Studio Bell is now open with free admission on weekends courtesy of ATB until the end of 2021.
Explore the home for music in Canada with new exhibits, breathtaking architecture, and pop-up performances.
Support the National Music Centre, a registered charity
Visitors are encouraged to consider supporting NMC’s charitable efforts by giving in the following ways:
- Leave a one-time donation online at studiobell.ca/donate or become a monthly donor at and be the steady rhythm that keeps NMC on beat.
- Become a member at studiobell.ca/become-a-member.
- Shop the NMC Gift Shop & Café online at nmcgiftshop.ca to shop locally made, music-inspired gifts from the comfort of your couch. The NMC Gift Shop & Café is open on weekends from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, so you can continue to shop in person.
- Read, watch, and listen to the stories, videos, and concerts we continue to publish on amplify.nmc.ca and please like and share with your networks.
- Visit the King Eddy. Show your Studio Bell ticket stub, and get 10% off your food and beverage bill.
NMC is a non-governmental, non-profit registered charitable organization that relies on earned revenue and donations to keep sharing and developing Canada’s national music story from our home base in Calgary, Alberta. By supporting NMC’s charitable efforts, you are helping to ensure a sustainable future for National Music Centre and its programs that bring people together through the power and spirit of music.
Things to Do
As we continue to increase capacity and recover from the pandemic, it will not be your typical experience, but there will still be lots to see and do at Studio Bell.
- Explore a special self-guided Cross-Country Music Road Trip. To navigate through the tour, visitors can snap a photo of the tour poster at the base of the South staircase.
- Visitors can see breathtaking architecture, catch roaming educators for instrument show-and-tells, and performances on fan favourite, the Kimball Theatre Organ.
- Guests will be able to see the expanded onsite version of the Community Storytellers exhibition with over 30 interesting, unusual, and meaningful musical artifacts and stories from the Alberta community. The updated Speak Up! is open and showcases 15 Indigenous trailblazers who are bringing awareness to Indigenous issues and culture through music. Also featured is the new Canadian Music Hall of Fame exhibition, highlighting memorabilia from 2021 inductee Jann Arden.
- Complete your visit with a stop at the NMC Gift Shop & Café. It will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm to coincide with NMC’s regular hours of operations. Please note: The NMC Gift Shop & Café is accessible from inside Studio Bell’s lobby. The 4 Street door will be used for exiting only.
- We recommend a stop to the main floor of the historic King Eddy for drinks, bites, and live tunes. The King Eddy’s three-season rooftop is also now open. Show your Studio Bell ticket stub to get 10% off your bill on both floors.
Virtual Tour
Want a preview of what you can experience in person? In celebration of Studio Bell's five-year anniversary, explore an immersive, 360-degree virtual tour. The tour brings our exhibitions and stunning architecture to online audiences, giving music fans from around the world the chance to enjoy the National Music Centre experience. Take a tour at studiobell.ca/virtual-tour.
The Building
Studio Bell is the first national cultural institution dedicated to celebrating music in Canada in all of its forms. The 160,000-square-foot building designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture is composed of nine subtly curved interlocking towers clad in glazed terra cotta. And, it sounds as good as it looks! Referencing the design of musical instruments, the facility’s open spaces resonate with the sounds of music and activity, drawing visitors up through five floors of acoustically and visually distinct exhibition, performance, and gallery spaces.
Museum Rules
At Studio Bell, we celebrate the stories of music in Canada through artifacts and rare instruments. Please help protect our collection, yourself, and others by following these important museum rules:
- As of September 4, masks will be mandatory inside Studio Bell
- Do not visit Studio Bell if you are exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19 or are feeling unwell.
- Make use of the hand sanitizer stations and hand washing facilities located throughout Studio Bell.
- Practice social distancing, continue to move through the building, and avoid crowding around exhibits.
- Follow all posted directional or instructional signage.
- No smoking or vaping
- No food or beverages (except for bottled water)
- No pets—only licensed service animals are permitted
- No flash photography or tripods
- Unless given permission to do so, no touching exhibitions, cases, or artifacts
Lost Something?
Our Lost and Found is located on Level One at the Security office.
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FAQs
Are masks required inside Studio Bell? As of September 4, masks will be mandatory inside Studio Bell. All visitors will be required to mask up in accordance with the Government of Alberta’s recent announcement. Let’s stay safe, and rock on!
How long will it take to move through the building with the limited experience? We estimate two hours or less. We ask guests to stay no more than two hours to prevent crowding.
Are food and beverages available for purchase? The NMC Gift Shop & Café will be open, offering grab-and-go snacks and drinks, and fresh pastries and salads. Please note: Food and beverages cannot be consumed in the museum. Grab a bite on your way in or exit through the gift shop and grab something on your way out. You can also bring your own water bottle.
Is the Lost & Found operational? Lost & Found is still available with safety measures in place.
Is the gift shop open? Yes. After your visit, be sure to stop into the NMC Gift Shop & Café. Shop for exclusive NMC merchandise, find your new favourite book, or find a one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone in your life. Please note: The NMC Gift Shop & Café is accessible from inside Studio Bell’s lobby. The 4 Street door will be used for exiting only.