What To Do In Toronto This Season: 9 Festivals Worth Attending

As the weather warms up, Toronto bursts into life with festivals and activities that celebrate everything from food and music to art and culture. ☀️🎶

 

Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to the city, these events are a fantastic way to explore your community and make the most of the warmer days.

 

Here’s your guide to must-see festivals in Toronto these next few months. Share this list with your friends and get ready to celebrate the sunny days ahead!

🌈 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival

📷 Outerlands movie - Inside Out Festival

📅 May 23 – June 1  |  TIFF Bell Lightbox

 

The largest 2SLGBTQ+ film festival in Canada celebrates its 35th anniversary this year with films showcasing diverse stories and voices from over 20 countries.

 

🎟️ Ticketed Event

 

🔗 https://insideout.ca/festival/

🏛️ Doors Open Toronto

📅 May 24–25  |  Citywide

 

Explore Toronto’s architectural gems and historic buildings for free! With sports, music and theatre venues and more than 150 sites to discover, the city becomes an urban playground.

 

🆓 Free Event

 

🔗 https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/doors-open-toronto/

📷 eskystudio - stock.adobe.com

🎭 Luminato Festival

📷 Cassandra Popescu

📅 June 4–22 | Various Locations

 

A multi-arts festival that transforms public spaces with immersive cultural experiences. This year’s theme, DAY:NIGHT, explores how we inhabit the city in a 24-hour cycle. 

 

🎟️ Ticketed Event with Free Activities Available

 

🔗 https://www.luminatofestival.com/ 

🍿 Toronto Outdoor Picture Show

📅 June 12 – August 24 | Various Locations

 

Enjoy the perfect summer weather with open-air movie nights at three parks across the city: Fort York, Christie Pits, and Corktown Common. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, this year’s theme is When We Were Young, featuring coming of age film classics young and old.

 

🆓 Free Event

 

🔗 https://www.topictureshow.com/

📷 Toronto Outdoor Picture Show

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Toronto Festival

📷 Adobe Stock

📅 June 26–29  |  Church-Wellesley Village & Downtown

 

Go All In for Pride and experience the 2nd largest Pride Festival in the World! A vibrant celebration of love, diversity, and inclusion with parades, performances, and community events, culminating with the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29th.

 

🆓 Free Event with Ticketed Activities

 

🔗 https://www.pridetoronto.com/

🎷 Beaches International Jazz Festival

📅 July 4–27, 2025  |  The Beaches

 

A beloved east-end tradition with jazz, funk, and soul performances across several venues in the lakeside Beaches community. Every year, the Festival brings in internationally acclaimed performers while also showcasing local talent.

 

🆓 Free Event

 

🔗 https://www.beachesjazz.com/

📷 Beaches International Jazz Festival

🎉 Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana)

📷 Caribana Toronto

📅 August 2  |  Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Blvd

 

A high-energy celebration of Caribbean culture, with music, food, and the iconic Grand Parade. Caribana Toronto is North America’s largest Caribbean Carnival with over a million attendees every year.

 

🆓 Free Event

 

🔗 https://www.caribanatoronto.com/

🎡 Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)

📅 August 15 – September 1  |  Exhibition Place

 

Wrap up the summer with midway rides, concerts, food trucks, and nostalgic fun at Canada’s largest fair – or ‘The Ex’, as locals like to call it.

 

🎟️ Ticketed Event

 

🔗 https://www.theex.com/

📷 CNE

🎬 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

📷 Erman Gunes - stock.adobe.com

📅 September 4-14 | TIFF Bell Lightbox & Various Theatres

 

One of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, TIFF brings together global cinema, red carpet premieres, and A-list talent. Whether you’re a film buff or just love the buzz of the city during festival season, TIFF is a must-experience event in Toronto.

 

🎟️ Ticketed Event

 

🔗 https://www.tiff.net/

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