LUMINATO FESTIVAL TORONTO RETURNS WITH AN EXCITING JUNE 2024 PROGRAMME LINEUP 

TORONTO, ON (April 10, 2024) This June, Luminato Festival Toronto, the city’s multi-arts festival, returns to kick off the summer with memorable art experiences. From June 5 to 16, Luminato will present a stellar programming lineup featuring exceptional Canadian and international artists who will illuminate the city with a unique blend of music, dance, theatre, performance art, and more. 

From parks and sidewalks, to theatres, galleries and major transit locations, this year’s festival will be in neighborhoods across the Toronto region and invites attendees to talk, laugh, dance, listen, create, and enjoy each other. “Luminato produces once-in-a-lifetime inclusive art experiences that highlight the absolute best of our city, region and country,” says Celia Smith, CEO of Luminato Festival Toronto. “As a city-building festival, we create environments which inspire, unite, and start conversations that can lead to positive changes in our daily lives.” 

Luminato 2024 introduces the Canadian premiere of Geoff Sobelle’s interactive theatrical work, HOME. The immensely popular piece constructs a house from nothing before the audiences’ eyes and uses innovative theatre magic to chronicle the transformation of a house into a home. After captivating over a million people worldwide, the international sensation 360 ALLSTARS will celebrate their 10th anniversary world tour showcasing all forms of rotation (360°, get it?!). This high-octane urban circus from Onyx Productions combines BMX, basketball, breakdancing, acrobatics, drumming, and live music. Witness and engage with UK artist Sonia Hughes over a 7-hour period as she constructs and dismantles a steel-and-lumber structure in different locations each day. Her outdoor interactive piece, I Am from Reykjavik demonstrates the experience of newcomers searching for home. Bring your cameras to capture Atelier Sisu’s captivating ‘art-chitecture’ installation Evanescent, where you can interact with giant incandescent bubbles. 

For twelve exciting days in June, Luminato invites residents and visitors to explore the city in fresh and surprising ways. "Luminato Festival Toronto continues to showcase the significant impact that festivals and events can have in communities across Ontario.” said Hon. Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport. “This 12-day celebration of the arts offers unique experiences that draw visitors from near and far to Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, fostering a dynamic arts and culture environment that also provides a welcomed boost to local businesses. Our government is proud to support Luminato Festival Toronto 2024 and its contributions to Ontario’s reputation as a world-class arts and culture destination.” 

The programming for Luminato 2024 has been developed by Senior Programmer Cathy Gordon with Senior Producer Lani Milstein and Programmer/Producer Adam Barrett. Together, this exceptional team has ensured that the programming for this year's festival is nothing short of extraordinary and promises something for everyone! 

"I am extremely proud of the festival this year, a program collaboratively realized with Adam and Lani and our many curating partners, fine-tuned by listening to our colleagues, access advisory, and audiences. I hope you will join us as Luminato reflects a Toronto filled with energy and possibility." - Cathy Gordon

Full programmer statement

2024 Festival Programme 

Luminato in the Square* 

Location: David Pecaut Square 

Dates: June 7 – 16 

Admission: Free 

Categories: Outdoor, Family-Friendly, Multi-Art, Public Art, Music, Dance, Immersive, Interactive, BIPOC Art, Indigenous Art, - Black Art, South Asian Art, Latin American Art 

Luminato will take over David Pecaut Square, this time for the duration of the festival. Luminato in the Square, our free festival hub will delight festival-goers with concerts, performances, activities, food, and markets for that summer festival feeling in downtown Toronto. 

Presented by the Province of Ontario 

Supported by TD Bank Group 

Indigenous Programming is supported by The Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Family Foundation and OLG 

*Full lineup of Luminato in the Square programming will be available on May 7, 2024 

Age is a Feeling, Written and Performed by Haley McGee 

Soulpepper presents the Soho Theatre and Haley McGee Production in association with Luminato Festival Toronto 

Location: Luminato on Stage, The Young Centre for the Performing Arts 

Dates: May 29 – June 16 

Tickets: $36, $65 and $87 plus select ‘pay what you choose nights’ 

Categories: Theatre, On Stage 

This never-the-same-twice show written and performed by Dora-award winning Haley McGee, is a gripping story about how our relationship with mortality shapes the way we live. Inspired by hospices, mystics and trips to the cemetery, Age is a Feeling wrestles with our endless chances to change course while we’re alive. Charting the seminal moments, rites of passage and turning points in an adult life - your life - from the day you turn 25 through to your death, this Olivier-nominated and Fringe First winning production celebrates the glorious and melancholy unknowability of human life. 

