Toronto is home to some of the best music festivals in North America. From jazz, classical, and world music events to hip-hop and electronic dance music festivals, there’s something for everyone. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 20 top music festivals in Toronto that take place in Toronto every summer season.
So, whether you love to sing along to your favorite hip hop songs, or you love a piece of great classical music, there are a lot of music festivals in Toronto that will make you tap your feet again.
More so, these are all music festival events in Toronto where you can bring family and friends to have fun. If you are currently searching for music festivals in Toronto, we have 20 of them according to different music genres.
Overview of Music Festivals in Toronto
Everybody loves music; at least most people do. Canada itself is particularly notorious for grooming top music talents that go on to dominate world music. We’ve seen them in the past: artists like Drake and Justin Bieber are prime examples.
It doesn’t matter what kind of music you enjoy, there is always a music festival in the next Toronto neighborhood organizing something for you.
There are many music festivals in Toronto, and it’s important to know which ones you should attend. The next section of our guide will help you make the right decision.
List of Music Festivals in Toronto by Music Genre
We have listed all the 20 popular music festivals happening in Toronto according to the following music genres:
- Indie Music Festival
- Alternative, Roots & Hip-hop Music Festival
- Jazz Music Festival
- World Music Festival
- Classical Music Festival
- EDM/Rock/Digital Music Festival
# Indie Music
Indie music is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1970s. It was used to describe rock bands from both countries who were influenced by punk rock, pop punk, or post-punk.
Indie artists are often based on their independent status and attitude towards larger record labels. They have been known to break away from mainstream music trends in an effort to express themselves freely while still maintaining popularity with fans worldwide.
North by Northeast (NXNE)
Usually around: June, yearly.
Ticket price: $188 – $235.
NXNE is a music festival that takes place in Toronto in June. The festival has a variety of venues, including downtown bars, and outdoor stages.
NXNE (North by Northeast) music festival usually features performances from independent (indie) artists in Toronto like Baby G (2022 edition).
It is one of the biggest music festivals in Toronto by a country mile, and it is widely celebrated.
Canadian Music Week
Usually around: June, yearly.
Ticket price: Varies by each event.
Canadian Music Week is a week-long (5 days) festival that attracts over 200,000 people each year. It takes place in Toronto, Ontario, and features various events and activities such as showcases, concerts, and industry parties to help you discover new music.
The festival has been running since 1982 and is a great way to discover new artists or even find out about your favorite ones.
This year’s event featured Canadian breakout talents like Jully Baby who dazzled audiences with their great performances. Next year’s event promises to be even bigger.
Riot Fest
Usually around: September, yearly.
Ticket price: $114.98 – $124.98 for one-day tickets; $199.98 for 2-day combo tickets (as of Riot Fest 2022).
Riot Fest is a music festival in Toronto that takes place over three days, in September. It’s held at Downsview Park, and it has a lineup of popular bands like Misfits, Danzig, and White Zombie.
The musical genres covered by this festival include punk rock, heavy metal, and alt-rock. The festival also includes comedy acts as well as food trucks for those who want to grab something to eat between sets or during breaks between bands.
# Alternative, Roots & Hip-hop Music
The alternative, roots, and hip-hop music festivals in Toronto are a great way to experience music from around the world. These festivals feature artists who perform on their own terms, without being tied down by commercial expectations or having to play along with an established sound.
The following are music festivals in Toronto that are suitable for concertgoers who are in love with hip-hop music.
Field Trip Festival
Usually around: July.
Ticket price: General admission: $114.50; VIP: $194.50
Field Trip Festival is a music festival that takes place in Toronto. This event is a one-day event with concerts featuring local artists as well as international acts like Hozier, Foster the People, and Father John Misty.
Field Trip had initially gone on hiatus, but the event has now re-opened its borders to welcome all those who love to listen to a different sound than they are used to. 2022’s edition happened on July 9. A date for 2023 has not been scheduled, however.
Bestival
Usually around: June.
Ticket price: $99.50 – $189.50
Bestival is a music festival in the UK that takes place over three days in July. The festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and has become one of the most popular festivals on the UK circuit.
However, the popular UK music festival was transported to lake Ontario to serve the people of Toronto for one of its major music concerts ever.
The event featured more than 30 artists performing live across five stages, as well as an array of food vendors, art installations, and activities for families to enjoy together. The festival has earned praise from critics since it began.
WayHome Music & Arts Festival
Usually around: Currently paused.
