.

And if you've somehow managed to keep pace with our extremely reasonable and not-at-all chaotic itinerary? You've only got about 24 artists left.

Easy.

Okay, maybe don't actually try to squeeze 24 studios into one afternoon.

The beauty of the Thanksgiving Studio Tour isn't checking every name off a list. It's slowing down enough to meet the people who make Gabriola the Isle of the Arts, seeing where their work comes to life, and probably heading home with a few things you weren't expecting.

Eventually, it'll be time to point yourself back toward the ferry and make the quick trip across the water to Nanaimo.

Three days. One little island. Sixty-four artists. And we're willing to bet you'll already have a list started for next year. Because there's always one more studio.