Asian Heritage Month of May 2026 Events
Friday – Sunday, May 1-3 — FascinAsian Film Festival
Friday, May 1 — Author’s Talk: The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act
Saturday, May 2 — Lao New Year 2026
Wednesday, May 6 — Asian Heritage Month Celebration at the Manitoba Legislative Building
Saturday, May 16 — Magdaragat Philippines Inc. Presents: 50 Years of Magic
Saturday, May 23 — Asian Heritage Month Comedy Show
Saturday, May 23 — Asian Women of Winnipeg — Women Inspiring Women
Thursday, May 28 — Asian Heritage High School Symposium
Saturday – Sunday, May 30-31 — Asian Canadian Showcase
Saturday, May 30 — Daan: A Journey Through Song
Monday, June 1 — Asian Heritage Month Closing Dinner
Projects organized by individual Asian Canadian groups for May are encouraged and will be advertised as part of the Asian Heritage Month program. More events to be added.
Media:
UWinnipeg alum advances Asian heritage, education, and advocacy – May 7, 2026
More than celebration by Fortunato Lim — Winnipeg Free Press – May 21, 2026
We celebrate Asian Heritage in Manitoba all year long!
Our year-round cultural programs and community events go beyond the festivities during Asian Heritage Month in May. Your financial contributions help us continue growing initiatives that celebrate Asian Canadian arts, culture, and heritage, while fostering unity, youth engagement, and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
For more information on upcoming Asian Heritage Month 2026 events, please contact us
Asian Writer’s Showcase: Road to Justice by Art Miki, illustrated by Geoff Miki
Friday, May 1
7:00pm to 8:00pm
McNally Robinson Booksellers
1120 Grant Ave
Free admission
Join us for the Asian Writers’ Showcase: Road to Justice by Art Miki, illustrated by Geoff Miki, celebrating Asian Heritage Month. This special event features an exclusive reading from Art’s latest book, a heartfelt conversation hosted by Fortunato Lim—President of the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba—and a book signing at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Grant Park Mall.
This event will be hosted live in the Atrium of McNally Robinson Booksellers, Grant Park and also available as a YouTube stream.
View the recap
FascinAsian Film Festival
Friday – Sunday, May 1-3
Winnipeg Art Gallery WAG-Qaumajuq
300 Memorial Blvd.
Tickets
NOTE: This event is organized by FascinAsian Film Festival
The annual FascinAsian Film Festival started as part of Asian Heritage Month activities in 2017 as an annual Asian Film Night event and has grown to become a branded three-day festival which will be held in May 2026.
The FascinAsian Film Festival is a culturally specific event held in the Prairie region of Canada, featuring screenings and activities in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton. The festival celebrates Asian contributions to the film and media landscape, with a focus on highlighting the talents of Asian-Canadian and Asian-American artists. Attendees can participate in workshops covering various industry-related skills. The festival culminates with an awards presentation for filmmakers.
Author’s Talk: The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act
Friday, May 1
6:30pm to 8:00pm
Manitoba Museum Auditorium
190 Rupert Ave
Free admission (May 1 only)
NOTE: This event is organized by The Manitoba Museum
As part of the opening of this special exhibition, award-winning curator and author Catherine Clement will present a talk on the landmark book that brings this history to life.
Expanding beyond the exhibition, The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act delves deeper into the human experiences of the exclusion years. Through rarely seen photographs, newspaper accounts, and materials uncovered through extensive community crowdsourcing and research, the book reveals the lived realities behind one of the most consequential yet often overlooked chapters in Canadian history.
This will be Catherine Clement’s only talk in Manitoba—an exceptional opportunity to gain deeper insight into this powerful and resonant story.
The book will be available for purchase and signing by the author at the talk. It will also be available in the Manitoba Museum Shop for the duration of the exhibition run.
The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act is a special adaptation of the award-winning landmark exhibition that debuted at the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver on July 1, 2023 – the 100th anniversary of the Act. It takes an unflinching look at Canada’s exclusion years when, for the first and only time in Canadian history, the country banned the entry of a single community and issued immigration cards to Chinese who were born here. The exhibition focuses on the human impact and personal cost this law inflicted on Chinese people in Canada. The displays reveal haunting stories of loss, despair and fear, as well as powerful examples of courage and perseverance.
Curated by award-winning Chinese Canadian historian Catherine Clement, The Paper Trail exhibition involved extensive crowdsourcing of private documents and stories from families across Canada, as well as hundreds of hours of painstaking research.
The Paper Trail exhibition opens May 1, 2026 in recognition of Asian Heritage Month, and will be on display in the Manitoba Museum’s Discovery Room and Urban Corridor until April 2027.
Entrance into this temporary exhibition is included with a Manitoba Museum All Attraction Pass. Manitoba Museum Members and Indigenous Peoples can access this exhibit at no charge.
Lao New Year 2026
Saturday, May 2
5:00pm to 1:00am
Heather Curling Club
120 Rue Youville
Admission: $10
NOTE: This event is organized by Lao Association of Manitoba
Local music and dance performances. Taste authentic Lao cuisine.
Food and beverages available for purchase.
Please contact members of the Lao Association of Manitoba or email for more info and tickets.
Asian Heritage Month Celebration at the Manitoba Legislative Building
Wednesday, May 6
5:00pm to 7:30pm
Manitoba Legislative Building
450 Broadway, Winnipeg
NOTE: This event is organized by Jennifer Chen, MLA for Fort Richmond
This event will recognize and celebrate the contributions, heritage, and cultural diversity of Asian communities in Manitoba.
