Blog Layout

How To Festival: Luminato 2022

Author name

Long days. Warm nights. It’s summer in Toronto and Luminato 2022 is here! We could not be more excited to reignite the city with 11 days of music, dance, theatre, art, literature, and much more. There is  so much  to see and do across the city region. Here is your guide to your best Luminato experience.

Kick off the festival with Luminato Live at Yonge-Dundas Square! All free. All weekend !

A poster for luminato live at yonge dundas square

Perfect for: Concert Goers, Sustainable Shoppers and Families 
When: June 9-12
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square

The festival opens Thursday, June 9 at 7pm with  iskwē’s  beautiful concert  acākosīk ( the stars). On Friday night we welcome the  Molinari Quartet  (7pm), followed by the divine  Beverly Glenn-Copeland  and the  Queer Songbook Youth Orchestra .

Come down to the Square Saturday and Sunday for free concerts with a lineup featuring The Heavyweights Brass Band , New Tradition Music , Aysanabee and many more. See the full lineup here.

Illuminating Ideas will have four special activations and talks at Yonge-Dundas. Before I Die… , Migration Celebration  , Pearls of Wisdom  , and Drag Queen Story Time . Get the details here.

Experience the World Premiere of Edward Burtynsky’s In the Wake of Progress June 11 & 12

Photo of Yonge Dundas Square in Toronto with Edward Burtynsky's photography filling the screens in the square

Perfect for: Photographers, Anyone looking for their next great social media post 
When:  June 11 & 12 at 8pm
Where:  Yonge – Dundas Square

The world premiere of renowned Canadian photographer  Edward Burtynsky’s  In the Wake of Progress  tells the epic tale of humanity’s impact on the planet. 

Do not miss this free, outdoor  experience playing on the immense digital screens surrounding Yonge-Dundas Square.


See everyone’s favourite environmentalist David Suzuki in What You Won’t Do For Love June 9-19

Perfect for: The Eco Conscious Couple
When: Thursday, June 9 – Sunday June 12 and Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19
Where: Canadian Opera Company Theatre

Can the love we have for each other inspire us to take action for the planet? Dr. David Suzuki and his partner for 5 decades, Dr. Tara Cullis think love is the answer. Get your tickets for this unique and uplifting theatre experience!

Join us for a fantastic night of books, music, and conversation in Beloved: A Celebration of Toni Morrison

A collection of books including butter honey pig bread and opal & nev

Perfect for: Book Worms and Book Clubs
When: June 17 & 18
Where: Elgin Wintergarden Theatre

Join leading Canadian literary critic Donna Bailey Nurse for a fabulous talk show style evening celebrating the legacy of Toni Morrison with an incredible lineup of acclaimed Black women writers. Grab your girlfriends, a glass of wine, and join us for a fantastic night of books, music, and conversation.

Discover your next favourite artist at Woodbine Weekend

A poster for woodbine weekend on saturday june 18
A poster for woodbine weekend on june 19th

Perfect for: Music lovers, concert-goers
When: June 18 & 19
Where: Woodbine Park

Wrap up Luminato 2022 and launch your summer with two days of fabulous free music, art, conversation and food. On June 18th and 19th we transform Woodbine Park into a magical urban fairground filled with concerts, parades, and joyful celebration.

Discover  The Great Fire , a storytelling installation by Necessary Angel Theatre Company that’s tucked into the woods,  The Ideas Tent , and Oluseye Ogunlesi’s installation  Black Ark , down by the water.

Get the Details here

Illuminating Ideas will have five special and exciting panels and talks at Woodbine Park. The Ideas Tent , Woodbine Beach Clean Up Crew , Ancestral Resilience , Massey and Me , and Safe Harbour?  Get the details here.

Get playful on the GO with Art in Transit: Luminato on the GO!

A woman , a man and a woman are standing next to each other in front of a microphone.
Art by Mike Ellis

Perfect for:  Commuters, Street Theatre Fans
When:  Weekdays from Thursday, June 9 – Friday, June 17
Where:  Various GO Trains across the GTA

A fish walks onto a GO Train…
Follow  grumpy, urban Fish , suited and caffeinated, as he begins his morning commute yearning for the water. With assistance from a cheery Train Conductor and chance encounters with musicians and dancers, Fish rides the train all the way home to Lake Ontario, while slowly transforming into his true aquatic self. 

