Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 2026: 65 Years, 400+ Artists
Three free days of art, music, and dance at Nathan Phillips Square
Dates
Jul 10–12
Cost
Free
Where
Toronto, ON
Weather
Rain or Shine
More than 400 Canadian artists from coast to coast to coast take over Nathan Phillips Square, with live music, dance performances, curated exhibitions, and a 65th birthday party — all completely free to walk through.
🆓 Free admission
👨👩👧 Family & pet friendly
🎨 400+ artists
🎂 65th birthday party
💡 Bring a refillable water bottle — there’s free water at stations around the Square, but no bottled water is sold on site.
✨ Why TOAF65 Is Worth a Trip Downtown
For 65 years, the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair has turned Nathan Phillips Square into the country’s biggest open-air art market, and this year’s edition leans hard into celebrating that legacy. More than 400 Canadian artists from coast to coast to coast set up booths across the Square, with painting, sculpture, photography, craft, and design all represented.
The 65th anniversary brings some extra weight to the weekend — a $65,000+ awards ceremony, a signature off-site exhibition at Koffler Arts called Don’t Look Back, a dedicated Art Nest installation reflecting on artistic longevity, and a full-blown birthday party Saturday evening with DJ Weird Dad spinning psych, mod, glam, and rock ‘n’ roll.
Beyond the booths, the weekend is layered with live music, contemporary dance performed right on the Square’s distinctive architecture, guided art tours, talks with curators and collectors, and family programming — all of it free, rain or shine.
🎭 Full Weekend Schedule
Most programming happens right at the Stage, with a few performances on the Ramp at Zone B.
Friday, July 10 — 10 AM to 7 PM
2:00 PM — The Soft Power of Art with Kristofer Sakamoto-Marshall (Stage)
4:00 PM — The First Piece: How to Begin Collecting Art with Myta Sayo (Stage)
6:00 PM — Art Talk: The Making of Art Nest with Rui Pimenta (Plaza at Zone A)
4:00 PM — The First Piece: How to Begin Collecting Art with Myta Sayo (Stage)
6:00 PM — Art Talk: The Making of Art Nest with Rui Pimenta (Plaza at Zone A)
Saturday, July 11 — 10 AM to 7 PM (Art Terrace until 9 PM)
10:00 AM — Artists to Watch with Ignazio Nicastro (Stage)
10:30 AM — Music: Moskitto Bar (Stage)
11:00 AM — Awards Ceremony — $65,000+ in cash and in-kind prizes (Stage)
12:00 PM — Music: Moskitto Bar (Stage)
2:00 PM — Les Montagnes dance performance (Ramp at Zone B)
3:00 PM — Storyline (with laughter, tears and beauty) (Stage)
3:30 PM — CCSD x Tangled: A Deaf & Disability-Led Art Tour (Stage)
4:00 PM — Les Montagnes dance performance (Ramp at Zone B)
5:00 PM — Storyline (with laughter, tears and beauty) (Stage)
6:30–9:00 PM — TOAF65 Birthday Party with DJ Weird Dad (Stage)
10:30 AM — Music: Moskitto Bar (Stage)
11:00 AM — Awards Ceremony — $65,000+ in cash and in-kind prizes (Stage)
12:00 PM — Music: Moskitto Bar (Stage)
2:00 PM — Les Montagnes dance performance (Ramp at Zone B)
3:00 PM — Storyline (with laughter, tears and beauty) (Stage)
3:30 PM — CCSD x Tangled: A Deaf & Disability-Led Art Tour (Stage)
4:00 PM — Les Montagnes dance performance (Ramp at Zone B)
5:00 PM — Storyline (with laughter, tears and beauty) (Stage)
6:30–9:00 PM — TOAF65 Birthday Party with DJ Weird Dad (Stage)
Sunday, July 12 — 10 AM to 5 PM
10:00 AM — Awards Winners with Josh Heuman (Stage)
12:00 PM — Storyline (with laughter, tears and beauty) (Stage)
1:00 PM — Les Montagnes dance performance (Ramp at Zone B)
2:00 PM — Storyline (with laughter, tears and beauty) (Stage)
3:00 PM — Les Montagnes dance performance (Ramp at Zone B)
12:00 PM — Storyline (with laughter, tears and beauty) (Stage)
1:00 PM — Les Montagnes dance performance (Ramp at Zone B)
2:00 PM — Storyline (with laughter, tears and beauty) (Stage)
3:00 PM — Les Montagnes dance performance (Ramp at Zone B)
🖼 Featured Exhibitions
A handful of curated programs add extra depth to this year’s Fair, on top of the hundreds of individual artist booths.
A Forwards Retreat (Art Nest)
TOAF’s 65th birthday signature project, curated by Rui Pimenta, brings together Peggy Baker, Max Dean, Naomi Dodds, Micah Lexier, and Ed Pien to reflect on artistic longevity and what it means to retire as an artist.
Don’t Look Back
TOAF’s signature off-site 65th anniversary exhibition, curated by David Liss, runs June 25 through July 19 at Koffler Arts.
The Land and the Sea Bind Us
Curated by Bushra Junaid, this Zone C showcase (Booths 308–315) brings together eight artists from across Atlantic Canada.
My First Artwork
A Zone A booth presented with the Art Dealers Association of Canada, featuring 10 Canadian artists with original works priced at $500 and under — built for first-time collectors aged 20 to 35.
🍦 Food & Drink at the Art Terrace
The cascading Art Terrace is where to find music, shade, and a drink — kids and pets are welcome there too.
Heavenly Dreams Ice Cream
Nabulu Coffee
Lemon Bar
The Pop Stand
Tropic Love
📋 The Essentials
Pets & Kids
Both are welcome throughout the Fair, including at the Art Terrace, with dedicated family programming from MOCA and the Art Dealers Association of Canada.
Water
Free refill stations are set up around the Square. Bring a reusable bottle, since bottled water isn’t sold on site.
Shade & Heat
Nathan Phillips Square has limited shade and can get hot in July. The Art Terrace/Stage area and the centre of Zone A offer shaded rest zones, and City Hall itself is air conditioned.
Washrooms
Public washrooms are north of Hero Burger, with portable toilets nearby and additional washrooms inside City Hall’s basement (with a nursing area). Accessible washrooms are available behind Hero Burger and on City Hall’s main floor. Note that City Hall closes at 6 PM on Saturday.
Getting Help On Site
Volunteers in yellow are stationed throughout, with the Main Info Booth in Zone D and additional info points at Bay & Queen and near City Hall’s front doors.
Best For
Art collectors and the art-curious · families · dog owners · anyone who wants a free downtown weekend out
🚗 Getting There & Parking
Nathan Phillips Square sits at 100 Queen Street West, right in front of Toronto City Hall.
By transit: Get off at Queen or Osgoode subway station and you’re under 5 minutes from the Square on foot — TOAF recommends transit, walking, or cycling to help cut down on downtown traffic.
By bike: Several Bike Share Toronto stations sit near the Square; a daily pass runs under $10.
By car: Parking Lot 36 at 110 Queen Street West is closest, but it’s busier than usual during the Fair and a spot isn’t guaranteed.
📍 Get Directions to Nathan Phillips Square
❓ Common Questions
Details may change — always confirm on the official Toronto Outdoor Art Fair website before heading out.
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