City of Toronto rings in 2026 with music and fireworks

First comes Christmas, then New Year's Eve rolls around and Toronto isn't letting this celebration go without a free festival with fireworks on December 31, 2025. The fun will be centered around the Waterfront where live music, pop-up performances along with dancing and a 10-minute fireworks finale set off in the inner harbour. You can see a copy of the City's photo from a previous event at the top of this post.

Mayor Olivia Chow says, “New Year’s Eve is a time for all of us to come together and enjoy the excitement of the season. Toronto’s waterfront will be full of music, movement, and community as we ring in 2026 together. Whether you're dancing outdoors, watching the fireworks with friends and family, or tuning in from home, I invite everyone to take part in this joyful celebration of our city. As we go into 2026, we continue to focus on building a caring, safe, and affordable city that delivers for you.”

Here is the City of Toronto's news release regarding the New Year's Eve celebration (remember there are no fireworks at City Hall).

"At midnight on Wednesday, December 31, the City of Toronto will present a 10-minute fireworks show launched from Toronto’s inner harbour. Synchronized to music and visible across the central waterfront, the display will light up the skyline as one of the most exciting countdown moments in Canada.

Residents and visitors can catch the show from designated viewing areas:
- Toronto Music Garden, 476 Queens Quay W.
- Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Dr.
- Sugar Beach Park, 11 Dockside Dr.
- HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay W.
- HTO Park West, 375 Queens Quay W.
- Harbour Square Park, 25 Queens Quay W.
- Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W.

Pedestrians are encouraged to arrive by public transit and use York Street, Jarvis Street, Spadina Avenue and Bay Street to access any of the waterfront viewing areas.

New Year’s Eve programming

Beginning at 10 p.m., the waterfront will transform into a lively outdoor celebration with Canadian music, participatory dance sessions, roaming performers, family-friendly activities and festive pop-up surprises.

Anchored at Harbourfront Centre, the main stage will feature an energetic musical lineup hosted by Mayor Olivia Chow, Makayla Couture and Jessica Smith, Weather Anchor and Reporter, CTV News Toronto and CP24.

This year’s headliner, Lu Kala, brings a fiery-voiced sound to the stage, with opening sets by cootie catcher, offering playful indie-electronic vibes, and Kalisway, known for electrifying, feel-good tracks that blend classic groove with modern edge. KIMIWVN’s DJ set will follow the midnight countdown and keep the celebration going until 1 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026, with a dance party.

Across the waterfront, visitors can take in high-energy DJ sets, pop-up performances and moments of celebration. At Sherbourne Common, the Dance Together Festival will host participatory dance sessions, inviting audiences to join in and move into the new year together. Families can enjoy films projected onto the east side of the Canada Malting Silos viewable from Toronto Music Garden throughout the evening.

Harbourfront Centre’s Winterfest will further animate the festivities with DJ Skate Night featuring DJ Smartiez, immersive light displays, curated food offerings in Community Square, a giant Winter Maze and live performances presented throughout the campus

For those celebrating from home, the live broadcast will feature performances and a real-time countdown to midnight on the City’s CultureTO YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/Culture_TO. ASL interpretation and closed captioning will be available.

See more information for the night including road restrictions after the jump.

Kensington Market Winter Solstice 2025 celebration December 21

2025's Kensington Market Winter Solstice celebration brings back the parade and the Fire Finale in Alexandra Park on Sunday, December 21. The 36th annual solstice celebration in the famous Toronto neighbourhood is an epic event that you should see at least once, just dress warmly and take in all the excitement and sense of community that you find in the market area.

Part of the celebrations is carrying paper lanterns to light the way during the parade, you can purchase them ($30) on the Sunday night from 3 to 6pm at Oxford and Augusta (there was a lantern making workshop on December 13, or make them yourself). You can find them at the lantern sales tent at the previously mentioned intersection and the lanterns themselves are hand-made, illuminated by a candle and come with a carrying stick.

The celebrations start with Indigenous ceremonies and singing, followed by a breathtaking fire breathing exhibition, then the parade complete with giant paper Mache figures and bands heads down to the park.

2018's giant hand goes up in flames

Each year the Solstice organizers create a large, flammable item that the parade circles in the park before they set fire to it, much like a burning man type of spectacle while fire performers put on a continuous show as the fire grows and burns out.