Ticket price: Starts from $209.99
WayHome is a three-day music and camping festival. The event is hosted by Republic Live. The festival takes place at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada.
WayHome has been called “the Bonnaroo of Canada” by the Toronto Star because it brings together fans from all over the country for a weekend of music and camping under one roof. The last event happened in 2017 and it saw a mammoth crowd of 40,000 music lovers attend.
After that show, the organizers announced that the event would be “paused” until further notice. However, WayHome remains one of the biggest music festivals in Toronto, and fans can’t wait till the show is brought back again.
OVO Fest
Usually around: August, but can vary.
Ticket price: $168, with an average price of $218.
OVO Fest is a music festival organized by Drake, the Canadian superstar. The first OVO Fest was held in 2010 and has grown to become one of the biggest hip-hop festivals in Canada, drawing thousands of people each year.
The festival takes place at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto, Ontario, and features both local artists as well as international acts from around the world.
Toronto Urban Roots Fest
Usually around: September.
Ticket price: $85 – $145; $185 – $315 for 3-day pass.
Toronto Urban Roots Fest is a music festival that takes place in Toronto, Canada. It’s a three-day event that takes place at the Fort York Garrison Common Historic Site. The festival features live performances from Canadian musicians, including popular indie rock bands and upcoming pop stars.
The festival is family-friendly, meaning there are no alcohol sales or other adult-oriented activities taking place. It’s also wheelchair accessible and has free parking available on site.
# Jazz Music
Do you love jazz music?
The following festivals are also worth checking out:
- TD Toronto Jazz Festival
- The Beaches International Jazz Festival
TD Toronto Jazz Festival
Usually around: Start of summer; June – July.
Ticket price: $188 – $235
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival is one of the largest jazz festivals in North America, and it’s held every June. The festival features over 50 acts from around the world, including some of Canada’s top artists.
All year long, there are performances put on by local musicians at pubs and restaurants throughout Toronto’s downtown area.
The festival also offers many educational opportunities for children and families as well as an opportunity to see some amazing shows.
It’s a great way to experience Toronto’s jazz scene without having to leave town or travel far away from home – just go downtown.
The Beaches International Jazz Festival
Usually around: July.
Ticket price: $99 – $149
The Beaches International Jazz Festival is one of the biggest music festivals held annually in Toronto. It’s a great place to take your kids and enjoy some great music, food, and drinks. The festival takes place at various locations around the city and lasts for two weeks.
# World Music
The following events categorize music festivals in Toronto that celebrate music genres that are popularized in other countries. Some of these kinds of music may include Afro-pop, salsa, folk, or country music to mention a few.
Toronto Caribbean Festival (Caribana)
Usually around: July.
Ticket price: Free.
The Toronto Caribbean Festival (Caribana), one of the largest Caribbean festivals in North America, is held annually in June each year (since 1967). The festival highlights the rich culture and heritage of Trinidad and Tobago as well as music from other islands such as Jamaica and Barbados.
The one-day event takes place at Ontario Place’s Exhibition Place grounds on Lake Ontario; this location provides attendees with access to over 30 food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and live entertainment stages all day long.
A typical Caribana event will feature live performance renditions, Soca, and Calypso music common in the Caribbean states. It is a family-friendly event, however, you are advised to go with your kids as women may typically be seen dressed in bikinis doing the soca dance.
Salsa in Toronto Festival
Usually around: July.
Ticket price: Free.
The Salsa in Toronto Festival is another free event that features salsa dancing and music from around the world, as well as food trucks, craft beers on tap for purchase, and more than 50 different acts performing throughout the usual two days of the event.
The festival is organized by the City of Toronto with help from local businesses.
Mariposa Folk Festival
Usually around: July.
Ticket price: Unknown.
The Mariposa Folk Festival is a four-day music festival held in Orillia, Ontario. Since its inception, the festival has featured over 100 bands and performers in a variety of musical genres including folk, classical, jazz, and world music.
The lineup for the Mariposa Folk Festival has notably included acts like The Weakerthans (a Canadian indie rock band), Colin Stetson (an American jazz saxophonist), Tegan and Sara (a Canadian pop duo), and lots more.
The festival usually takes place in July.
MusicFest Canada
Usually around: May, yearly.
Ticket price: $179 and above.
The MusicFest Canada is a music festival that takes place in Toronto, Ontario. It has been running since 1972 and features a wide variety of music genres, including rock and pop music.
