Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is honoured to be the International Media Centre for the 2025 G7 Summit, taking place in Kananaskis, Alberta in June 2025. Please see the FAQ below to answer any questions you may have about access to campus, Banff Centre programming, and why we're taking part in the event. If your question is not answered here, please email communications@banffcentre.ca.
Thank you!
The G7 (Group of Seven) is a gathering of world leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Together, they meet annually to discuss global priorities like economic growth, climate change, and international security. Canada will host the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15–17, 2025.
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity will be the International Media Centre for the G7 Summit. From approximately June 14–18, 2025, our campus will welcome over 500 international journalists, broadcasters, technicians, and government delegates. While the G7 Summit itself is happening 50 kilometers away in Kananaskis, Banff Centre will serve as the central hub for media coverage. Many journalists will be travelling daily between Banff Centre and Kananaskis to cover G7 Summit activities. Others will remain on Banff Centre campus to cover proceedings remotely, using our conference and production facilities.
No, there is no scheduled leadership presence at Banff Centre. The site will be used for G7 media operations only.
Visitors to Banff Centre will notice increased activity on campus as of May 31, 2025, when the G7 contract begins. It will end on June 20, 2025, when the contract ends. It may take us some time to return operations to normal, so the public can expect campus operations to resume as usual on June 22, 2025.
Banff Centre is remaining open to the public. While certain areas of the campus will be restricted for G7 media operations, Banff Centre will continue to operate throughout this period.
The following spaces will remain open to the public:
• Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation: The upper fitness room, aquatic centre, and climbing gym will remain open (the lower fitness room and running track will be closed June 9–20, 2025). Please note that there will be no on-campus parking available May 31 to June 20, 2025.
• Walter Phillips Gallery: The summer exhibition Elliptical Lineages will be on view as of June 7, 2025. Walter Phillips Gallery will be open and free to the public as usual, Wednesdays through Sundays from 12:30–5 p.m.
• Participant & Faculty areas: Banff Centre is striving to preserve the participant and faculty experience on campus during G7 activities, please see your program communications for details.
• Ken Madsen Path: Visitors can access Banff Centre campus from the town as usual through the Ken Madsen pathway.
Yes! Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity will be celebrating National Indigenous History Month through the month of June, including:
• Leela Gilday Live performing in the Jenny Belzberg Theatre at Banff Centre on Wednesday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m.
• Fox Fur Earring Workshop with facilitator Suzan Marie on Wednesday, June 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the Whyte Museum
• Seal Skin Bracelet and Earring Workshop with facilitator Suzan Marie on Thursday, June 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the Whyte Museum
• Pow Wow Dance Workshop with Cherith Mark and Jaylin Simeon on Monday, June 16 at 4 p.m. at artsPlace Canmore
For more details, see our 2025 National Indigenous History Month programming.
The Walter Phillips Gallery exhibition Elliptical Lineages will also open on June 7, 2025. Entrance is free to the public as usual, Wednesdays through Sundays from 12:30–5 p.m.
Artist Jason Baerg, faculty of the Visual Arts program Kapishkum: Métis Gathering, will be giving a lecture in our Visual Arts Open Lecture Series on Friday, June 6 at 4 p.m.
There are several faculty and participant concerts as part of Banff Centre’s Art of Piano program taking place in June, including:
• James Anagnoson & Micah Yui featuring works by Brahms, Dvořák, Debussy, and Gershwin by two faculty performers on Sunday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rolston Recital Hall
• Joanna MacGregor returning after a celebrated performance in Art of Piano in 2024 on Tuesday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rolston Recital Hall
• Four Participant Showcases at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. from June 5-6, 2025, all free to attend at the Rolston Recital Hall
Onsite parking will be available for the concerts listed above. For more information, see our Events page.
• Maclab Bistro and Vistas Dining Room: Maclab Bistro will be closed to the public June 13–18, 2025, inclusive, and Vistas Dining Room will be closed to the public June 14–18, inclusive.
• Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation: The lower fitness room and running track will be closed from June 9–20, inclusive. There will also be no on-campus parking available May 31 to June 20, 2025.
• Becker Hall Parking Lot: The parking lot next to the Professional Development Centre on the south side of Banff Centre campus (closest to Surprise Corner) is restricted to G7 operations from May 31 to June 20, 2025, inclusive, and requires security clearance to access.
• Banff Centre Parkade: Both levels of the Banff Centre parkade (located below our Music and Sound Building) will be closed from May 31to June 20, 2025, except for attendees at Banff Centre arts events during that time, including the Art of Piano concerts and our National Indigenous History Month concert with Leela Gilday.
• Tunnel Mountain Summit Trailhead Parking Lot: Though not technically on Banff Centre campus, the parking lot at the trailhead of the Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail will be closed to the public May 31 to June 20, 2025. However, the trail will remain open.
Yes, for the period of May 31 to June 20, 2025, all parking on campus—except for public attendance at Banff Centre concerts—will be designated for G7 International Media Centre use.
The parking lot on the south side of campus (next to the Professional Development Centre) will be closed from May 31 to June 20, 2025, inclusive. Please see the above point for more information.
In addition, road closures near Banff Centre will be in effect from June 13–17, 2025, reopening on June 18, 2025:
• St. Julien Road will be closed between Wolverine Street and St. Julien Way
• St. Julien Way will be closed at its intersection with Tunnel Mountain Drive
Access to both areas will be controlled by traffic personnel and security staff. The Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail will remain open, however the parking lot at the Tunnel Mountain Summit trailhead will be closed to the public.
However–it's June in Banff! We highly encourage visitors to walk or bike when coming to campus. There is ample bike parking on site, which will be open for public use.
As an organization dedicated to providing space for conversations that can enrich our world, Banff Centre is honoured and excited to become part of the G7 legacy.
We believe in the universal power of creativity to inspire leaders, conceive powerful ideas, and build connections locally and globally. This mission aligns with the purpose of G7—bringing together leaders from around the world to address the most important issues affecting our world today.
In addition, the G7 Summit will bring lasting infrastructure upgrades to our campus, like improved Wi-Fi and communication systems, which will support our artists, guests, faculty, and staff for years to come. All Banff residents will likewise benefit from these upgrades in connectivity and infrastructure to the area.
This is an important time in the landscape of global politics. It is a privilege to ground these discussions and decisions within the values of this region, the timeless wisdom of the mountains, and the power of Albertan ingenuity.
Though the bulk of activity will take place in Kananaskis, the Town may experience higher traffic, road closures, and other disruptions. We highly encourage you to read the Town of Banff’s G7 Summit web page for more information.
While we expect the G7 Summit and any demonstration in its vicinity to be peaceful and productive, there is a risk this event will attract unlawful activity. Security to Banff residents, Banff Centre participants, staff, and attendees of the G7 Media Centre is of the utmost importance, so if you see something potentially suspicious, be proactive and alert the appropriate authorities.
Learn more about what to look for in suspicious activity here.
• Canada's 2025 G7 Presidency
• G7 Summit | Banff, AB - Official Website
• G7 Summit Frequently Asked Questions | Canmore Kananaskis
• 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit: Integrated Safety and Security Group (ISSG) | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Controlled access zone and air restrictions | Royal Canadian Mounted Police