The CONTACT Photography Festival has announced its inaugural fundraising gala and auction, titled PICTURE THIS, to be held on February 24, 2026, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA). The event celebrates the festival's 30th anniversary and features a high-profile auction of works by renowned artists including Edward Burtynsky, Carrie Mae Weems, and Suzy Lake. Led by auctioneer Stephen Ranger, the evening aims to secure the financial future of North America’s largest photography festival.
This gala represents a significant institutional milestone as CONTACT transitions into its fourth decade of operation. By leveraging a curated auction of contemporary photography, the organization seeks to fund critical infrastructure such as artist commissions, exhibition production, and public programming. The involvement of major international and Canadian artists underscores the festival's central role in the global photography circuit and its impact on the Toronto cultural landscape.