New exhibit coming to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto

There will be fish. There will be art. As of now, that’s all we know–but we anticipate we’ll learn a lot more in the coming weeks. 

Recently, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the 140,000 square foot attraction that has welcomed millions of guests since opening in Toronto’s downtown core in 2013, announced that its reptile exhibit will be wrapping up at the end of the month. 

Once the Dragons: Myths Made Real exhibit leaves, another will take its place–but the aquarium isn’t saying too much for now. 

“We can’t share too many details just yet, but the new exhibit will return to our marine roots. Guests can expect to discover a variety of eye-catching fish and marine species, including some that they may not have seen here before,” a Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada representative told INsauga.com in an email. 

“All will tie in with the exhibits’ street art-inspired visuals, leaning into the vibrant biodiversity of the coral reefs.”

The upcoming exhibit (of which an official opening date has not yet been announced) will take over the space currently occupied by the ‘dragons’ (which include a Kimberly rock monitor, a Gila monster, a green-crested basilisk, a green tree python, a beloved green iguana named Greg and others).

The Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada representative said the aquarium will share more details about the size and features closer to the opening. One fact the aquarium can share is that the exhibit, which blends art and animals, will be spearheaded by the aquarium and local artists. 

“We can’t share [the artists’] names until the exhibit has been announced, but we’re so excited to share more info in the coming months,” the representative said. 

The Dragon exhibit, which opened in 2024, was the aquarium’s first special presentation to open in four years. Beyond the special exhibit, the aquarium is home to several permanent galleries, including Dangerous Lagoon (home to an array of sharks), Planet Jellies, Canadian Waters, Rainbow Reef, Ray Bay, and more. 

The aquarium representative told INsauga.com that the Dragons exhibit has received positive feedback throughout its time at Ripley’s. 

“We’re absolutely delighted with the success of the Dragons exhibit. It was something completely new for us. It was our first time featuring reptiles and non-marine animals, so it was exciting to introduce guests to a different kind of experience,” the representative said, adding that the aquarium partnered with Little Ray’s Exhibitions to run the exhibit and ensure the animals had caretakers who are experts in managing reptiles.

“Dragons was our first new exhibit since 2020, so there was a lot of excitement around seeing something new at the aquarium. Right now, our focus remains on marine life, which is at the heart of what we do. But the enthusiasm we saw from guests certainly shows there’s an appetite for creative and immersive exhibit experiences.” 

Since the exhibit wraps up on March 22, aquarium operators hope people who haven’t seen it–or want to see it one last time–take advantage of March Break (March 16-20). Ripley’s also offers $5 off the regular admission price to guests who book a Sharks After Dark timeslot (5 p.m. or later). 

As for who the aquarium will miss the most, the representative said Greg will be fondly remembered by staff and visitors. 

“Greg quickly became a huge star and a real guest favourite. You could usually find him lounging on his basking rock, and he’s such an impressive animal that people were instantly drawn to him. He definitely developed a fan base among both guests and staff, and we know many people will miss seeing him during their visits,” the aquarium spokesperson said. 

As for any other hints about what’s to come, the aquarium said that the new exhibit will “draw inspiration from Toronto’s energy and culture, merging the city’s creativity with the technicolour biodiversity of coral reefs.”

More information will be available in the coming weeks.

Animal photos from Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada’s official Facebook page