Looking for the coolest and best music festivals in Toronto in 2023 & 2024? Well, you’ve come to the right place, as we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to Toronto Festivals that are guaranteed to impress.
Home to the largest population of people in Canada, Toronto magnificently blends culture, entertainment, and history to become a promptly popular travel destination. It hosts over 500 live music venues, so it’s no wonder it’s a popular music festival location.
Whether you want to experience the best music festivals in Toronto or get a taste of this entertainment-rich city teeming with restaurants and activity, you can bet you’ll have a blast on your trip!
Also, be sure to read my guides on Glamping in Ontario, Airbnbs in Toronto, and Music Festivals in Canada for future trip-planning inspiration!
Top 10 Toronto Music Festivals
1) VELD Music Festival
Veld Music Festival Toronto | Credit: @paulignac.io
When: August 4-6, 2023
Where: Downsview Park
https://veldmusicfestival.com/
https://www.facebook.com/VELDMusicFestival/
The largest annual electronic dance music festival in Canada, the VELD Music Festival guarantees loads of fun and excitement!
As one of the top music festivals in Toronto, this event combines an eclectic mix of electronic and hip-hop performers on three stages. Heading into its tenth year in 2023, the VELD Music Festival ensures a world-class lineup of only the best artists so you can make memories that will last a lifetime.
More than 30,000 attendees visit each festival day, coming together to dance and have fun with friends and strangers. Expect the time of your life and the best memories ever made at the VELD Music Festival!
2) Toronto Jazz Festival
Toronto Jazz Festival | Credit: Adam Seward
When: June- July 2024
Where: Downtown Toronto
https://www.facebook.com/torontojazzfest
Celebrating almost half a century of its running, the Toronto Jazz Festival began as an eight-day jazz showcase but has quickly established itself as a ten-day extravaganza!
Locals, tourists, celebrities, and jazz appreciators travel from all over the globe to this jazzy festival that has cemented its reputation as one of the best jazz music festivals in Toronto and the world.
The festival is produced by the Toronto Downtown Jazz Society each year, exemplifying the dedication and admiration of the genre in Toronto with the mission of enhancing the city’s international reputation.
3) North by Northeast
When: June 2024
Where: 115 Danforth Avenue (multiple venues)
https://www.facebook.com/nxnefestival
Toronto’s Music Discovery Festival
One of the top discovery music festivals in Toronto and Canada, North by Northeast, is where people travel to see emerging artists showcasing their passions and talents!
These artists come from all over Canada and the globe for the opportunity to show off their skills and gain exposure. Attending the festival comes at the affordable cost of only $25 for a full pass at all the venues, bands, and nights.
Since 1995, North by Northeast has cemented itself as one of the top music festivals in Toronto and Canada with its up-and-coming talent of Canadian and international artists. Some noteworthy names that have displayed their talents at this festival include Lizzo, The Lumineers, Daniel Caesar, and The Weeknd.
4) The Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Credit: Toronto Caribbean Carnival
When: August 3 – 7, 2023
Where: 12 Cranfield Rd. Suite 210
https://www.caribanatoronto.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TorontoCarnival.ca
Previously known as Caribana, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival celebrates the traditions and culture of the Caribbean. Vibrant costumes flocked with colorful feathers and sparkling jewels decorate the people as they sing and dance to the music.
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival has been running for over half a century. The carnival parades down the street to honor Caribbean culture in recognition of the emancipation from slavery into freedom in Canada in 1838. It is the largest Caribbean carnival in North America and once ran three days before becoming the magnanimous three-week festival today.
The party is neverending at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, where melodies fill the air, colors catch the eye, and everyone dances to the rhythm of the music!
5) Toronto Summer Music Festival
When: July 6 – 29, 2023
Where: Walter Hall (multiple venues)
https://torontosummermusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TorontoSummerMusic
The Toronto Summer Music Festival aims to spread and share the appreciation of music in all its glorious diversity and beauty. The programmed festival includes lineups of world-renowned artists who have mastered their craft to convey the precision and fluidity of music accurately.