Dance/ Ipásskaa by Terrance Houle 

Location: TBD

Dates: June 5 – 16   

Admission: Free 

Categories: Family-Friendly, Public Art, Indigenous Art 

Terrance Houle grew up dancing across North America. As a member of the Kainai Nation, his mother, Maxine Weasel Fat, painstakingly crafted regalia for his family to dance in - from his sister Jolane’s Elk Tooth dress to his daughter’s Jingle dress. In this photographic mural, Terrance captures these garments in motion. Dance/ Ipásskaa is a visual feast that honours his mother’s creations and invites viewers to witness the legacy of the Kainai Nation through the eyes of one family. 

SPACED curated by Banded Purple

Location: Luminato in Transit – Select TTC Stations (Kennedy Station, Spadina Station, Finch Station, York University Station) 

Dates: June 5 – 16 

Admission: Free with paid entry to the TTC 

Categories: Family-Friendly, Public Art, BIPOC Art, Black Art, South Asian Art, Latin American Art

SPACED, curated by Banded Purple, celebrates the notion that art can be found in every corner and can permeate every aspect of our lives. The artists behind SPACED aim to take up space and affirm their own presence in the world, and to inspire people to recognize the beauty that exists in the world even in the most unlikely of spaces.

Dancer of the Year by Trajal Harrell 

Location: Luminato on Stage, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts 

Dates: Thursday, June 6 – 7:00 p.m. followed by an Artist talk with Miles Greenberg 

Friday, June 7 – 7:00 p.m. followed by an Artist talk with Olivia Ansell, new Artistic Director of Luminato Festival Toronto 

Tickets: $49, $79, $99 Arts Worker/Student $30 

Categories: Dance, On Stage, Black Art 

The North American premiere of Dancer of the Year represents the seminal work within Trajal Harrell’s artistic journey, offering a deeply emotional and immersive experience for viewers, regardless of their familiarity with dance. This performance invites you to reflect on your own place in the world and understand your worth beyond public recognition and accolades.

Presented by Ian and Kiki Delaney, C.M. with lead support from BMO.

I Am from Reykjavik by Sonia Hughes

Location: Luminato across the GTA (Specific locations TBC)

Dates: Friday, June 7 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 8 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Tuesday, June 11 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 12 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Admission: Free 

Categories: Outdoors, Family-Friendly, Performance Art, Public Art, Interactive, Black Art 

Sonia Hughes is on a mission to feel that she can be anywhere in the world, all of herself and unapologetic. In her performance she invites audiences to reflect on their own place in the world, prompting them to question their identity, and who belongs where. I Am From Reykjavik is not just a performance but an opportunity for introspection. It challenges us to reconsider our relationship with space and time, to blur the boundaries between ourselves and others, and to embrace the potential for meaningful connections in unexpected places. Join Sonia Hughes on this transformative journey, part-ceremony, part-sculpture, part-protest, as she builds and dismantles her home to find her own sense of belonging amongst strangers.

We will be offering free community workshops related to this work. More info to come.

Evanescent by Atelier Sisu* 

Location: Luminato in the Square, David Pecaut Square and Arnell Plaza, Bay Adelaide Centre 

Dates: June 7 – 16 

Admission: Free 

Categories: Outdoors, Public Art, Family-Friendly, Immersive 

This immersive piece of ‘art-chitecture’ appeals to our universal playfulness and childlike wonder. Evanescent is about living fully in the moment and not taking life, in all its beauty, for granted. This large-scale public artwork is Instagram-worthy, yet its magical message might just encourage you to put your phone aside.

*Evanescent will be on display at Arnell Plaza at Bay Adelaide Centre, Brookfield Place and First Canadian Place from June 18 until July 30, following the festival. 

Presented by Brookfield Properties.

Afrikan Party – Supa Rich Kids by Oulouy

Location: Luminato on Stage, St. Lawrence Centre for the Performing Arts

Dates: Saturday, June 8 – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 9 – 2 p.m.