Click to see more details and daily schedule


Have fun at the festival’s after-party every night at Late Night Cabaret!

A stage with a lot of lights on it and a red curtain.

Perfect for:  Fans of Drag Brunch, Anyone compelled by the phrase  late night
When:   Friday, June 10 – Saturday, June 18
Where:  Theatre Passe Muraille

End your evening with art at the  Late Night Cabaret , where intimate live performances are peppered through 10 evenings of drinks, chats, and convivial brouhaha. Running throughout the festival from June 10 to 18th at the Festival Hub in Theatre Passe Muraille, the Late Night Cabaret features artists from across the festival and the Luminato community.  Tickets will be available at the door.

Get the Details here


Illuminating Ideas and an Eco-Fair light up Yonge-Dundas Square June 9-12

Okay so you love music, but you’re also looking for somewhere to bring your family, learn about the environment, and support local eco-friendly businesses? You’re in luck! Check out our round up of sustainable, family-friendly activities below.

A black and white photo of a woman , a man and a woman

Pearls of Wisdom 
Featuring Pam Palmater, David Suzuki, Edward Burtynsky and the Youth Climate Collective from Lakeshore Arts
June 11, 3   PM

Looking back on the environmental movement in the 30 years (nearly to the day) since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janiero, join  Pam Palmater ,  Dr David Suzuki , and  Edward Burtynsky  in conversation about how the environmental movement has changed, celebrating the victories of the last thirty years, and examining the failures. Following a discussion the panelists will be joined by youth activist-artists from Lakeshore Arts’ Youth Climate Collective, to answer the question “What do we do now?”

Drag Queen Story Time: Nature Edition  
Featuring Fay Slift & Fluffy Souffle  
June 12, 3pm 

Fun for the whole family! Fay & Fluffy are here to make Storytimes a little more FABULOUS (with MUCH more glitter!). Their Storytimes are for everyone willing to have some laughs – from babies to grandparents.  Join the queens at Yonge-Dundas Square for a special Storytime all about nature, the environment, and sustainability.

Eco-Fair at Luminato Live at Yonge-Dundas Square!
June 11 & 12
2pm-8pm

Bringing together local makers, artisans, and climate-conscious entrepreneurs. Grab a snack in a cute reusable jar from Unboxed, and fill your own mug with coffee from Coffee and Clothing.

Check out the video for a glimpse of what to expect at the Eco-Fair!

Vendors include  allBambu, A Different Booklist, Coffee and Clothing, Roots + Raven, Unboxed Market, Upmade , and  ANDPVA Art Market .

Learn more here.

COVID-19 Policy & Procedures

With the health and safety of our audiences, artists, staff, and volunteers as our top priority, Luminato will continue to require proof of vaccination for all indoor performances in 2022. While the government of Ontario has lifted the mandatory check for vaccine passports as of March 1, we are choosing to keep our policy in place. We thank you for your patience and understanding as government policies are continually changing. Face masks are required for all indoor performances. Face masks are strongly encouraged for all outdoor performances. 

Luminato’s Vaccine Policy

  • Audiences will be required to show proof of full vaccination and photo ID for all indoor performances. Proof of vaccination must include the attendee’s name, date of vaccination and product name (brand of vaccine). The receipt can be in paper or in an electronic format (shown on the patron’s phone).    
  • Proof of ID must include the patron’s name and date of birth. 
  • NO information is kept on file. This means you have to show proof of vaccination and ID at every event you attend. 
  • Remember, you are considered ‘fully vaccinated’ only 14 days after your second dose.  
  • For outdoor performances and events, proof of vaccination is not required. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to  tickets@luminato.com. 

A yellow background with a pattern of icons and the words `` become a member ''.

Want to save 25% on tickets? Become a Luminato member!

