Game On! New Aga Khan Museum Exhibition Reveals How Games and Sports Connected Global Cultures Across Centuries

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Opening April 3, 2026, Game On! brings together paintings, photography, historic game boards, and contemporary installations to explore how games connect people, spark creativity, and build communities.As the leading museum in North America dedicated to showcasing the arts and culture of Muslim civilizations, the Aga Khan Museum is bringing global perspectives to Toronto as the city gets ready to celebrate global soccer matches in June and July.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.“Games have long brought people together across cultures and centuries, creating shared experiences that connect us beyond borders, languages, and differences,” said Bita Pourvash, Curator at the Aga Khan Museum. “Whether played on boards, performed through physical skill, explored via the spoken or written word, or navigated in digital worlds, games carry educational, symbolic, and social roles that shape how we learn, connect, and make meaning through play.”Organized into three thematic sections, “The Board,” “The Quest,” and “The Arena,” the exhibition follows the journeys of games as they travelled between regions, adapted to new contexts, and helped shape traditions worldwide. Seen through this cross-cultural lens, it reveals an enduring tradition of creativity and exchange. Visitors will encounter games of strategy and intellect, as well as stories of adventure and competition, that capture the energy and cultural significance of games and sports.features masterpieces from the Aga Khan Museum’s collections along with rare loans from other leading international and national institutions, including the, the, the, the, and the.Highlights of the exhibition include:“Play is a universal language that everyone understands, and the exhibition is the starting point for us to dive into how games and sports have been one of humanity’s great connectors,” said Dr. Sascha Priewe, Director, Collections and Public Programs at the Aga Khan Museum. “From talks, workshops, and festivals to family activities, performances and the public viewing of soccer games, we invite visitors to experiment with strategy, storytelling, and creativity, offering immersive ways to experience the cultural stories and artistic traditions behind games from around the world.”As a complement to the exhibition, the Great Canadian Jersey, part of Rogers’ This Is Our Game campaign, will be on display at the Museum from June 16 to July 12, 2026. Created from patches donated by fans across every province and territory and handcrafted by designer and former Ontario Hockey League player Cameron Lizotte, the patchwork jersey celebrates the diversity of Canada’s hockey community in a single, unifying emblem of the game.As Toronto prepares to welcome visitors from around the world for the upcoming global soccer tournament this year, Game On! offers a timely opportunity to reflect on how games and sports bring people together. During the Museum’s annual Rhythms of Canada festival, sports fans will also have the chance to gather for a series of free livestreams of the major international soccer matches taking place across North America, creating a shared space to celebrate the joy of games together.runs through September 7, 2026For more information, visit.is supported by Presenting Sponsor Sunray Group, and Supporting Sponsors, Lizna & Farhan Kabani, Securranty, and Texas Jasmine. It is financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. With thanks to the Global Patrons of the Aga Khan Museum.The Museum would like to acknowledge funding support from the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the Government of Ontario, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Government of Canada.in Toronto, Canada, has been established and developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational activities and performing arts, the Museum’s mission is to spark wonder, curiosity, and understanding of Muslim cultures and their connection with other cultures through the arts. Designed by architect Fumihiko Maki, the Museum shares a 6.8-hectare site with Toronto’s Ismaili Centre, which was designed by architect Charles Correa. The surrounding landscaped park was designed by landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260324747917/en/Contacts#distroPostmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.