MusicFest Canada usually takes place over 5 days starting from mid-May. During these days, there are many concerts to attend as there are over 7,000 musical talents performing for recognition, as well as other events such as film screenings and comedy shows.
MusicFest is one of the best places to discover talents who are working hard to make their craft heard.
# Classical Music
If you have been reading to this point, and you have not particularly liked any of the music genres we have listed so far, then classical music might be for you.
Toronto is home to music festivals that feature the biggest names in classical music including the Orchestra of Opera North, Canadian Opera Company, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Some of them are listed below:
Toronto Summer Music Festival
Usually around: June – July, yearly.
Ticket price: Starts at $35.
The Toronto Summer Music Festival is a one-week, family-friendly music festival with a mix of classical, jazz, and pop. You can expect to hear some of the best local talents at this event.
The TSMF takes place in July and includes theater performances as well as live performances by some of Canada’s top musicians.
The festival also offers educational programs for children so that they can learn about music through the arts.
21C Music Festival
Usually around: Varies; Currently slated for December 6, 2022 – January 29, 2023.
Ticket price: $21 and above.
21C Music Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Toronto. The event features EDM, hip-hop, rock music, and a host of new musical talents showcasing their music to the world.
The festival was organized by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), a film festival dedicated to promoting Canadian independent filmmakers.
# EDM/Rock/Digital Music
EDM (Electronic Dance Music) is a type of music that uses electronic instruments and synthesizers to create rhythmic, hypnotic beats. The EDM scene has been growing in popularity over the past few years, with artists like Avicii, Skrillex, Calvin Harris, and more becoming household names.
Are you an EDM lover?
These are the music festivals in Toronto for you:
VELD Music Festival
Usually around: July/August, yearly.
Ticket price: $347 to as high as $1,045.
VELD is held at Parc Downsview Park, and it’s the largest music festival in Canada. The festival features over 200 artists from around the world playing a variety of genres including rock, hip-hop, and electronic dance music. There are also various family events like art workshops, movie screenings, and food vendors onsite.
The VELD Festival features some of the best artists from around the world including Armin Van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, and Dash Berlin.
Digital Dreams
Usually around: June/July.
Ticket price: $79 and above.
Digital Dreams Festival is a Toronto-based music festival that takes place in June and July every year. The event was started by the organizers of Ontario’s largest electronic music festival, Nocturnal Wonderland.
To date, the event has featured over 40 artists from around the world including Grammy Award-winning DJ Sliink (who has performed at some of the biggest festivals in Europe) as well as Canadian artists like Kayzo & Mednasana who have toured internationally with shows across North America.
EdgeFest
Usually around: October, yearly.
Ticket price: $188 – $235.
EdgeFest is a music festival that takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the month of October. It is a three-day event that takes place at Molson Park in Barrie.
EdgeFest is one of the biggest festivals in Canada and it has been around for over 10 years now. Since it started, this festival has grown tremendously in size and popularity (especially since 2010), which makes sense considering its location within close proximity to some major cities such as Toronto itself.
TIME Festival
Usually around: Varies; one-day event.
Ticket price: Not known.
TIME Festival is a music festival in Toronto that celebrates the advancement of music in Canada. The event consists of three stages, where you can enjoy performances from your favorite artists as well as local artists.
TIME Festival has become one of the most popular festivals in Toronto and attracts over 30,000 people each year. However, it hasn’t been hosted since 2016 – hence why it is last on this list.
Albeit, TIME Festival remains one of the biggest gatherings for DJs, EDM, and hip-hop artists. Past editions have popularly featured Canadian acts like Tory Lanez, Grimes, and Bob Moses, among others.
TIME Festival is held at Ontario Place and is open to anyone who wants to attend—including families with children (but please note that it’s not recommended for younger kids).
Final Thought
The best way to start your music festival season is by checking out some of the festivals that have been around for years and are still going strong.
There’s no better way to experience Toronto than at one of these events, which range from big acts like Drake and Ariana Grande to smaller acts like Metric and Jenny Lewis.
If you’re looking for something new, however—or if you just want more options—consider checking out one of these festivals on our list.
Wrapping It Up
Exploring music festivals is one of the best ways to experience Canada. The best part about festivals? They give you all access to some of your favorite artists, who often don’t tour around Canada very often.
And with so many different kinds of music being played at these events, we can guarantee that no matter what kind of music lover you are, there will be something on this list that appeals to you.