The Taste of Little Jamaica has been cancelled, but there is no shortage of events to celebrate Black cuisine in Toronto this summer.
Some Toronto residents were left disappointed after the first-ever Taste of Little Jamaica festival was abruptly cancelled two weeks before its debut, as organizers said they were unable to secure required approvals.
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However, there are still several opportunities to celebrate African, Caribbean, and diasporic cuisines in Toronto, with several other festivals highlighting Black flavours coming to the city.
Now Toronto has gathered some of these festivals that should be on your summer 2026 bucket list.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Dates: July 30 to August 3
Location: Multiple, including Exhibition Place and Lakeshore Boulevard
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival (TCC) is one of the largest cultural festivals in North America, each year attracting millions of participants from across the globe to celebrate Caribbean culture, heritage, and artistry.
The TCC features multiple events throughout the summer, having officially kicked off with a high-energy celebration on June 13 at the Scarborough Town Centre, with a series of other events taking place throughout the summer. The highlight of the TCC is its Grand Parade, which fills up the city’s streets with Caribbean culture, soca and calypso sounds, and spectacular costumes on Aug. 1.
Although food is not the focus of this festival, Caribbean flavours are also present, with a marketplace of food vendors and local businesses also taking part in the event. Attendees can enjoy delicious festival bites and drinks and food trucks throughout the parade, as well as local businesses along the way.
Most of the parade is free along Lakeshore Boulevard. Most of the parade is held on Lakeshore Boulevard which is free but nightlife tickets are not.
For more information, visit the TCC website.
The Cookout – Stackt Market
Date: July 25
Location: Stackt Market (28 Bathurst St.)
Also celebrating the Caribbean Carnival season in Toronto, The Cookout, taking place later this month at the Stackt Market, also aims to bring the community together through delicious flavours, lively music and vibrant energy.
The event promises to celebrate the rich Caribbean culture with an all-day smoky barbecue and delicious street food. In addition, it will feature live DJ sets, carnival dancers and performers, curated arts and fashion vendors and more.
To reserve a spot at the event and for more information, visit Eventbrite.
Jerkfest
Dates: Aug. 7–9
Location: Centennial Park (256 Centennial Park Rd.), Etobicoke
Another staple festival that celebrates Caribbean flavour is Jerkfest, which has been bringing authentic flavours and vibrant culture experiences to the city for 25 years.
The festival serves a variety of options for those looking to celebrate Caribbean cuisine, from traditional smoked jerk meats to innovative delicacies by different local vendors. In addition to trying on great food, the festival also features cultural experiences and fun, family-friendly activities embraced by a lively atmosphere.
For more information on this festival, visit its website.
AFROFEST
Dates: Aug. 14–16
Location: Woodbine Park (1695 Queen St. E.)
Also in August, Toronto hosts AFROFEST, the largest free African music festival in North America, and one of the most recognized celebrations of African culture in the country.
For almost 40 years, the festival has invited attendees to enjoy African cultural heritage through music, dance, arts, and of course, food. At the event, festival goers can enjoy authentic grilled specialties, jollof rice, poff poff, suya, while sipping on tropical drinks.
In addition to delicious bites, this is also a complete cultural celebration, with lots of free programming that promotes African culture, from live performances to local vendors to lots of dancing.
For more information, head to the AFROFEST website.
Afro-Carib Fest
Dates: Aug. 22-23
Location: Thomson Memorial Park (1005 Brimley Rd.), Scarborough
The 15th-edition of the annual Afro-Carib Fest is also happening next month, bringing communities together to celebrate Afro-Caribbean culture and beyond through art, music, dance and food.
Local vendors will be serving some delicious authentic bites and innovative fusion food, including jerk chicken, Jamaican patties, jollof rice, and much more.
The festival expects to attract 60,000 attendees to enjoy not only food but also a dance and cultural parade, live musical performances, and family-friendly activities.
For more information, visit its website.
Foodville Festival
Date: Aug. 22
Location: Allan A. Lamport Stadium (1155 King St. W.)
Celebrating African, Caribbean, and Afro-Latin culture, this festival is bringing Toronto communities together to enjoy delicious food, music and traditions this August.
As the name might suggest, this event is rooted around celebrating Black flavours, with over 60 Black-owned vendors bringing the best of African and Caribbean flavours to the Allan A. Lamport Stadium.
On top of yummy bites, attendees can expect vibrant music, live performances, DJ stages, and curated activations. This is a ticketed event, with early bird tickets going for $23.
For more information, visit the Foodville Festival’s website.
