The 39th-edition issue Reviewed Sunday, May 24, 2026 · 26 days to opening night
Koerner Hall in warm wooden tones during a full-house concert — home to the festival's biggest 2026 Koerner shows (Hiromi, Cassandra Wilson, Emilie-Claire Barlow), one Line 1 ride from North York
★ The 39th-edition issue · June 19–28

Ten days. One free hub. A Line 1 ride away.

TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2026 runs Jun 19–28 — 50 ticketed shows across 10 venues, plus 100+ free outdoor sets at OLG Village in Yorkville. No venue is in North York. The good news: the free hub is a 25-minute Line 1 trip from North York Centre, and four headliners play one transfer away.

📌 Reviewed May 24 — 26 days out By the North York Guide editors 8 min read
Live countdown to opening night
TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2026 · Fri Jun 19, 5:30 PM
--
Days
:
--
Hours
:
--
Min
:
--
Sec
10 days
Jun 19 — Jun 28
10 venues
All downtown / Yorkville
100+ free
At OLG Village in Yorkville
25 min
From North York Centre, Line 1
The 30-second answer

Ten days. Yorkville is the free hub. Line 1 is the cheat code.

The 39th annual TD Toronto Jazz Festival runs Friday June 19 through Sunday June 28, 2026. The free outdoor centre is OLG Village at Village of Yorkville Park (115 Cumberland St), running daily 5:30–10 PM with 100+ free sets across the run. No ticket required — first-come, first-served.

For North York readers: there are no festival venues in North York this year. But the free hub is a straight 25-minute Line 1 ride to Museum station, and the four marquee ticketed rooms — Koerner Hall, Danforth Music Hall, The Phoenix and The Mod Club — are all reachable in 30–45 minutes door-to-door. The single easiest trip: Line 1 to St. George for any Koerner Hall headliner. Zero transfers.

If you only have a minute

The seven shows to plan around

  1. OLG Village opening nightJun 19 · Free
  2. Hiromi's SonicwonderJun 27
  3. Cassandra WilsonJun 24 · from $40
  4. Ibrahim MaaloufJun 27
  5. KokorokoJun 25
  6. Avishai Cohen — late setJun 23 · 10:30 PM
  7. Transit from North YorkLine 1
Worth the trip from North York

Seven sets, ranked by what's actually worth the subway.

No North York venue, no North York shortcut — so the question is which sets justify the Line 1 ride. We ranked seven, free first, by the math of what you get for the trip and the cover charge.

★ Editor's pick · best $0 set
Fri Jun 19 · 5:30–10 PM · Free

OLG Village Stage — opening night

📍 Village of Yorkville Park · 115 Cumberland St · Line 1 · Museum station (5-min walk)
Cost
$0
Ages
All
Hours
5:30–10 PM

The festival opens with the full lineup of free outdoor acts on the OLG Village stage. Bay station is a 2-minute walk; Museum station 5 minutes. Food trucks (Poutine Supreme, Heavenly Dreams Ice Cream, Ali's Wraps), lawn games (Corn Hole, Connect 4, Ladder Toss), bring-your-own folding chairs allowed. Named acts across the run include Nancy Walker Quartet, Jodi Proznick's Ostara Project, Tamar Ilana and Ventanas, Curtis Nowosad's Noisy Project and Agenya.

No ticket needed: first-come, first-served entry. The most accessible summer trip from North York — two TTC fares, zero parking math, kid-friendly.
Schedule Map
Sat Jun 27 · 8 PM · Ticketed

Hiromi's Sonicwonder

📍 Koerner Hall · 273 Bloor St W, M5S 1W2 · Line 1 · St. George station (3-min walk)
Room
1,135 seats
Curtain
8 PM
Transit
30 min

Grammy-winning Japanese pianist Hiromi with her dynamic quartet Sonicwonder. Koerner Hall is one of the best-sounding rooms in the city, and from North York it's a single Line 1 ride with no transfers — exit St. George, walk three minutes east on Bloor.

