With May just around the corner, the city is coming alive with festivals, live performances, and new exhibitions. In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, be sure to check out the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s SakuraFest or the premiere of Our Ocean Table. Other highlights this week include Stars on Ice, the Toronto Tattoo Show, the Jane’s Walk Festival, exciting theatre premieres, and even more.
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SakuraFest
This Asian Heritage Month, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre is welcoming you to enjoy SakuraFest. Explore hands-on workshops, art experiences, and special events that are inspired by the beauty of cherry blossom season. This 12-day festival has events and activities for all ages, and everyone is welcome to celebrate and learn through art, culture, and community. More info.
When: Apr 28 – May 9
Where: Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
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Tafelmusik’s Hearing Her Voice
Grammy award-winning soprano Amanda Forsythe returns to Tafelmusik to bring to life striking music by unjustly forgotten women composers and a newly commissioned work by Métis composer Karen Sunabacka. Experience these artists as they bring these remarkable works to life and celebrate their talent as they shine a light on composers long overlooked. More info.
When: Apr 30 – May 3
Where: Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre
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Our Ocean Table
Enjoy this exclusive premiere of a visually stunning new docuseries, Our Ocean Table, a three-part series that dives into Korean food, identity, and our deep connection to the ocean. Hosted by filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer Sonya Lee and journalist Hannah Sung, strike up an appetite while watching their journey unfold, and discover the powerful sense of community behind every dish. More info.
When: May 1
Where: Glenn Gould Studio
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Always in Fashion
Opening with a special reception, this striking nine-month exhibition explores where ancestral knowledge meets contemporary fashion design. Always in Fashion highlights Indigenous designers reclaiming cultural narratives, challenging colonial frameworks, and addressing internal community tensions around appropriation. Curated by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation) and featuring works from more than 20 Indigenous designers, Always in Fashion will stand as a celebration of Indigenous design and its profound impact on fashion. More info.
When: May 1, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Where: Textile Museum of Canada
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Stars on Ice
Fans in Toronto can celebrate a night full of unforgettable performances from Olympic bronze medalists Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier, and more elite Olympians and Canadian champions like Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps, Keegan Messing & Madeline Schizas, Elvis Stojko and more! More info.
When: May 1
Where: Scotiabank Arena
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Toronto Tattoo Show
Canada’s oldest tattoo convention is making its return for its 26th edition! As one of the biggest international tattoo conventions in the world, it will feature over 500 tattoo artists, and is a one-of-a-kind celebration of tattoo culture, art and lifestyle. More info.
When: May 1-3
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
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Jane’s Walk Festival
Jane’s Walk Toronto returns to celebrate the power of volunteer-led storytelling, the importance of community, and fostering a more inclusive and walkable Toronto. Inspired by Jane Jacobs, a journalist, author, theorist, activist, and proud Torontonian, this festival takes place in nearly 500 cities across 6 continents. Get a breath of fresh air, share stories, and connect with your neighbours face-to-face. More info.
Where: Various locations
When: May 1-3
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12 Litres 8800 Steps
An Unbridled Theatre Collective creation in collaboration with Aluna Theatre, 12 Litres 8800 Steps is an 80-minute high-octane rollercoaster with stunning visuals and immersive soundscapes. Inspired by equine therapy, the play explores the deepening bond between a Horse and a Woman: how they negotiate their relationship, rediscover play and eventually heal each other in the process. More info.
When: May 1-17
Where: Factory Theatre
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CONTACT Photography Festival
Recognized as one of the world’s largest photography festivals, CONTACT Photography’s month-long festival returns with stunning exhibitions, public art installations, workshops, artist talks and more at museums, galleries, and public spaces all over the city. This festival highlights both local and international artists like Ernesto Cabral de Luna, Delali Cofie, Marlene Creates, April Hickox, and more. More info.
When: May 1-31
Where: Various locations
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Spring Market Sip ‘n’ Shop
Saint George Toronto welcomes you to their annual Spring Market Sip ‘n’ Shop for an afternoon of sipping, shopping, and fresh seasonal finds. Enjoy live music from Jesse Maxwell, and delight in the delicious beverages prepared by Paradise Grapevine and David’s Tea. Browse through an array of florals, sustainable goods, natural skincare, jewelry, chocolate, coffee and more from incredible luxe, local vendors. More info.
When: May 2
Where: Kimpton Saint George Hotel
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VITALS
VITALS by Rosamund Small is a powerful one-woman show exploring the lived experience of a Toronto paramedic. Originally performed in 2014, VITALS returns more than a decade later based on real interviews with paramedics, physicians and nurses to reflect how healthcare has been reshaped through the years. And for the first time, VITALS will be performed by a healthcare worker who lived through it, Dr. Janet McMordie. Select performances will feature post-show talkbacks, and prior to each performance, enjoy live music by frontline workers. More info.
When: May 2-10
Where: Factory Theatre
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