What to know
- TIFF returns to Toronto for its 51st year with more than 200 films and major stars expected at the festival.
- Festival Street will take over King Street West from Sept. 10 to 13 with music, food, art, screenings and family-friendly activities.
- Fans can watch celebrity arrivals from dedicated viewing areas on King Street and at David Pecaut Square.
- Several road closures are planned, including a Yorkville Avenue closure from Sept. 8 to 14.
Toronto is just a few short days away from one of the world’s biggest film festivals taking over the city for its 51st year, and this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.
With nearly 300 films, star-studded red carpets and major premieres, this year’s TIFF already has the city buzzing. But it’s not just the celebrity arrivals that have people talking, there are also plenty of fan activations and events happening around the city.
Like previous years, Toronto’s King Street will transform into a festival hub, with art, music, food and activities for people to enjoy.
So whether you’re watching a film, hoping to spot a celebrity or just checking out what’s happening around the city, here’s what you need to know.
Celebrities
Here are some of the stars to watch for at the festival this week:
- Mahershala Ali
- Lisa Manobal
- Mark Ruffalo
- Daniel Kaluuya
- Dylan O’Brien
- Ruth Madeley
- Naomi Watts
- John Turturro
- Tatiana Maslany
- Rebel Wilson
- Jennifer Coolidge
- Jane Levy
- Seth Rogen
- Anna Kendrick
- Seth Green
- Chris Rock
- Adam Driver
TIFF Festival Street
Festival Street is back this year, bringing TIFF outside of the theatres and onto King Street West. From Sept. 10 to 13, King Street West between Peter Street and University Avenue will be closed to traffic and filled with festival activities.
There will be live music and DJs, an art market featuring local arts and community organizations, food trucks, free outdoor activities and several large-scale art installations. There will also be sports activations, including appearances from players with AFC Toronto and games and giveaways from the Toronto Tempo.
Some of the installations include SLOW, a participatory zoetrope by filmmaker Naomi Jaye, Disco Speakers, a large disco ball and LED installation by Matt Jones, and The Tree of Cinema, a large-scale installation featuring film strips and images celebrating movie history.
Visitors can also check out the Fellini Forever Educational Touring Museum, which will feature original artifacts and rare materials from the collection dedicated to Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini.
For movie fans, Cinema Park at David Pecaut Square will offer free outdoor screenings at 10 p.m. every night, rain or shine, with open captions. The Festival Street Food Market will also return with local food vendors and restaurants, while TIFF’s pop-up shop will offer its new 2026 merchandise.
Fan Zone
TIFF will have fan viewing areas on King Street, as well as three dedicated areas at David Pecaut Square: the TIFF Fan Zone South, Rogers Fan Zone and RBC Red Carpet Gallery.
The King Street viewing areas, located outside the Princess of Wales Theatre and Royal Alexandra Theatre, are first-come, first-served and subject to capacity limits.
At the TIFF Fan Zone South, fans can line up for individual red carpets on a first-come, first-served basis. Lineups open at 11 a.m. from Sept. 10-14 and 2 p.m. from Sept. 15 onward.
The Fan Zone opens two hours before each screening, and fans will receive a colour-coded wristband after a bag check. Entry closes about 30 minutes before the screening, and re-entry is not permitted.
Road Closures
If you’re heading through Yorkville during TIFF, expect some traffic disruptions. Yorkville Avenue will be closed to vehicles between Bellair Street and Hazelton Avenue from 6 a.m. on Sept. 8 until 6 a.m. on Sept. 14 for the Rogers TIFF Yorkville Activation.
The activation runs from Sept. 10 to 13, with hours from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Drivers should expect delays in the area during event hours.