Join Today

Coming from out of town and looking for somewhere to stay? Check out our Official Hotel Partner: Chelsea Hotel, Toronto

Official Hotel Partner

The logo for the chelsea hotel in toronto.

Improving onboarding in the arts: research and guidelines for arts organizations

By laterskatersgang • October 10, 2023
In the spring of 2022, Canadian Stage and Luminato invited Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) to gather information related to production processes and practices for onboarding artists, artistic directors and those who support artists. Luminato and Canadian Stage invited CPAMO to conduct research, focus groups, interviews and document review on an international […]

How To Festival: Luminato 2023

By laterskatersgang • June 6, 2023
Start your summer with a bang: Luminato Festival Toronto begins June 7! Experience Luminato Festival Toronto June 7 – 18 with art and culture across the city. This year, we explore ideas centered around the importance of home. Through heartfelt cultural stories in the form of street art, opera, theatre, visual art, and music, we […]
A gift box with a blue bow is surrounded by a variety of items.

Luminato’s Holiday Gift Guide

By laterskatersgang • December 1, 2022
The holiday season is upon us and we’re gearing up for all the gift giving and shopping that will ensue in the following weeks. Are you dreading the massive lines and crowds in malls and shopping centers? So are we, that’s why we curated a unique list of gift items for any and every arts […]
The word start is written in green and yellow on a blue background.

A Glimpse of Luminato 2023

By laterskatersgang • November 22, 2022
Today we’re thrilled to share our first installment of the 2023 festival program featuring exceptional productions coming to the stage from June 7th to June 18th, 2023. With two world premieres, a new vision for a seldom seen opera, a rare revival of a seminal dance work and a hit from the touring circuit, June’s […]

An Important Announcement from Luminato’s Artistic Director, Naomi Campbell

By laterskatersgang • October 19, 2022
Cover photo of Naomi Campbell, Artistic Director (left) and Celia Smith, CEO (right) by Cassandra Popescu. Naomi Campbell has decided that Luminato’s 2023 festival will be her final festival as our Artistic Director. For over a decade, Naomi Campbell has been part of Luminato and this June will mark her fifth year as the Artistic […]
A crowd of people are watching a display of confetti in the sky.

Visual Artist Katharine Harvey Explores a New Medium with Drone Performances

By laterskatersgang • October 14, 2022
What if great art could come to life, defy gravity, and fly through the sky? That’s exactly what Katharine Harvey is bringing to Toronto’s skyline in Turning in the Light, an artwork that will be presented at Light Up Downsview: A Drone Performance by Katharine Harvey on November 12, 2022.  Katharine Harvey is a contemporary Canadian […]
A man playing a piano in front of a large screen

The Slaight Family Foundation Commits $15M to Rejuvenate Theatre Companies

By laterskatersgang • September 28, 2022
Banner image of Jeremy Dutcher performing in Biziindan! Luminato 2019 by Jeremy Mimnagh. Supported by Slaight Music. Thank you to our long-term supporter, Gary Slaight and the Slaight Family Foundation, for your $15M transformational gift to support theatres and artists recovering from pandemic closures. We’re honoured to be in the company of incredible Canadian theatre […]
A woman with curly hair is smiling in a black and white photo.

Aminatta Forna on Toni Morrison

By laterskatersgang • June 13, 2022
“The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists […]

Truth in Timbre: On Reading Toni Morrison- Kerry Clare

By laterskatersgang • June 10, 2022
It’s only been in the last few years that I’ve started to read the novels of Toni Morrison— Beloved, Sula, Jazz, and just recently her debut The Bluest Eye—and for me, this has been a process of becoming, of watching the possibilities of literature unfolding. Mesmerizing, and also disorientating. I’ve found understanding these novels to […]
A black and white photo of a woman smiling with her hand on her chin.

Cherie Jones on Toni Morrison

By laterskatersgang • June 6, 2022
There was this one summer, I must have been about 12, when I discovered the writing of both Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. Maya’s writing was open, honest, embracing. Toni’s, equally important, equally honest, was somehow more obscure. Maya’s truths were clearly presented, served like confidences between firm friends. Toni’s left me peeling back the […]
More Posts
Share by: