Toronto's Festivals: What not to miss

If you are booking flights to Toronto, Canada and want to experience one of its most well-known and beloved festivals, then you need to head to the city in September.

The annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) ranks among the most prestigious film festivals in the world, and for 11 days, it brings film lovers, filmmakers, industry professionals, and the media together to watch the best in cinema.

TIFF usually welcomes more than 300,000 visitors and screens over 300 feature films, short films, and series from Canada and the rest of the world.

On top of the premieres and film screenings, there is a five-day industry conference that welcomes more than 100 speakers who discuss everything from industry insights to the future of film.

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This is North America’s largest documentary festival, held at the Hot Docs Cinema. The cinematic event showcases over 200 Canadian and international documentaries.

Whilst there are hundreds of screenings, beyond this, you can attend creative workshops and conference sessions led by filmmakers and actors.

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival showcases a wide range of documentaries, covering subjects such as social issues, history, culture, and current events.

A popular feature of the event is the Q&A sessions, which allow visitors to interact with filmmakers and get involved in panel discussions and other special events.

One of the best annual events in Toronto is Luminato, a multi-arts festival that connects people through memorable art experiences. The event festival transforms Toronto into a playground of art, as parks and streets, theatres, galleries, and neighbourhoods across the region display wonderful works of art.

The Luminato festival showcases Canadian and international art and artists, and it aims to highlight big, bold, contemporary works of art that cut across traditional artistic boundaries of music, dance, theatre, and visual art.

Luminato was founded in 2007 by David Pecaut and Tony Gagliano, and it has now become one of the biggest art festivals. Today, the festival welcomes over 400,000 people, works from more than 600 artists, and several world premieres are unveiled during the event.

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This thrilling weeklong musical extravaganza welcomes well-known chart toppers and emerging musicians that result in unforgettable performances that thousands of people enjoy.

There are daytime sessions and nighttime shows played at more than 20 venues across the city, ranging from small, intimate stages to large arenas. The genre of music is varied; on one stage, you can listen to hip hop and EDM, and on the next, you can listen to indie and rock music.

At past events, megastars such as Post Malone, Our Lady Peace, The 1975, Katy Perry, and Janet Jackson have performed, in addition to many up-and-coming artists from Canada and from other countries.

Live music is a main attraction at Canadian Music Week, but there are live panel discussions from professionals in the industry, and trade expos take place throughout the event.

The Toronto Jazz Festival began in 1987 as an eight-day jazz showcase, but today, the event attracts more than 500,000 people every year over 10 days, as well as over 1,500 musicians who play all across the city.

The festival attracts legendary performers like Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis and local and unknown musicians. The outdoor event attracts people of all ages, and the fact that it is free to attend adds to the popularity of the festival.

If you're a jazz enthusiast or simply looking for a fun summer event in Toronto, the Toronto Jazz Festival is definitely worth checking out!

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Since 1967, the Cavalcade of Lights has lit up the city and marked Toronto's holiday season with its glowing light installations. At Nathan Phillips Square, you can enjoy fireworks, live entertainment, ice skating and a glittering Christmas tree.

Lauren Yakiwchuk, one of the founders of the Justin Plus Lauren travel blog, says: “Don’t worry if you miss the Cavalcade of Lights event. The Christmas tree and the lights display will illuminate the square every night throughout the holiday season, right up until January 7th. One of the best things to do in Toronto in December is visit Nathan Phillips Square to view the giant Christmas tree and all of the dazzling lights.”

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Nuit Blanche is an overnight art festival that showcases contemporary art in public spaces. The event began in Paris in 2002, but since its inception, it has been embraced by cities across the world, including Toronto.

During this free-to-attend event, Toronto hosts hundreds of exhibits from contemporary artists in Downtown Toronto and beyond during Nuit Blanche each autumn.

Every year, artists who display their work are asked to follow a theme, and the theme for the 2024 edition was Bridging Distance. Through their work, artists were asked to explore the multifaceted ways we experience and understand distance.

As this guide shows, Toronto has some amazing annual events and festivals featuring music, food vendors, parades, and art exhibitions, to name just a few. These events take place in the summer, autumn, winter and spring, so no matter what time of the year you are planning a trip to Toronto, you could visit one of these festivals.

If you have been tempted to visit this iconic Canadian city, speak to one of our advisors and book a holiday to Toronto today!