The headliner you'll talk about: Koerner is where the festival's biggest international bookings live. Buy through torontojazz.com — third-party resellers list inflated prices.
Tickets Map
Wed Jun 24 · 7 PM · From $40

Cassandra Wilson — 30 years of New Moon Daughter

📍 Koerner Hall · 273 Bloor St W · Line 1 · St. George (3-min walk)
From
$40
Curtain
7 PM
Transit
30 min

The Grammy-winning vocalist celebrates the 30th anniversary of New Moon Daughter with four of the original musicians from the album. Co-presented with the Royal Conservatory. From $40 is the lowest-published headliner price on the festival — for the room and the artist, this is the value pick.

Why a Wednesday: 7 PM curtain means you're back on the subway well before midnight — no last-train math. Tuesday's Emilie-Claire Barlow at Koerner (Jun 23) is the same calculus if Wilson sells out.
Tickets Map
Sat Jun 27 · 8 PM · Ticketed

Ibrahim Maalouf — T.O.M.A. tour

📍 Danforth Music Hall · 147 Danforth Ave, M4K 1N2 · Line 2 · Broadview station (2-min walk)
Room
1,500
Curtain
8 PM
Transit
45 min

French-Lebanese trumpeter on his Trumpets of Michel-Ange tour — a jubilant blend of jazz, classical and Middle Eastern influences. Danforth Music Hall is two transfers from North York Centre (Line 1 south to Bloor-Yonge, Line 2 east to Broadview), but the venue holds its own and the Danforth post-show food strip is the best on the festival map.

The splurge slot: same night as Hiromi at Koerner. Pick one. If you'd rather have post-show souvlaki than a Bloor subway ride, this is the one.
Tickets Map
Thu Jun 25 · 8 PM · Ticketed

Kokoroko

📍 The Phoenix Concert Theatre · 410 Sherbourne St, M4X 1K2 · Line 1 · College + 506 streetcar
Room
1,350
Vibe
Standing
Transit
40 min

London Afrobeat/highlife collective Kokoroko, fresh off the Olivia Dean tour. Drawing from West African, UK and Jamaican influences — this is the only standing-room dance venue on the festival bill. Plan an Uber home — the Phoenix is a 506 streetcar transfer from the nearest subway and post-show service is thin.

For the dance crowd: the festival's loudest, most movement-oriented ticketed booking. If you'd rather sit and listen, swap to Hiromi or Cassandra at Koerner.
Tickets Map
Tue Jun 23 · 10:30 PM · Late set

Avishai Cohen Big Vicious

📍 The Rex Hotel · 194 Queen St W, M5V 1Z2 · Line 1 · Osgoode station (3-min walk)
Set
10:30 PM
Room
~130
Transit
30 min

Israeli trumpeter Avishai Cohen's electric jazz/ambient/rock outfit. The Rex is the festival's tiniest, smokiest ticketed room. The 10:30 PM late set means you'll need to time the last northbound Line 1 carefully — around 1:50 AM weekdays. Bring cash for the door cover and a Plan B if the set runs long.

For the die-hards: Cohen also plays an earlier 8 PM set the same night if you'd rather not race the subway. Same night also has Emilie-Claire Barlow at Koerner — the festival's Tuesday is unusually loaded.
Tickets Map
Sun Jun 28 · 7:30 PM · Closing night

Sullivan Fortner — Solo Piano

📍 Jazz Bistro · 251 Victoria St, M5B 1T8 · Line 1 · Dundas station (3-min walk)
Room
~150
Sets
7:30 + 10 PM
Transit
25 min

The 2026 Grammy winner for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, solo. Festival closing night, early set, in the most intimate room on the bill — Jazz Bistro seats well under 150. Dundas station is three minutes away on Line 1 (no transfers from North York Centre).

For the closer: if you only attend one set of the festival, the Grammy provenance + the room + the no-transfer Line 1 commute make this the cleanest pick of the ten days.
Tickets Map
Schedule still being filled

OLG Village daily setlists and the Sidewalk Sessions per-day artist-to-location grid had not been published as of May 24 — JAZZ.FM91 names the acts but the day-by-day schedule is still rolling out. We'll re-refresh this page in early June once those details lock in. Check the official schedule for the latest.

The split that matters

Free vs ticketed — read this before you spend.

