44 Best Performing Arts Venues in Toronto, Ontario

Internationally renowned as one of the world's finest period ensembles, Tafelmusik presents baroque and classical music on original instruments. Most performances are held in Trinity–St. Paul's Centre, a stunningly revitalized church hall. The orchestra's Sing-Along Messiah performance is a rollicking Christmas season highlight where the audience is invited to join in.

This gem of Toronto’s arts scene includes two former vaudeville halls, built in 1913 and stacked one on top of the other. It's the world’s last operating double-decker theater complex—Elgin Theater on the lower level and Winter Garden Theater above—and a designated Canadian National Historic Site. Until 1928, the venues hosted silent-film and vaudeville stars like George Burns, Gracie Allen, and Edgar Bergen with Charlie McCarthy. Today, audiences still enjoy performances in stunning surroundings: the Elgin’s dramatic gold-leaf-and-cherub interior and the Winter Garden’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream–inspired décor, complete with tree branches overhead. The stages host Broadway-style musicals, comedians, jazz concerts, operas, and Toronto International Film Festival screenings. Monday-afternoon guided tours (90 minutes long) are usually offered a few select days each month.

This handsome 1,135-seat concert hall pleases performers and audiences with rich acoustics and undulating wood "strings" floating overhead. Acts have included such greats as Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, Ravi Shankar, Midori, Taj Mahal, and Savion Glover. It's known as the crown jewel of The Royal Conservatory's headquarters.

This historic, world-renowned concert venue has delivered near-perfect acoustics and hosted top artists since 1894—from Dizzy Gillespie to Justin Bieber—along with comedians, indie bands, dance performances, and theater productions. Massey Hall reopened in 2021 after a three-year closure, unveiling a beautifully restored facade, carefully hand-repaired ceiling arches, and the new Allied Music Centre, a seven-story glass tower that adds space for events.

Toronto's premier concert hall, home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, also hosts visiting orchestras, popular entertainers, and Toronto International Film Festival red-carpet screenings. The 2,630-seat auditorium opened in 1982 and is named after Roy Thomson, who was born in Toronto and founded the publishing empire Thomson Corporation (now Thomson Reuters).

Founded in 1998 by twelve Canadian artists, Soulpepper is one of Toronto’s most well-known, independent, not-for-profit theater companies. Known for its bold and thoughtful programming, Soulpepper stages a dynamic mix of classics, original plays, musicals, and concerts throughout the year. One of its most famous productions was Ins Choi's play Kim's Convenience, which became a popular TV show. With a commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement, this company is a cornerstone of the city's vibrant performing arts scene.

The oldest contemporary dance company in the city, TDT has created more than 100 original works since its beginnings in the 1960s, often using original scores by Canadian composers. Multiple pieces are performed each year at its home base, the Winchester Street Theatre, in Cabbagetown.

Perhaps the most important film festival in the world after Cannes and Sundance, TIFF is open to the public and even the star-studded galas are accessible to the average Joe. More than 300 works by both acclaimed and lesser-known directors from around the world are shown. Movies that premiere at TIFF have won Academy Awards and launched the careers of emerging actors and directors—TIFF audiences have been among the first in the world to see movies like La La Land, Slumdog Millionaire, and Juno. The red carpet is rolled out for star-studded premieres, and actors and directors may be on hand afterward for Q&As. Along with the serious documentaries, foreign films, and Oscar contenders, TIFF has fun with its Midnight Madness program, screening campy horror films, comedies, and action movies.

Since 1922 this orchestra has achieved world acclaim with music directors such as Sir Ernest MacMillan, Seiji Ozawa, and Sir Andrew Davis. Canadian-born Peter Oundjian reinvigorated the ensemble and significantly strengthened its presence in the world when he was musical director from 2004 until 2018. Guest performers have included pianist Lang Lang, violinist Itzhak Perlman, and singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. Each season the orchestra screens a classic film, such as Star Wars or Singin' in the Rain, and plays the score as it runs. The TSO also presents about three concerts weekly at Roy Thomson Hall from October through June.

Toronto's go-to spot for experimental music, the self-titled "center for creative music" presents an eclectic selection of avant-garde and experimental music from world and classical to jazz and avant-pop in a relaxed environment.

Canada's largest queer theater company presents edgy plays and festivals, as well as specialty events like parties, burlesque, and stand-up. 

When summer comes, this outdoor amphitheater at the waterfront becomes one of the most sought-after concert venues in town. With a capacity of 16,000, it's a spot for big touring acts of all genres, from classic rock like Santana to hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar. It's also a common venue for hometown hero Drake's headline-grabbing OVO Fest and an annual warm-weather blowout for local folk-rockers Blue Rodeo. It's a seated venue, partially covered, though open-air tickets on a back lawn are also available. Nearby venue Echo Beach also offers slightly smaller shows on sand.

