Social Activities at OIAF 2026
Places to Be
Chez Ani
Arts Court Studio, 2 Daly Ave (Level 3)
Wednesday, September 23 to Friday, September 25 from 9 am – 9 pm
Saturday, September 26 9 am to 2 pm
Sunday, September 27 from 9 am – 5 pm
Meet at Chez Ani, OIAF’s festival café and social hub. Open daily in the Arts Court Building (Level 3), it’s your go‑to for affordable coffee, snacks, beer, and wine. It’s perfect for pre‑ or post‑screening hangs and a quick breakfast before Meet the Filmmakers!
Aniboutique
Arts Court 2 Daly Ave (Level 3)
Tuesday, September 22, from 10 am to 9 pm
Wednesday, September 23 to Friday, September 25 from 9 am to 9 pm
Saturday, September 26, from 9 am to 3 pm
Sunday, September 27, from 9 am to 4:30 pm
The Aniboutique is the official shop of the OIAF and is located on Level 3 in the Arts Court building during the week of the Festival. Pick up hard-to-find books on animation, merchandise from animation artists, and your OIAF swag, including shirts, posters, books, and more! A pop-up shop will also be available on Saturday at Animation Exposé in the Canal Foyer at the NAC from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Parties
Opening Night Party
Wednesday, September 23 from 10 pm to 2 am
Lowertown Brewery, 73 York St (indoor/outdoor event)
Access: AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF 3 Day Pass, Wednesday Day Pass. All ages are invited, but a 19+ ID is required to be served alcohol.
It’s time to party like it’s 1976! Kick off OIAF’s 50th anniversary at Lowertown Brewery in the ByWard Market with a night of karaoke, poutine, and dancing. Grab the mic and join us for a memorable start to this year’s festival!
Salon des Refusés
Presented by Bento Box Entertainment
Thursday, September 24 from 9:30 pm to 2 am
Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St (indoor/outdoor event)
Access: AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF 3 Day Pass, Thursday Day Pass. All ages are invited but a 19+ ID is required to be served alcohol.
We can’t all be winners, but we can take rejection in stride! Salon des Refusés is an opportunity for OIAF passholders to view films that weren’t accepted into the Festival programming. Join us at Club SAW for libations, commiserations, and a little crowd validation! We know rejection is a hard pill to swallow, so bring your OIAF rejection letter for a free drink to wash it down, courtesy of Bento Box Entertainment! All Festival passholders are welcome to view the refused films and meet the creators.
The Animators’ Picnic
Presented by The Animation Guild and the Canadian Animation Guild (CAG) IATSE Local 938
Friday, September 25 from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Strathcona Park, 25 Range Road (outdoor event)
Access: AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF 3 Day Pass, Friday Day Pass. All ages are invited but a 19+ ID is required to be served alcohal.
Join us at Strathcona Park for OIAF’s signature event. Enjoy a picnic lunch, catch up with friends, and carve a pumpkin alongside animators, students, and fellow festivalgoers. You never know who you might find yourself carving next to!
Shuttles run from the ByTowne Cinema (after the 11 am show) to Strathcona Park, then head to Arts Court around 1 pm and run back and forth between Arts Court and the park until 4 pm.
Friday Night Party
Friday, September 25 from 9:30 pm to 2 am
Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St (indoor/outdoor event)
Access: AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF 3 Day Pass, Weekend Pass, Friday Day Pass. All ages are invited but a 19+ ID is required to be served alcohol.
Stayin’ alive, staying up, and dancing all night! Catch Ottawa’s favourite anime cover band, Killjoy, at OIAF’s Friday Night Party, then join Remi Royale for his Dance Floor Time Machine. Keep the good times rolling at Club SAW with a party inspired by five decades of music and animation.
NightOwl
Presented by Adult Swim, OSE, WACOM and ASIFA Hollywood
Saturday, September 26, from 9 pm to 12 am
National Arts Centre (NAC), 1 Elgin St. (Oborn, Rossy, Lantern Rooms)
Access: AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF 3 Day Pass, Weekend Pass, Saturday Day Pass. All ages are invited but a 19+ ID is required to be served alcohol.
After much anticipation and a few heart palpitations, NightOwl is back!
Join us at the National Arts Centre on Saturday night for an immersive celebration of OIAF’s 50th anniversary, featuring music, drawing, cosplay, art, and animation. Raise a glass to the Festival’s award winners courtesy ASIFA Hollywood. Break out your tablet (or your pencil and pad) for WACOM‘s Drink and Draw and get ready to sketch our cosplay models as they pose to music courtesy of DJ Jas Nasty. Get ready to dance courtesy of OSE and Adult Swim with DJs I.D.C. and I.C.B. PLUS quiet hangout space to catch up with old friends.
Closing Night Party
Sunday, September 27 from 7 pm to 11 pm
Arts Court Studio, 2 Daly Ave (Level 3)
Access: AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF AnimaPass, TAC/OIAF 3 Day Pass, Weekend Pass, Sunday Day Pass. All ages are invited but a 19+ ID is required to be served alcohol.
The end is near and the grand finale is here! Let’s get together for one final toast. A casual affair held in the Arts Court Studio to chat, chill, or maybe do a little dancing.
That’s all, folks!