Roughly two-thirds of festival performances are free. For a household commuting in from North York, the free programming is the higher-leverage time investment — it costs the price of two TTC fares and a hot dog.

Free · 100+ performances

OLG Village, Sidewalk Sessions, Late Night Jams.

OLG Village at Village of Yorkville Park (115 Cumberland St) is the daily 5:30–10 PM main stage — Nancy Walker Quartet, Jodi Proznick's Ostara Project, Tamar Ilana and Ventanas, Curtis Nowosad's Noisy Project, Agenya and 50+ more across the run. Sidewalk Sessions bring acoustic acts (Tak Arikushi, Swamperella, El Ceibo, Nii Osabu, FreePlay, Toronto Klezmer Society All Stars) to five spots across Bloor-Yorkville. Late Night Jams at The Pilot (22 Cumberland St) feature Ernesto Cervini's The Next Set, Roshane Wright and the Rosh Riddims Band, Jen Lo, Virginia MacDonald and Ale Nuñez. All free, first-come first-served, no ticket required, all ages.

Ticketed · 50 performances

The four marquee venues.

Koerner Hall (273 Bloor St W) hosts Emilie-Claire Barlow Jun 23, Cassandra Wilson Jun 24, Hiromi's Sonicwonder Jun 27. Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Ave) hosts DOMi & JD Beck Jun 22, The Dip Jun 24, Ibrahim Maalouf Jun 27. The Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne St) hosts Kokoroko Jun 25. The Mod Club (722 College St) hosts Mei Semones Jun 28. Ticket prices vary; only Cassandra Wilson has a published "from $40" anchor. Buy direct at torontojazz.com/ticketed-performances — third-party resellers (SeatGeek, Vivid) list inflated prices.

Club series

The Rex, Jazz Bistro, Hugh's Room.

The smallest rooms on the bill are the most intimate. The Rex Hotel (194 Queen St W) runs The Soul Rebels Jun 19, Stephane Wrembel Jun 22, Avishai Cohen Big Vicious Jun 23, Kassa Overall Jun 26–27. Jazz Bistro (251 Victoria St) hosts Laila Biali Quartet Jun 21–22, Gentiane MG Jun 24, Atlantic Jazz Collective featuring Norma Winstone Jun 26–27, Sullivan Fortner solo Jun 28. Hugh's Room Live (296 Broadview Ave) hosts Isaiah Collier playing Coltrane on Jun 22. Door covers and venue-specific pricing — check each venue.

The 10-day calendar, condensed

Which night should you pick?

Ten days, three rough phases. If you can only plan one trip, here are the windows that matter and the anchor in each.

Opening weekend · Fri Jun 19 – Sun Jun 21

Free outdoor sets land first.

The festival opens with the OLG Village stage in full swing — Friday night Jun 19 from 5:30 PM. The Soul Rebels play The Rex on opening night (two sets, 8 PM and 10:30 PM). Sunday Jun 21 the Laila Biali Quartet starts a two-night run at Jazz Bistro. A soft-launch weekend — best for the free hub if you've never been.

Mid-week ticketed runs · Mon Jun 22 – Thu Jun 25

The headliner stretch.

The festival's densest ticketed nights. Monday Jun 22: DOMi & JD Beck at Danforth, Isaiah Collier playing Coltrane at Hugh's Room. Tuesday Jun 23: Emilie-Claire Barlow's La plus belle saison at Koerner, Avishai Cohen Big Vicious at The Rex. Wednesday Jun 24: Cassandra Wilson at Koerner ($40 anchor), The Dip at Danforth. Thursday Jun 25: Kokoroko at The Phoenix. Pick one — they're all worth it but compete for the same evening.

Closing weekend · Fri Jun 26 – Sun Jun 28

The Grammy-night double.

Closing weekend stacks two big rooms. Saturday Jun 27: Hiromi's Sonicwonder at Koerner Hall + Ibrahim Maalouf at Danforth Music Hall — same night, two transit lines, choose one. Sunday Jun 28 is the closer: Sullivan Fortner, fresh off his 2026 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, plays solo piano at Jazz Bistro (7:30 + 10 PM). Mei Semones closes The Mod Club the same evening. Free OLG Village programming runs all weekend.