Canadian Stage is the country’s leading contemporary performing arts organization, focusing on cross-disciplinary works that integrate theater, dance, film, visual arts, and more to reflect the complexity and cultural richness of Canada. It stages productions at the Bluma Appel Theatre ( 27 Front St. E), which seats 867, and the more intimate Berkeley Street Theatre ( 26 Berkeley St.), which has a capacity of 244 seats.

This 1920 vaudeville theater has gone by many names over the years, including the Pantages, the Imperial and the Canon. Now named for local businessman and theater impresario Ed Mirvish, it ranks among the most architecturally and acoustically impressive live theaters in Toronto. Designers consider it one of the most beautiful theaters in the world. The building underwent a major refurbishment in 1989. World-renowned theater architect Thomas Lamb designed the space, which features a grand staircase, gold-leaf detailing, and crystal chandeliers.

This historic music venue is famous for legendary '70s concerts by the Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello, but after local celebrity investor Michael Wekerle bought it and gave it an expensive renovation, it's active again in the 2020s. Still an intimate space with two different stages, the Elmo (as it's affectionately known) is now a very shiny, neon-lit tribute to classic rock with some of the crispest sound and lighting in town. Tickets can be costly.

This is the country's largest producer of exclusively Canadian plays. Many of the company's shows are world premieres that have gone on to tour Canada and win prestigious awards.

This sweeping Queen Anne revival–style building, built in 1889, is one of the city's grandest concert venues, with four event spaces packed over three stories. The Main Hall is a cavernous auditorium with a second-floor gallery overlooking the main floor below, though events are also often held in the basement-level Longboat Hall, which was once a gymnasium in the building's former life as a YMCA. The space hosts everything from touring bands to theater events to craft shows.

The main theater space of the University of Toronto since 1919, Hart House mounts emerging-artist and student productions throughout the school year, with musicals, dance, Shakespeare, contemporary plays, and classics all represented.

Created in concert with homegrown megastar Drake, this spacious 2,550-seat venue is a bona fide performing arts destination in the otherwise sleepy Beach, drawing boldface names across a variety of genres—Stereolab, the Psychedelic Furs, Lil Nas X, Muse, and Demi Lovato, to name just a few.

North America's largest documentary film festival. April--May.

If you like your films factual, informative, and inspiring, then the Hot Docs Cinema is for you. The permanent home of the Hot Docs festival each spring, this historic cinema (which opened in 1913) also has an ongoing calendar of documentaries, plus special engagements and crowd-pleasing classics.

This major event features films made by and about people in the LGBTQ+ community. May--June.

Formerly the Sony Centre, this iconic 3,172-seat hall was deemed a heritage building by the City of Toronto in 2008 and boasts an international program of diverse yet mostly mainstream artists. Paul Simon, the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and RuPaul's Drag Race Werq the World Tour are among those who have graced the hall’s stage.

Canada's internationally recognized classical-ballet company was founded in 1951 and is made up of more than 70 dancers and its own orchestra boasting alumnus Karen Kain as artistic director. It's the only company in Canada to perform a full range of traditional full-length ballet classics, including frequent stagings of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. The company also performs contemporary works and is dedicated to the development of Canadian choreography. The season runs late fall through spring at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Canada's first purpose-built ballet opera house.

This art deco--era cinema located a few minutes west of the Annex underwent a splashy restoration in 2019. Classic and second-run movies are screened here, but the theater also plays host to live events, including a popular candlelit concert series. Grab a glass of wine at Blue Door Wine Shop, coffee or breakfast at Cafe Paradise, or Italian fare at an outpost of local chain Piano Piano.

State-of-the-art facilities and wonderful murals by American artist Frank Stella grace this 2,000-seat theater, built by father-and-son producer team Ed and David Mirvish in 1993 to accommodate the technically demanding musical Miss Saigon. Big-budget musicals like Come from Away and The Book of Mormon and plays such as War Horse are also showcased.

The most historic of the Mirvish theaters, the "Royal Alex" has been the place to be seen in Toronto since 1907 and is the oldest continuously operating legitimate theater in North America. The restored and reconfigured theater features 1,244 plush red seats, gold plasterwork, and baroque swirls and flourishes that make theatergoing a refined experience. Charlton Heston made his debut here and Lawrence Olivier, Edith Piaf, Mary Pickford, Alan Bates, and John Gielgud have also graced the stage. Programs are a mix of blockbuster musicals and dramatic productions, some touring before or after Broadway appearances.

This fully restored 1939 single-screen theater hosts film fest screenings and special engagements, as well as live comedy and music. On top of the usual concessions, next-door bar Birreria Volo has opened a café and snack bar in the lobby, so you can grab a bite even on the days you can't catch a flick.

Most arena shows are held here rather than at the larger Rogers Centre due to superior acoustics. Past performances at the nearly 20,000-capacity arena have included Beyoncé, Rod Stewart, American Idol Live!, and Nine Inch Nails.

This modern, intimate theater is home to long-running local company Crow's Theatre, which is devoted to thought-provoking contemporary theater from Canadian and international playwrights. Italian eatery Piano Piano is on-site for pre- or post-show eats and cocktails.