65 YEARS OF UPLIFTING CANADIAN ARTISTS IN PUBLIC,
TORONTO OUTDOOR ART FAIR MARKS CANADA’S LONGEST-RUNNING OUTDOOR ART EVENT
TOAF65 returns July 10–12, 2026, to Nathan Phillips Square with $65,000 in awards and the anniversary theme The Elegance of Longevity.
Toronto, ON — In July 2026, the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) celebrates a landmark milestone: 65 years as Canada’s largest and longest-running juried contemporary outdoor art fair.
Each summer, TOAF brings together over 400 visual artists and 170,000 visitors at Nathan Phillips Square, transforming Toronto’s civic heart into a vibrant gathering place for art, conversation, and discovery. This milestone year honours the long arc of artistic careers and the enduring power of experiencing art together in public.
Under the theme TOAF65: The Elegance of Longevity, the anniversary year reflects on what endures: the longevity of art, the strength of artist communities, and the power of authentic, face-to-face connection. Sixty-five years of TOAF represent a quiet strength, built over time, in which artists and audiences continue to meet in person.
Established in 1961, TOAF is a registered charity dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between visual artists and the public, supporting sustainable artistic careers, and promoting appreciation for Canadian art in a free, accessible public space.
“For 65 years, TOAF has uplifted the careers of tens of thousands of Canadian artists and outlived trends and technologies by staying grounded in one simple idea: artists and audiences meeting face-to-face, in public,” says Anahita Azrahimi, Executive & Creative Director of Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. “For TOAF65, we’re celebrating what lasts. The Elegance of Longevity reflects a quiet confidence earned over time, by listening closely, adapting thoughtfully, and remaining open to what comes next.”
$65,000 IN AWARDS — AND A LEGACY THAT LAUNCHES CAREERS
TOAF’s Awards Program has supported artistic excellence and career growth since the Fair’s earliest days and awarded 1.1 million dollars to artists since its inception. In 1961, TOAF’s very first year, 21-year-old Ken Danby received TOAF’s first Best of Exhibition Award, an early milestone in a career that would help shape Canadian art. In 2026, TOAF marks its anniversary with $65,000 in awards, including:
- $10,000 Best of Art Fair Award, supported by IG Wealth Management
- $10,000 Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award, supported by the Koffler Foundation
- $6,500 Ken Danby Award for Excellence in Realism (New for TOAF65), supported by the Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation, honouring Danby’s legacy and TOAF’s lasting impact on artists’ careers
$65 FOR 65 YEARS: A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR EVERY TOAF65 ARTIST
For its 65th birthday, TOAF invites the public to help amplify the joy of collecting art. Through the $65 for 65 Years campaign, supporters can contribute towards giving every TOAF65 artist participating in-person a $65 gift card to collect art at the Fair, a simple birthday gift that circles directly back into the artist community. To support TOAF65 artists, visit HERE.
THE COLLECTORS COLLECTIVE: A NEW PROGRAM FOR A THRIVING ART ECOSYSTEM
TOAF65 also marks an evolution beyond the three-day event. Launched this January, the Collectors Collective is a year-long program of gatherings, learning, and connection that brings collectors, artists, and curious minds together through studio visits, intimate conversations, and shared experiences.
Rooted in TOAF’s long history of connecting art lovers with artists, the Collective extends that mission year-round, cultivating thoughtful conversations, deeper relationships, and a growing culture of collecting.
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS FOR TOAF65
Art Nest 2026
Launched in 2022, Art Nest is the Fair’s public art program that commissions and supports emerging artists, particularly from priority groups. For TOAF65, Art Nest 2026 brings senior and emerging artists together to explore themes of aging, retirement, and the longevity of creative practice, positioning later stages of artistic life as vibrant, generative, and essential.
Art Encounters: Access & Outreach
One of the most impactful access programs of any art fair in Canada, Art Encounters supports artists from priority groups including Indigenous, Deaf, Disability-identified, Newcomer, and New Generation (18–30) artists. Through exhibition and travel bursaries, mentorship, and accessibility support, the program invests in long-term artistic sustainability and national connection.
A National Fair
TOAF is proudly national in scope, welcoming artists from coast to coast to coast. Since launching its online platform in 2020, TOAF has provided national visibility to artists across Canada, complemented by travel bursaries that ensure physical access to Toronto.
New and returning national initiatives for TOAF65 include:
- New National Corner — West Coast, in partnership with Emily Carr University of Art + Design
- Atlantic Canada Zone, curated by Bushra Junaid
- Unique Québec, in partnership with the Bureau du Québec à Toronto
Event Details
65th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
July 10–12, 2026
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
400+ Artists
Free Admission
Media images, click HERE.
About Toronto Outdoor Art Fair.
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is Canada’s leading outdoor and online art fair. Established in 1961 to connect Canadian artists directly to the public, TOAF showcases 400+ emerging and established visual artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors and artists working in ceramics, textiles, jewellery and more. The event brings together 170,000 art lovers and enthusiasts who spend over 2 million dollars on art during the Fair. This free public event takes place every July – rain or shine – at Nathan Phillips Square in the heart of downtown Toronto. The Fair offers something for everyone: talks, tours, digital studio visits, curated collections, kids workshops, dance, music, art installations and food and drink experiences. Since 2020, TOAF’s online fair has become Canada’s in-demand e-commerce and discovery hub for artists across Canada.
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Media Contact
DMPUBLIC
Deanne Moser
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647-888-9388