The reference table

Every ticketed show — by venue.

Eighteen ticketed performances with confirmed dates, venues and the route from North York Centre. Every venue cross-confirmed against the official Toronto Jazz Festival listings.

TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2026 — confirmed ticketed performances
ShowWhenVenue + AddressRoute from N York
The Soul Rebels Fri Jun 19
8 + 10:30 PM		 The Rex Hotel
194 Queen St W, M5V 1Z2		 Line 1 · Osgoode (≈30 min)
Laila Biali Quartet Sun Jun 21
8:30 PM		 Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria St, M5B 1T8		 Line 1 · Dundas (≈25 min)
Isaiah Collier — Collier Plays Coltrane Mon Jun 22
7 + 9:30 PM		 Hugh's Room Live
296 Broadview Ave, M4M 2G7		 Line 1 → Line 2 Broadview (≈40 min)
DOMi & JD Beck Mon Jun 22
8 PM		 Danforth Music Hall
147 Danforth Ave, M4K 1N2		 Line 1 → Line 2 Broadview (≈45 min)
Stephane Wrembel Mon Jun 22
8 + 10:30 PM		 The Rex Hotel
194 Queen St W, M5V 1Z2		 Line 1 · Osgoode (≈30 min)
Laila Biali Quartet Mon Jun 22
8:30 PM		 Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria St, M5B 1T8		 Line 1 · Dundas (≈25 min)
Emilie-Claire Barlow
La plus belle saison		 Tue Jun 23
8 PM		 Koerner Hall
273 Bloor St W, M5S 1W2		 Line 1 · St. George (≈30 min)
Avishai Cohen Big Vicious Tue Jun 23
8 + 10:30 PM		 The Rex Hotel
194 Queen St W, M5V 1Z2		 Line 1 · Osgoode (≈30 min)
Cassandra Wilson
30 yrs of New Moon Daughter		 Wed Jun 24
7 PM		 Koerner Hall
273 Bloor St W, M5S 1W2		 Line 1 · St. George (≈30 min)
The Dip Wed Jun 24
8 PM		 Danforth Music Hall
147 Danforth Ave, M4K 1N2		 Line 1 → Line 2 Broadview (≈45 min)
Gentiane MG Wed Jun 24
8:30 PM		 Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria St, M5B 1T8		 Line 1 · Dundas (≈25 min)
Kokoroko Thu Jun 25
8 PM		 The Phoenix Concert Theatre
410 Sherbourne St, M4X 1K2		 Line 1 · College + 506 streetcar (≈40 min)
Kassa Overall Fri Jun 26
8 + 10:30 PM		 The Rex Hotel
194 Queen St W, M5V 1Z2		 Line 1 · Osgoode (≈30 min)
Atlantic Jazz Collective
feat. Norma Winstone		 Fri Jun 26
8:30 PM		 Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria St, M5B 1T8		 Line 1 · Dundas (≈25 min)
Kassa Overall Sat Jun 27
8 + 10:30 PM		 The Rex Hotel
194 Queen St W, M5V 1Z2		 Line 1 · Osgoode (≈30 min)
Atlantic Jazz Collective
feat. Norma Winstone		 Sat Jun 27
8:30 PM		 Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria St, M5B 1T8		 Line 1 · Dundas (≈25 min)
Hiromi's Sonicwonder Sat Jun 27
8 PM		 Koerner Hall
273 Bloor St W, M5S 1W2		 Line 1 · St. George (≈30 min)
Ibrahim Maalouf
T.O.M.A. tour		 Sat Jun 27
8 PM		 Danforth Music Hall
147 Danforth Ave, M4K 1N2		 Line 1 → Line 2 Broadview (≈45 min)
Mei Semones Sun Jun 28
8 PM		 The Mod Club
722 College St, M6G 1C4		 Line 1 → Line 2 + 511 streetcar (≈45 min)
Sullivan Fortner · Solo Piano
2026 Grammy winner		 Sun Jun 28
7:30 + 10 PM		 Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria St, M5B 1T8		 Line 1 · Dundas (≈25 min)
Getting there

North York to the Jazz Festival, by subway.

