Luminato Festival is returning to Toronto this year for its 19th edition, taking over the city from June 4 to 22. Throughout the month, attendees can experience the festival's captivating program of music, theatre, dance, performance art, and immersive experiences that will transform how you think about and engage with the city's environment.
The theme for 2025 is DAY:NIGHT, which the festival calls an exploration of "how we inhabit the city in a 24-hour period." Art can be encountered in ways and places you may never expect across Toronto, be it in the form of heavenly voices sweeping through the halls of Union Station or a call to climate action suspended overhead in Sankofa Square.
Events including THAW, First Breath, Rainbow Dreams, Dawn Chorus, Night/Shifts and Dandyism are free. Tickets for all other events and experiences can be found on Ticketmaster.
A Glimpse of Quincy
The tribute to one of the most influential producers and composers will be taking place on June 13, marking Luminato's Opening Night at the Harbourfront Centre Concert Stage. Grammy Award-winning musician Larnell Lewis will lead the performance of selections from Quincy Jones's solo records and his productions for artists including Patti Austin, The Brothers Johnson, and Michael Jackson. Don't miss some of Canada's best musicians honour the legacy of one of music's greats.
Dawn Chorus
The world premiere of this immersive choral performance will take place throughout a bustling Union Station during morning rush hour on June 4 and 5. The show culminates in the meeting of each chorus group in the Great Hall, where they come together to perform Thom Yorke's "Dawn Chorus," arranged by Rafał Ryterski. Sure, commutes can feel monotonous, but this show directed by Krystian Lada will bring a brief glimpse of awe-inspiring beauty.
Dusk Soundscapes
Maria Chávez will perform her live DJ set on the opening night of Luminato, filling the space of the Art Gallery of Ontario's Walker Court with Afrobeat and house music. The event is sure to be electric, as Chávez keenly improvises her rich soundscapes to match the energy of her audience.
HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales
If theatre is more your vibe, check out this magical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's life and work at the Young People's Theatre from June 13 to 14. The piece from writers and directors Craig Francis and Rick Miller blends puppetry, clowns, live video, opera and comedy in a fascinating portrait of the man who brought us cherished tales like The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling.
Terceradix Luminarium
Previously appearing at the Guggenheim and Sydney Opera House, this immersive experience from Architects of Air is now making its appearance at the Harbourfront Centre. While looking like a sort of circus-tent complex from the outside, the inside of the Terceradix Luminarium is an extraordinary world of light and colour. The experience runs throughout the duration of the festival, but the musical event Music at Terceradix Luminarium: Bach & Beyond will take place from June 5–8 and 19–22 after 8:00 p.m.