Tickets: $39, $59, $79 | 4-Pack: $125, $185, and $250 | Arts Workers/Student: $30 

Categories: Family-Friendly, Dance, On Stage, Multi-Art, Black Art

Afrikan Party - Supa Rich Kids is a futuristic ode to Afrika, and a celebration of life. Join the party and experience this mesmerizing showcase of dance, fashion, mime, music, and performance. Crafted by the visionary choreographer Oulouy, an icon in the global street dance movement, and performed by him with his crew Supa Rich Kids, is a rich experience of fashion, mime, music, and dance that you don’t want to miss. 

We will be offering free community workshops related to this work. More info to come.

Lead support from BMO. 

And Still We Sing…Missa Afro-Brasileira: A Syncretism of Voice and Dance by The Nathaniel Dett Chorale

Co-produced by The Nathaniel Dett Chorale and Luminato Festival Toronto

Location: Luminato on Stage, Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning

Dates: Tuesday, June 11 – 8 p.m.

Tickets: $49, $69, and $89 | Arts Worker/Student: $30 | Seniors: $39

Categories: Family-Friendly, Music, Dance, On Stage, Multi-Art, Black Art

For one night only, celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada’s first professional choir specializing in Afrocentric music, with this must-see performance. And Still We Sing…Missa Afro-Brasileira: A Syncretism of Voice and Dance by The Nathaniel Dett Chorale erases the divisions between the sacred, the secular, the popular and the classical. Featuring Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, and BaKari I. Lindsay & The AFeeree Project, this powerful experience of song and dance will leave you deeply moved and forever changed as you experience the rich cultures of Africa and its Diasporas. 

Support in honour of Peter Herrndorf from The Michelle Koerner Family Foundation and The Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation.

HOME by Geoff Sobelle 

Location: Luminato on Stage, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

Dates: Thursday, June 13 – 8 p.m. 

Friday, June 14 – 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 15 – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 16 – 2 p.m.

Tickets: $39, $59, $89, $119 | Arts Worker/Student: $30 

Categories: Theatre, On Stage, Interactive

Homes are more than four walls and a ceiling. They are living, changing things that hold and shape our lives. Experience the Canadian premiere of Geoff Sobelle’s captivating and interactive theatrical work, HOME. The immensely popular piece constructs a house from nothing right in front of your eyes. Delight in this unique mix of illusion, choreography, construction, music and live documentary. Follow as this house becomes a home through the sometimes painful, messy and transformative process of life

R.A.V.E., Created, co-directed and performed by Me Time, Co-devised and co-directed by !Kona 

Produced by Outside the March and The R.A.V.E Institute in Association with Luminato Festival Toronto 

Location: Secret location in North York - TBA 

Dates: Sunday, June 9 – 8 p.m. (preview) 

Wednesday, June 12 – 8 p.m. (preview) 

Thursday, June 13 – 8 p.m. 

Friday, June 14 – 8 p.m. 

Saturday, June 15 – 8 p.m. 

Sunday, June 16 – 8 p.m. 

Admission: TBA 

Categories: Dance, Music, Interactive, Immersive, Black Art

Get ready to be blown away by the highly anticipated global debut of R.A.V.E., an extraordinary celebration of dance, music, and storytelling curated by the visionary DJ "The Founder". Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind experience where cutting-edge R.A.V.E. technology merges seamlessly with captivating narratives and infectious dance beats, resulting in a truly transformative journey. Don't let this incredible opportunity slip through your fingers - come and join us on the dance floor to synchronize with your destiny, regardless of whether you're a seasoned raver or a complete novice. Leave your worries behind and let the power of R.A.V.E. transport you to a world of pure bliss and self-discovery.

360 ALLSTARS by Onyx Productions

Location: Luminato on Stage, Young Peoples Theatre

Dates: Saturday, June 15 – 7 p.m. (60 minute performance) 

Sunday, June 16 – 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (60 min performance) 

Tickets: $39, $49, and $59 | Arts Worker/Student: $30

Categories: Family-Friendly, On Stage, Multi-Arts, Sports 

Get ready to be blown away as the international sensation 360 ALLSTARS bring their electrifying urban circus to Luminato Festival Toronto for their 10th anniversary world tour. This show is not your ordinary circus; it's a unique fusion of BMX, basketball, breakdancing, acrobatics, drumming, and more. Prepare to be amazed by this jaw-dropping cast of world champions and record holders as they transform the stage into a vibrant display of skill, speed, and sound. Don’t miss out on this reinvented circus experience of the extraordinary artistry that emerges from street culture.