Adult amateurs and emerging artists can grasp the opportunity to acquire high-level training and performance experience at the Toronto Summer Music Festival. Attendees will see professionals and up-and-coming artists work together and solo to share the refinement of their skills in a magical event that has established it as one of the top music festivals in Toronto.
6) Beaches International Jazz Festival
When: July 6 -30, 2023
Where: 1798 Queen Street East
https://www.facebook.com/beachesjazz
One of Canada’s largest free jazz festivals, the Beaches International Jazz Festival welcomes up to a million visitors each year!
The festival started in 1989 to become one of the most prevalent music festivals in Toronto. Thousands of attendees travel worldwide to support the mission of spreading and supporting jazz in Canada in this enigmatic event.
The month-long Beaches International Jazz Festival presents a refined lineup of emerging and acclaimed talent sourced locally and internationally. More than 1,000 artists and 50 bands join the festivities along with a workshop and lecture series for an interactive experience with audience members.
7) Canadian Music Week
When: June 2024
Where: Westin Harbour Castle
https://www.facebook.com/canadianmusicweek
Attracting hundreds of industry professionals and artists every year, Canadian Music Week is a tremendous networking opportunity combined into one of the top music festivals in Toronto.
Almost hitting half a century of success since its establishment, the festival is the chance for up-and-coming stars to present their skills to the industry’s big names and, most importantly, a growing fan base. World-famous headliners that have opened the festival have included big names such as ODESZA, Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, Janet Jackson, and Post Malone.
Set in the heart of Toronto, attendees can see emerging artists before they become world-famous, see some of their favorite artists, and attend the largest new music festival in the nation.
8) Boots and Hearts Music Festival
Credit: Boots and Hearts Music Festival
When: August 10 – 13, 2023
Where: Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, Oro-Medonte
https://www.facebook.com/BootsandHearts/
Canada’s largest camping and music festival, held annually in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds.
The Boots and Hearts Music Festival is a summer weekend camping and country music festival that combines boots, cowboy hats, and darn good music in one heel-stompin’ event.
As Canada’s largest camping and country music festival and the second largest music festival in North America, attendees can expect the best of the best, with major artists such as Tim McGraw, Nickelback, and Keith Urban belting out lyrics on stage. Fans flock from all over to get a taste of this boisterous music fest, and so should you!
9) Luminato Festival Toronto
Credit: Luminato Festival Toronto
When: June 2024
Where: Multiple venues
https://www.facebook.com/luminatofestival/
An international arts festival intertwining the arts, challenging the boundaries of dance, music, visual art, and theatre, the Luminato Festival has solidified itself as one of the top arts and music festivals in Toronto.
Every summer, the festival kicks off with a welcoming celebration of the upcoming season, new connections, and lifetime experiences. The Luminato Festival was initially founded to help rebuild Toronto after the SARS epidemic. It has since become a firm foundation of culture, tradition, and artistry for Toronto and Canada.
Guests to the festival can scour over a hundred commissioned artworks from different disciplines. Or stop by one of the 3,600+ performances that feature thousands and thousands of artists sourced from all over the world.
10) MusicFest Canada
When: May 2024
Where: Niagara Falls Convention Centre
https://www.facebook.com/MusicFestCanada
MusicFest Canada is an invitation-only event and educational music festival. The festival invites exceptionally skilled and dedicated ensembles who have attended and been awarded an invitation from affiliated festivals.
Around 400,000 young musicians actively participate in affiliated festivals across the nation for an opportunity to be granted an invitation to perform at MusicFest Canada. Since its founding, it has become the largest annual event in North America dedicated to developing musical talent in youth.
During MusicFest Canada, these young musicians have a week of activity of more than 300 clinics, concerts, and workshops for the ultimate educational experience!
Am I Missing Any Amazing Toronto Music Festivals?
As one of the major cities of Canada, I’m sure there are tons more epic festivals and events that should be highlighted here! So I’d love to hear from you guys to see which Toronto Music Festivals I missed so I can keep this list as up-to-date as possible!
Looking for more Music Festivals Around The world?
My travel blog has hundreds of articles showcasing the coolest and best international music festivals! Would love for you to take a look at some of my favorites below to find your next festival adventure!
Thanks so much for reading! Share this article with your festival crew!
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