Program:
- 5:15 PM – Doors Open
- 5:45 PM – Remarks and Cultural Performances
- 7:00 PM – Food and Light Refreshments
We are excited to bring community leaders and members from all Asian communities together for an evening filled with networking opportunities.
Food and beverages available for purchase.
Government Issues Photo ID and RSVP required to attend, email: Jennifer.Chen@YourManitoba.ca
Magdaragat Philippines Inc. Presents: 50 Years of Magic
Saturday, May 16
6:00pm
Petrus Hall
2624 Inkster Blvd
Tickets are $50. To purchase tickets, please contact Goldie Garcia at (204) 292-7921 or email magdaragat@hotmail.com.
NOTE: This event is organized by Magdaragat Philippines Inc.
Magdaragat Philippines Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Philippine culture, primarily through dance. Since its founding in 1976 by Dante C. Buenaventura, the group has used traditional Filipino folk dance, ballet, jazz, martial arts, hip hop, creative movement, poetry, theatre, and music to create brilliantly colourful and unforgettable experiences for audiences across Winnipeg and Manitoba.
The name “Magdaragat” means “voyagers of the seas” or “seafarers” — a fitting tribute to the Philippines as an archipelago of over 7,000 islands and the adventurous spirit of Filipino immigrants who made Canada their home.
We are especially proud that Magdaragat was one of the very first organizations to perform for the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba during Asian Heritage Month, helping to introduce and share the beauty of Filipino culture with the wider community.
This year, we are thrilled and honoured to celebrate Magdaragat Philippines’ 50th Anniversary with a spectacular milestone event!
Asian Heritage Month Comedy Show
Saturday, May 23
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The Rec Room — 96 Sterling Lyon Pkwy
Act fast for FREE admission — RSVP YOUR TICKET, and join us for an evening of laughs!
- Free admission (before May 17)
- General admission: $10 (after May 17) TICKETS
- 18+ only — this show is intended for adult audiences
Bringing Back the Laughs
The 5th Annual All Asian Manitoban Comedy Show returns for another night of hilarity and hijinks!
Hosted by Vōng Shō (@vongshow), originally from Winnipeg and now based in Toronto, returning home for this special night. Featuring Danielle Kayahara (@shetellsjokes), Jié Yang (@yangcomedian), musical comedy duo The Lady Lumps (@theladylumps), and many more Asian Manitoban comedians.
More info and previous year’s recap
Asian Women of Winnipeg — Women Inspiring Women
Saturday, May 23
5:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Copper Chimney — 1910 Pembina Hwy
NOTE: This event is organized by Asian Women of Winnipeg
You are warmly invited to join us for a special evening — Women Inspiring Women, a celebration of Asian Heritage Month and the incredible journeys of women in our community.
Join us for an inspiring night filled with stories, songs, poetry, and dance — where women share their experiences, build friendships, and celebrate resilience and culture.
It will be a fun-filled evening of connection, laughter, and celebration. We’d love for you to be part of this meaningful gathering where women can learn from one another, build confidence, and celebrate our diverse cultures
Asian Writer’s Showcase: Road to Justice by Art Miki, illustrated by Geoff Miki
Tuesday, May 26
Charleswood Library — 10:30 AM
St. Vital Library — 1:30 PM
Free admission
Join us for the Asian Writers’ Showcase at the Winnipeg Public Library. This special event features an exclusive reading from Art Miki’s latest book, Road to Justice.
Asian Heritage High School Symposium
Thursday , May 28
9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
85 Israel Asper Way
High school students will explore Asian Canadian history through exhibits, career panels, Q&As, and workshops.
Attention Teachers/Educators, sign-up your classroom
Asian Canadian Showcase at Taste of Asia
Saturday – Sunday , May 30-31
2:00pm to 7:00pm
Memorial Park & Blvd.
219 Memorial Blvd
Free Admission
The Asian Canadian Showcase at Taste of Asia celebrates Asian Canadian cultures through live music, dance, martial arts, and cultural demonstrations. The Taste of Asia Festival by Foodtrip Market features food trucks, markets, and more, bringing people together around food, community, and heritage. Together, the events highlight identity, culture, and diversity for all ages.
Daan: A Journey Through Song — Starring Ma-Anne Dionisio & Stephanie Sy
Saturday, May 30
7:30pm
John Hirsch Mainstage
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
174 Market Ave
Tickets Save 10% with code Road https://tickets.royalmtc.ca/38140?promo=Road
NOTE: This event is organized by Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
Daan (Tagalog for “the road”) is a vibrant celebration of musical theatre, led by powerhouse performers Ma-Anne Dionisio and Stephanie Sy. This one-night-only concert blends beloved Broadway hits and exciting contemporary works from the Filipino-Canadian canon. We’ll also learn more about the journey of Rizal, our musical in development about the life of José Rizal, with book and music Winnipeg’s own Joseph Aragon.
It’s a night to celebrate Filipino culture while showcasing the past, present and future of musical theatre. Join us for a joyful evening of song performed by two of musical theatre’s most exciting divas!
Asian Heritage Month Closing Dinner
Monday, June 1
6:00pm to 8:30pm
Copper Chimney
1910 Pembina Hwy
$20 per person – Limited seating – TICKETS
Join us for an evening of reflection, connection, and celebration—with dinner, community recognition, and local performances—as we wrap up Asian Heritage Month.
Dinner will feature a delicious buffet of East Indian cuisine from Copper Chimney
Projects organized by individual Asian Canadian groups for May are encouraged and will be advertised as part of the Asian Heritage Month program. Please contact us with your event details for Asian Heritage Month. More events to be added.