36th Annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice schedule
Sunday Dec 21, 2025 from 6 to 930pm

3:30–6:30: Solstice Lanterns for Sale. Oxford St. & Augusta Ave
6:00 PM: Parade Assembly. Oxford St. & Augusta Ave
6:30 PM: First Light. Scenari. Same intersection.
7:00 PM: Parade Kickoff & go with the flow.
Fire Finale at Alexandra Park.

It's Christmas all over again in Toronto

As the holiday season comes into town the snowfall and cold temperatures are delightful and help to make for a festive atmosphere. After the holidays snow is just a way to make life a little more difficult in the city, so take in the snow while it is still charming and enjoy the Christmas displays.

The beautiful illuminated trees at Commerce Court

The beautiful deer and giant Christmas Tree in the Eaton Centre

Brookfield Place has their own tree and a bunch of snowflakes

The lights remain at City Hall as part of the Cavalcade Festival of Lights

with their tall tree in the square

A bonus will be the return of the Holiday Windows at the former Hudson's Bay flagship store as building owner Cadillac Fairview will unveil the windows on December 14, 2025. Here is a previous post about the decorative windows.

Subway platform art mural by Chairman Ting in Toronto Path

With the return to work (RTO) continuing to force workers back to the office, combined with the winter weather bringing cold and wet weather back to Toronto, more and more people are pouring through the underground PATH system. That includes the section through the corridors of what was once the Hudson Bay flagship building across from the Eaton Centre. The long mural shows figures walking along a subway platform and looking out from the train's windows, it looks a lot more fun than the regular TTC subway platform.

The owners of that space, Cadillac Fairview, has provided temporary space for art to enhance the space, and that space is a massive mural created by Chairman Ting, a Vancouver based, artist led studio which has a "unique and whimsical style". The temporary exhibition space is to feature young, emerging artists and is named ArtLaunch. That means that the art will change through 2026, so check it out before it is gone, then check out the new art.

Transforming Communities for A VIBRANT Tomorrow. Written by Cadillac Fairview, Illustrated by Chairman Ting

The following is from the Chairman Ting website where he also thanks his team and Cadillac Fairview and describes his love of Toronto.

"I am mega excited to finally share this as a post and not just a disappearing IG story. My biggest mural yet. Twenty seven thousand square feet in downtown Toronto at the Eaton Centre. The mural sprawls through the PATH, the concourse and levels 1 and 2, street level and more. It is by far the biggest canvas I have ever worked on.

Artist statement:

This mural is my love letter to Toronto. Spanning more than twenty seven thousand square feet, it brings together the world of Billion Buns with the city that shaped me. I filled the piece with the landmarks and icons that defined my upbringing: the CN Tower, the Skydome, TTC subway cars, the skyline, and the pulse of the Six. You will find the Canada goose, the Blue Jays, the Raptors, and a nod to Drake. Every element reflects the energy, humour and pride that make Toronto what it is.

At its core, the work celebrates the city’s diversity. Toronto’s strength has always come from its mix of cultures, languages and communities, and I wanted the mural to reflect that spirit of openness. The characters, colours and visual rhythm all speak to a city built by many voices coming together.

Although I live and work in Vancouver now, Toronto is still home in my bones. Creating this mural was a chance to reconnect with the city that raised me and honour the place where my creative journey began. It is a true labour of love and a celebration of the culture that continues to inspire me."

Winter Glow 2025 at Sankofa Square

Holiday fun can be found in Sankofa Square during the December 11 to 21, 2025 Winter Glow festival with free admission and all ages welcome with today being opening night. The kick off will feature a musical performance by My Pop Choir. Enjoy drinks in the square, take a ride on the carousel or Ferris wheel and shop in the Holiday Market. Also meet Santa Claus!

From the Square's website, "Winter magic is back in downtown Toronto! Sankofa Square transforms once again into a vibrant holiday destination filled with lights, music, festive flavours, classic rides, and community cheer. Now in its third year, Winter Glow continues to shine as one of Toronto’s most joyful urban holiday celebrations, bringing together families, friends, visitors, and neighbours in the heart of the city."

