The 30-second answer
The Toronto Outdoor Art Fair — locals still call it TOAF — runs Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12, 2026 at Nathan Phillips Square, the plaza in front of City Hall at 100 Queen Street West. Admission is free. This is the fair's 65th edition, making it Canada's largest and longest-running juried contemporary outdoor art fair, first held in 1961.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For the 65th-birthday weekend, the fair's Art Terrace stays open until 9 p.m. on Saturday. You will find more than 400 artists showing painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking and more — every one of them juried for originality, not pay-to-play booths.
One weekend, 400+ artists, and nothing between you and the work but a plaza.— North York Guide
Getting there from North York
This is a downtown event, but it is one of the easiest downtown trips to make from North York — a single subway line, no transfer.
- Board TTC Line 1 (Yonge) southbound at Finch, North York Centre, or Sheppard–Yonge.
- Ride straight to Queen Station at Queen & Yonge, then walk a few minutes west along Queen Street to the square in front of City Hall.
- Coming down the University side of the line? St. Patrick Station at Queen & University is an equally short walk from the west edge of the square.
- Driving is the harder option — City Hall's Green P garage sits under the square, but summer-weekend downtown parking fills early and costs far more than two transit fares.
You do not need a ticket, and there is no admission fee.
TOAF is free to enter for all three days — no timed tickets, no gate. You only pay if you decide to buy a piece. Many artists take cards, and prices run from small affordable works to gallery-scale originals.
What's new for the 65th
The birthday edition leans into range — coast-to-coast artists and off-site shows alongside the plaza itself.
- Coast-to-coast reach — 79 artists from across Canada, the fair's largest national representation yet, including a second-year Atlantic Canada spotlight.
- "A Forwards Retreat" — a feature bringing together five artists on the theme of creative longevity.
- "Don't Look Back" — an off-site exhibition at Koffler Arts tied to the anniversary.
- Emily Carr University partnership — showcasing student artists from British Columbia.
- 60+ online-only artists plus contemporary dance performances, guided art tours, talks, and family activities across the weekend.
Planning a fuller July in the city? Our Local Events hub tracks what's on around North York and the wider GTA, and Summerlicious 2026 overlaps this same weekend if you want dinner to bookend the art.