August is bringing another packed lineup of festivals, live entertainment, sporting events and cultural celebrations to Toronto as the city makes the most of the final stretch of summer.
From world-class tennis and outdoor concerts to food festivals, theatre productions and waterfront experiences, there’s no shortage of ways to soak up the season. Whether you’re planning a family outing, date night or weekend adventure, these events offer something for every kind of summer itinerary.
Here are 10 events to check out in Toronto this August.
National Bank Open presented by Rogers
- Date: August 1 to 13
- Location: Sobeys Stadium
- Admission: Starting from $25
One of the biggest sporting events of the summer returns to Toronto this August, bringing world-class tennis and a packed lineup of entertainment to Sobeys Stadium.
Owned and operated by Tennis Canada, the National Bank Open presented by Rogers is one of the world’s premier tennis tournaments, featuring both a WTA 1000 and ATP Tour Masters 1000 event annually between Toronto and Montreal. Each year, the tournament welcomes many of the sport’s biggest stars and draws fans from across Canada and around the world for nearly two weeks of elite competition. This year, Canadians can look forward to homegrown talent like Bianca Andreescu and Leylah Fernandez, as well as international superstars such as Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff.
Beyond the matches, visitors can enjoy premium food and drink options, live entertainment, interactive sponsor activations, fan zones, shopping experiences, and family-friendly activities throughout the grounds.
Tickets start at $25, with a range of single-session, premium hospitality, and private suite options available.
JerkFest 2026
- Date: August 7 to 9
- Location: Centennial Park
- Admission: Starting at $40
One of Toronto’s favourite summer food festivals returns this August, as JerkFest celebrates 25 years of Caribbean culture, cuisine and community.
Taking over Centennial Park for three days, the annual festival marks a milestone anniversary with authentic Caribbean flavours, live entertainment and cultural experiences for all ages.
Festival-goers can savour a variety of jerk dishes and other Caribbean specialties, browse local vendors, explore interactive cultural displays, and enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with music, performances and family-friendly activities. And speaking of music, major headliners from the Caribbean are set to hit the stage, like 450, Patrice Roberts and Spice.
The Taste of the Danforth
- Date: August 7–9
- Location: Greektown on Danforth (Between Broadview and Jones Avenues)
- Admission: Free
After a three-year hiatus, one of Toronto’s biggest summer traditions is back. The Taste of the Danforth returns this August, bringing more than 1.5 million people to Greektown for a weekend filled with incredible food, live entertainment and community celebration.
While the festival is rooted in the neighbourhood’s Greek heritage, it’s also a reflection of Toronto’s multicultural identity. Alongside classic Greek favourites like souvlaki, gyros and loukoumades, you’ll find flavours from around the world, plus live music, cultural performances, shopping, patios and family-friendly activities stretching across Danforth Avenue.
Afro-Carib Fest Boat Cruise 2026
- Date: August 14
- Location: 11 Polson Street
- Admission: $70
Set sail for an evening of Caribbean and African-inspired music, food and entertainment at the Afro-Carib Fest boat cruise this August.
Returning with an upgraded three-level vessel, this year’s event invites guests aboard the Empress of Canada for a night of dancing, networking and stunning views of Toronto’s waterfront and skyline.
The 19+ cruise includes dinner, while the evening also features live DJs spinning throughout the night, interactive games, networking activities, prizes and giveaways. Guests are encouraged to embrace the event’s dress code by wearing yellow, red or green as they dance the night away before the boat returns to shore at 11 p.m.
Country Club
- Date: August 16
- Location: Fort York
- Admission: Starting at $20
Dust off your cowboy boots because Country Club is bringing an all-day celebration of country music, food and festival fun to the 6ix.
Making its Toronto debut, the open-air event from local festival collective Feaster transforms Fort York into a country-inspired rave complete with live performances, western-themed activities and summer drinks. The inaugural festival features an all-star lineup led by Canadian electronic-country duo VAVO and country dance music producer Dazy Duke.
Beyond the music, festival-goers can explore a food market, beer garden and a curated selection of signature tequila cocktails created exclusively for the event. The experience also includes line dancing, mechanical bull riding, classic fair-style games and interactive competitions, including a western-inspired best-dressed contest and a search for the festival’s next country star.
SankofaFest
- Date: August 21 to 23
- Location: Sankofa Square
- Admission: Free
A three-day weekend celebration of African history, culture and community returns to downtown this August, culminating with a day dedicated to remembrance, reflection and the future.
SankofaFest is set to take over Sankofa Square, bringing together artists, community leaders and visitors through a series of cultural experiences and programming. The festival concludes on August 23 with Sankofa Day, an event marking UNESCO’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition with a focus on healing, education and collective memory. The name Sankofa is a Twi word from the Akan people of Ghana, translated literally as “to go back and get it,” and remains true to the festival’s theme of “Looking Back, Building Forward.”
Throughout the weekend, attendees can experience live performances, ceremonies, art installations, film screenings and community-led activations that highlight Black stories, creativity and resilience.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
- Date: August 21
- Location: Scotiabank Arena
- Admission: Starting at $110
WWE’s biggest Superstars are rolling into Toronto as Friday Night SmackDown brings an action-packed night of live wrestling to Scotiabank Arena.
The long-running weekly television event returns to the city this August, and fans can expect an unforgettable evening as championship contenders and fan favourites battle it out in front of a live Toronto crowd.
RuPaul
- Date: August 22
- Location: Harbourfront Centre Concert Stage
- Admission: Starting at $94
Global drag icon RuPaul is bringing the party to Toronto’s waterfront with a live DJ set.
Known for transforming drag into a worldwide cultural phenomenon, RuPaul has spent decades shaping music, television and LGBTQ+ culture. From the dance hit “Supermodel (You Better Work)” to becoming the most Emmy-winning host in history through RuPaul’s Drag Race, the entertainer continues to inspire audiences around the world.
At Harbourfront Centre, fans can expect an energetic set celebrating queer nightlife, disco classics, house music and feel-good anthems for an unforgettable summer night.
MAMMA MIA!
- Date: August 4 to 30
- Location: Princess of Wales Theatre
- Admission: Starting at $59
The hit musical MAMMA MIA! returns to the city this summer, bringing ABBA’s beloved songs and an unforgettable feel-good story back to the stage.
Back by popular demand following its successful return to Broadway, the award-winning production follows a young bride-to-be on a Greek island as she searches for the father she’s never known, unexpectedly reuniting three men from her mother’s past. Filled with themes of love, friendship and family, the musical has captivated audiences around the world for more than 25 years.
Featuring timeless ABBA hits including “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “Super Trouper” and “The Winner Takes It All,” the production combines dazzling performances, heartfelt storytelling and infectious music that will have audiences singing along long after the curtain falls.
Ali Sethi’s ‘Harmonium: A Roots Residency’
- Date: August 28 to 30
- Location: Aga Khan Museum
- Admission: Starting at $65
Acclaimed singer, songwriter and composer Ali Sethi brings a unique three-day musical residency to the Aga Khan Museum, blending South Asian traditions with contemporary global sounds.
Harmonium: A Roots Residency explores themes of identity, heritage and belonging through an evolving concert experience centred around Sethi’s beloved harmonium. Drawing on folk traditions and modern influences, the performances weave together ghazals, qawwalis and avant-garde pop to tell stories that reflect the rich, interconnected nature of South Asian culture today.
For more events, check out our events calendar powered by Destination Toronto.