North York Centre on Line 1 is the launch pad. Every Jazz Festival venue worth your time is on Line 1 or one transfer off it. Last northbound subway from anywhere downtown is around 1:50 AM weekdays — verify on the day of your trip.

For OLG Village (free hub)

Line 1 to Museum. Walk 5 minutes.

From North York Centre, ride Line 1 south to Museum station. Exit and walk north on Bedford to Cumberland — the Village of Yorkville Park entrance is at 115 Cumberland St. About 25 minutes door-to-door. Alternative: transfer at Bloor-Yonge to Line 2 east one stop to Bay station, which puts you 2 minutes from the park entrance.

For Koerner Hall (Hiromi, Cassandra Wilson, Emilie-Claire Barlow)

Same line, no transfers.

Koerner Hall is the easiest ticketed venue from North York: stay on Line 1 south to St. George station, exit at the Bedford Road side, walk three minutes east on Bloor. The TELUS Centre is at 273 Bloor St W. About 30 minutes door-to-door from North York Centre. For 7 PM curtains (Cassandra Wilson), leave by 6 PM.

For Danforth Music Hall (Ibrahim Maalouf, DOMi & JD Beck, The Dip)

Line 1 → Line 2 east.

From North York Centre, Line 1 south to Bloor-Yonge, transfer to Line 2 east to Broadview station. Exit and walk 2 minutes south on Broadview — the Danforth Music Hall is at 147 Danforth Ave. About 45 minutes door-to-door. Post-show souvlaki on Danforth is the best in the city.

For The Rex Hotel (Soul Rebels, Avishai Cohen, Kassa Overall)

Line 1 to Osgoode. The shortest late-night exit.

Line 1 south to Osgoode station, walk west on Queen — the Rex is at 194 Queen St W. About 30 minutes door-to-door. For 10:30 PM late sets ending after midnight, plan for a 1:50 AM last northbound or budget an Uber. Same trip works for Jazz Bistro (Line 1 to Dundas, walk east).

For The Phoenix (Kokoroko)

Line 1 + 506 streetcar.

Line 1 south to College station, exit and catch the 506 Carlton streetcar east to Sherbourne. The Phoenix is at 410 Sherbourne, walk south one block. About 40 minutes door-to-door. Post-show: 506 service is thin after midnight — Uber north or backtrack to a subway station for the 1:50 AM last train.

For The Mod Club (Mei Semones)

Line 1 → Line 2 + 511 streetcar.

Line 1 south to Bloor-Yonge, Line 2 west to Bathurst, then the 511 Bathurst streetcar south to College, walk one block west. The Mod Club is at 722 College St. About 45 minutes door-to-door. Closing-night Sunday Jun 28 service is normal but verify last train on ttc.ca.

If you do one thing

Ride Line 1 to Museum on a free Friday evening.

OLG Village is open Jun 19–28, daily 5:30–10 PM, no ticket, no booking, all ages. Food trucks, lawn games, BYO chair. The math: two TTC fares, a ten-minute walk, 100+ free sets. The closest the festival ever gets to North York, and the lowest-friction summer night-out in Yorkville all year.

Questions worth answering

Toronto Jazz Festival 2026 FAQ

When is TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2026 and how long does it run?

The 39th annual TD Toronto Jazz Festival runs Friday June 19 through Sunday June 28, 2026 — 10 days. Free outdoor programming is anchored at OLG Village in the Bloor-Yorkville area, with 50 ticketed concerts at venues across the city including Koerner Hall, Danforth Music Hall, The Phoenix, The Mod Club, The Rex Hotel, Hugh's Room Live and Jazz Bistro.

Are there any Toronto Jazz Festival 2026 venues in North York?

No. All ticketed and free venues for the 2026 festival are downtown or in Yorkville. The closest free hub for North Yorkers is OLG Village at Village of Yorkville Park (115 Cumberland St), reachable in about 25 minutes from North York Centre station via Line 1 to Museum station, or via Line 2 to Bay station. For ticketed shows, Koerner Hall on Bloor (Line 1, St. George station) is the easiest one-subway ride from North York.

What is free at the Toronto Jazz Festival 2026?