Hours: 4 pm to 10 pm on weekdays | 12 pm to 10 pm on weekends

Fun things to do in Toronto March & April 2026

Lumiere The Art of Light in Ontario Place Trillium Park. Through Feb and Mar from dusk to 11pm.
ILLUMINITE 2026: Making Connections continues from Feb to Mar TBD. Downtown Yonge area.
Winter Stations in the Beach continues from Feb 16 into March.

Toronto Spring Camping & RV Show Thurs, Feb 26 to Sun Mar 1.

Toronto Bicycle Show and E-Bike Expo Fri to Sun, Mar 6-8.

Toronto Rock Lacrosse till April.

Green Living Show Fri to Sun, Mar TBD.

National Home Show  Fri to Sun, Mar 6-15.

Toronto Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival Sat, Mar 7 to Mon, Apr 6.

Celebrate Toronto Sat, Mar 7 in Nathan Phillips Square - It's birthday number 192. 

Toronto’s 2026 International Women’s Day Rally and March Sun, Mar 8. Rally at 1pm.

Toronto Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo Fri to Sun, Mar 13-15. 

Toronto FC First home game Sat, Mar 14.

Sugar Shack Sat to Sun, Mar 14-15 down at the waterfront. Back and sweeter than ever.

St Patricks Day Parade Sun, Mar 15.

Toronto Sportsmen's Show Thurs to Sun, Mar 19-22.

Toronto ComicCON Fri to Sun, Mar 20-22. Come for the costumes, read a few comics and meet some stars.

Spring Cottage Life Show Thurs to Sun, Mar 26-29.

Earth Hour Sat, Mar 28 at 8:30 pm.

Toronto Blue Jays Home Opener Fri, Mar 27.

The New Boat Show at the International Centre Thurs to Sun, Mar TBD.

Toronto Beaches Lions Easter Parade Fri & Sun, Apr 3 & 5.

Toronto Pillow Fight Sat, Apr 4 (to be confirmed) at 1:30pm meet, fight starts at 2pm at Nathan Phillips Square, to be confirmed. During World Pillow Fight Day. 

Toronto Food and Drink Festival Fri to Sun, Apr 17-19.

Record Store Day in Toronto Sat, Apr 18. Twenty one (TBC) record stores in Toronto are participating.

Fashion Art Toronto Thurs to Sun, Apr TBD.
Future of Innovation, Technology and Creativity FITC Mon to Tue, Apr TBD.

Battle of York Weekend TBD

Khalsa Day Sun, Apr TBD with a parade.

Hopefully the fruit blossoms will come out to play, along with the warm weather. Check out the famous High Park Cherry Blossoms Festival.

Moved into June 2026

Toronto Comic Arts Festival TCAF Sat to Sun, June 6-7. The new location is in the TMU Athletic (Mattamy) Centre.

Interior Design Show Toronto coming Jan 2026

This is where design meets and not just professional designers, artists, installers and material suppliers, you too can see and meet with specialists and improve your living spaces. The new edition of the Interior Design Show comes to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North Building) from January 22 to 25, 2026.

The overall schedule of IDS2026 is as follows.
Thursday, January 22: 9 AM – 4 PM (Trade Day & IDS Conference)
IDS Party: 7 PM – 11 PM
Friday, January 23: 9 AM – 6 PM (Trade Day & IDS Conference)
Saturday, January 24: 10 AM – 5 PM (Trade & General Admission)
Sunday, January 25: 10 AM – 5 PM (General Admission)

The Interior Design Show (IDS) provides a one stop shop to see amazing exhibitions, take in seminars and network with the best while seeing the latest industry solutions and materials. IDS begins on a Thursday with a Trade Day and later in the evening with a blast of a party.

From the industry design show, "Join us January 22, 7-11pm on the IDS show floor for an unforgettable evening celebrating design. Connect with industry leaders and creative minds in Toronto's premier design gathering. Experience live music, curated bar spaces, dynamic marquee performances, and surprise moments throughout the show floor. NEW This Year: Register for the party and receive complimentary access to the IDS show floor Friday through Sunday* – three full days to explore the latest in design."

Features of the show to explore include ILLUMINATE, Furniture Forcast, How We Work, The District at IDS Toronto, Prototype at IDS Toronto, Studio North at IDS Toronto and Select.