We will be offering free community workshops related to this work. More info to come.

Supported by Fitzrovia.

Conversation Series

Go beyond the main stage with Luminato’s Conversation Series of engaging talks and resources which explore the ideas that fuel the festival. Join us for candid and meaningful discussions about the realities we face and the futures we can envision and create, together. No idea is off-limits as we dig into the issues that affect our communities, our families, our systems, and our lives. Art starts conversations. We invite you to join the conversation. 

This year, the series will feature talks with Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem; Julie Crooks, Curator at the AGO; Justine Abigail Yu of Living Hyphen; and Shannon Chochrane, Artistic Director of FADO Performance Art. 

Industry Series 

As a proud convenor of global art and artists in Toronto, Luminato’s 7th annual Industry Series will offer opportunities for Canadian artists to learn from their global peers and mentors and share their expertise on the world stage. With a mix of showcases, networking opportunities, and in-depth discussions, we're bringing together diverse art communities to explore what it means to be an artist today, across borders and cultures, and create the future of art. This year’s Pitch Session is co-curated by the National Creation Fund (NAC). 

Become a Luminato Member 

Experience Luminato Festival Toronto like a VIP! Members receive a 25% discount on 2024 tickets, exclusive benefits to enhance their festival experience, and gain access to culturally enriching events all year. Become a member today to enjoy the best of Luminato. 

Luminato Festival Toronto 2024 Supporters 

Founding Government Partner: Province of Ontario

Major Partners: City of Toronto, Government of Canada

Corporate Partners: TD Bank Group, BMO, Brookfield Properties, OLG, Fitzrovia, Power Corporation of Canada, GreekTown on the Danforth BIA, Solotech, Delta Air Lines, Oxford Properties.

Individual Donors and Foundations: Anonymous, Donald K. Johnson, O.C. LLD, Ian and Kiki Delaney, C.M., The Slaight Family Foundation, Sandra Pitblado, C.M. and Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Family Foundation, Eva Czigler and Peter Herrndorf †, C.C. O.Ont, The Canavan Family Foundation, Linda Chu and John Donald, Lucille and Urban Joseph, O.C., Kingfisher Foundation, The Michelle Koerner Family Foundation, The Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation, Dasha Shenkman OBE, Joan and Jerry Lozinski, The Sabourin Family Foundation, The Azrieli Foundation, John and Leanna Bayliss, Anthony and Helen Graham, Tiana Koffler Boyman and Marc Boyman, Lindy Green Family Foundation, Partners in Art, Trina McQueen, O.C., and many more.

Government Partners: Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts 

Media and Agency Partners: Branded Cities, St. Joseph Communications, The Local Collective, the Toronto Star 

Transit Partner: GO Transit 

For Media 

Luminato Festival Toronto runs June 5 – 16, 2024 

Tickets for most shows are on sale now.

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About Luminato Festival Toronto 

Luminato Festival Toronto is a convenor and catalyst for big, bold contemporary works of art. Each June, Luminato kicks off the summer with a festival to welcome the world to Toronto, commissioning, producing, and presenting exceptional Canadian and international artists. Throughout the year, Luminato works with artists from the diverse cultures and communities of the city’s region, supporting creative development, and bringing their art to the world stage. We connect local voices with global conversations and ground our work in equity, inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability. Most importantly, we believe in the power of art to start conversations and inspire audiences.   

Luminato Festival Toronto gratefully acknowledges the support of our founding government partner, the Province of Ontario; our major partners, the City of Toronto and the Government of Canada; and our government partners, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.

Luminato Festival Toronto is grateful to operate on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Chippewa, the Anishnaabeg, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Wendat Confederacy, and many other Indigenous peoples, both known and unknown, past and present.

For more information visit luminatofestival.com or follow us on Instagram: @LuminatoFestival | YouTube: LuminatoEvents | X: @Luminato | Facebook: @LuminatoFestival | TikTok: @luminatofestival | LinkedIn: @luminatofestival 

Media Contact

Deanne Moser

DMPUBLIC

(+1) 647-888-9388   deanne@dmpublic.com