More than 100 performances are free. The festival hub is the OLG Village stage at Village of Yorkville Park, running daily from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM through the festival run. Named acts include Nancy Walker Quartet, Jodi Proznick's Ostara Project, Tamar Ilana and Ventanas, Curtis Nowosad's Noisy Project and Agenya. Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG bring free acoustic sets — Tak Arikushi, Swamperella, El Ceibo, Nii Osabu, FreePlay, the Toronto Klezmer Society All Stars — to five locations across Bloor-Yorkville. Late Night Jams at The Pilot (22 Cumberland St) round out the free programming. No ticket or RSVP is required; entry is first-come, first-served.

How do I get from North York to the Jazz Festival by transit?

For the OLG Village free hub at 115 Cumberland Street, take Line 1 south from any North York Line 1 station to Museum station (5-minute walk), or transfer at Bloor-Yonge to Line 2 east to Bay station (2-minute walk). For Koerner Hall (273 Bloor St W), stay on Line 1 to St. George station (3-minute walk). For Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Ave), Line 1 to Bloor-Yonge then Line 2 east to Broadview. For Jazz Bistro (251 Victoria St), Line 1 to Dundas. For The Rex Hotel (194 Queen St W), Line 1 to Osgoode. Door-to-door from North York Centre is roughly 25–45 minutes depending on venue.

Who are the headliners at Toronto Jazz Festival 2026?

The four marquee headliners are Emilie-Claire Barlow at Koerner Hall on June 23, Cassandra Wilson at Koerner Hall on June 24 (celebrating the 30th anniversary of New Moon Daughter), Kokoroko at The Phoenix on June 25, and a Saturday June 27 double-bill with Hiromi's Sonicwonder at Koerner Hall and Ibrahim Maalouf at Danforth Music Hall. Other ticketed highlights include DOMi & JD Beck (Jun 22, Danforth), The Dip (Jun 24, Danforth), Kassa Overall (Jun 26–27, The Rex), Mei Semones (Jun 28, The Mod Club) and 2026 Grammy winner Sullivan Fortner on solo piano (Jun 28, Jazz Bistro).

Is the Toronto Jazz Festival family-friendly?

Yes — all free admission concerts are listed as all-ages events. The OLG Village hub at Village of Yorkville Park has food trucks on site (Poutine Supreme, Heavenly Dreams Ice Cream, Ali's Wraps) and lawn games (Corn Hole, Connect 4, Ladder Toss) between sets. You can bring your own folding chairs. Free outdoor programming runs evenings 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Ticketed venue shows have venue-specific age policies — check the venue before bringing children to indoor late shows.

How much do Toronto Jazz Festival 2026 tickets cost?

Ticket prices vary by show and venue. The only publicly anchored starting price as of research date is Cassandra Wilson at Koerner Hall on June 24, from $40. Most headliner shows at Koerner Hall, Danforth Music Hall, The Phoenix and The Mod Club fall into typical headliner ranges for those venues. Buy direct through torontojazz.com — third-party resellers like SeatGeek list inflated prices. The Rex Hotel, Jazz Bistro and Hugh's Room Live operate with venue-specific cover charges; check each venue's listing on the official schedule.

Where can I park near the OLG Village hub in Yorkville?

Yorkville is dense and parking fills fast on festival weekends. The official festival FAQ recommends SpotHero reservations or Green P municipal lots at Yorkville Avenue, Charles Street East and Isabella Street. The cheaper move for North Yorkers is to skip the car: Line 1 to Museum station is a 5-minute walk to OLG Village, and the round trip is two TTC fares for the household instead of one parking bill that often runs higher.

What's the best one-show plan from North York?

For a free trip: Friday night Jun 19, ride Line 1 south to Museum, walk to OLG Village at 115 Cumberland and stay for the opening-weekend lineup until 10 PM. For a ticketed evening that minimizes transit hassle: Cassandra Wilson at Koerner Hall on Wednesday June 24 at 7 PM — same Line 1, St. George station, no transfers, 7 PM curtain means you're back on the subway well before midnight. For a Saturday splurge: Hiromi's Sonicwonder at Koerner Hall on Jun 27 at 8 PM, same Line 1 trip.

Don't miss the next one

Local plans like this, every Friday morning.

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