Get your arts and culture fix at these incredible summer events in Toronto.
Listen up: music festival season is here! You’ll find live music of every genre celebrated in Toronto summer concert venues stretching from the shores of Lake Ontario to the fields of Downsview Park this June, July and August. Summer events in Toronto are a must!
Ready to experience classical music, EDM, jazz, salsa (and much, much more!) in some of the city’s nicest parks and green spaces? Here’s where to go to find live music in Toronto.
Summer Music in the Garden
June 21 to August 29, 2024
Toronto is one of the best cities for classical music. Case in point: Waterfront’s enchanting Toronto Music Garden, which hosts Summer Music in the Garden, a free concert series happening on most Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons at the edge of Lake Ontario.
Previously programmed by award-winning music director Gregory Oh with associate curator/mezzo-soprano Rebecca Cuddy, the list of Canadian and international performers represents an eclectic offering including Arabic jazz, Indigenous classical, folk, blues, baroque and chamber music ensembles.
Toronto Jazz Festival
June 21–30, 2024
In 2024, Toronto Jazz Festival will celebrate 37 years of crowd-pleasing, international jazz. The 10-day festival boasts six outdoor stages in the city’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood and various venues across town.
Ticketed concerts this year include André 3000, The Yussef Dayes Experience, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Jill Barber, to name a few. You won’t want to miss this festival in Toronto.
Electric Island
2024 Dates: May 18–19, June 29–30, August 9–10 and August 31 to September 1
Make tracks for Fort York and The Bentway to dance to eclectic beats under the afternoon sun and starry night skies at Electric Island.
This is a summer concert series dedicated to house, techno, and electronic music by today’s hottest DJs and producers.
Beaches International Jazz Festival
July 5–28, 2024
Now in its 36th year, Toronto’s other summer jazz fest has grown into one of Canada’s largest jazz festivals. With many free admission events, Beaches International Jazz Festival is a local favourite in Toronto’s east end.
Dance to the Latin cumbia or merengue at Woodbine Park’s Salsa on the Beach (July 12–14, 2024) or get lost (in a good way) at the closing weekend’s StreetFest (July 25–27, 2024) when Queen Street East transforms into a lively street party of music, vendors and performers.
Toronto Summer Music Festival
July 11 to August 3, 2024
With a schedule packed with Canadian and international chamber artists and art song performers, Toronto Summer Music Festival celebrates classical music and offers a concurrent academy for emerging artists.
Artistic director Jonathan Crow, a violinist and Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, oversees concerts, master classes and talks.
Afrofest
July 5–7, 2024
Afrofest is the largest free African festival in North America heralds its 36th edition, with three days of music and performances in the Beaches’ Woodbine Park.
TD Salsa on St. Clair
July 6 & 7, 2024
Shake and shimmy through St. Clair Avenue West’s TD Salsa on St. Clair, an annual street party dedicated to Latin rhythms, culture and cuisine.
From lunchtime until late, let the infectious sounds be your guide to established and up-and-coming singers, bands and dance companies, including Samba Squad, Latin Swing Orchestra, DJ IcePink and Puro Mexico Ballet.
Veld Music Festival
August 2–4, 2024
The 11th edition of this annual festival brings the world’s best electronic DJs and performers to North York’s Downsview Park to share driving beats, remixes and collabs.
Veld Music Festival headliners include Alan Walker, Marshmello, Steve Aoki, and Black Tiger Sex Machine. This outdoor dance party is fueled by three stages and 60+ international performers.
Once the sun sets, expect mesmerizing pyrotechnics and fireworks to amp up the good vibes.
The CNE
August 16 to September 2, 2024
Toronto has been marking the end of summer for the past 144 years with the Canadian National Exhibition (abbreviated as The CNE and also known as The Ex).
With an annual obsession with what’s to eat (oh, those Tiny Tom Donuts!), attendees can always count on a memorable concert schedule, which has included The New Pornographers, Big Sugar, April Wine and Susan Aglukark.
Stay tuned for this year’s unforgettable lineup at the Bandshell.
