Item - 2026.EC26.2

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt Toronto's Festival Strategy, as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (February 10, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to formally establish the Special Events Stabilization Initiative as a funding program as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (February 10, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.

3. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to review the Cultural Festival Funding Program and Special Events Stabilization Initiative and streamline programs as deemed necessary, with funding allocation to be subject to the necessary budget processes and in accordance with the City of Toronto's Community Grants Policy.

4. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to negotiate, enter into and execute funding agreements with eligible applicants funded through the Special Events Stabilization Initiative, with funding recipients and grant amounts to be determined annually by the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture within the budget allocation for the program, and on such terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

5. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to negotiate, enter into, and amend any agreements, on terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, necessary to support the implementation of actions related to Sector Development and Sector Sustainability and Resilience priorities as detailed in Attachment 1 to the report (February 10, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, within the resources included in the operating or capital budget.

6. City Council advocate for additional funding from the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario that supports a longer-term sustainable funding model for festivals.

7. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in collaboration with the Chief Technology Officer, Technology Services to implement Release Two of the centralized digital permitting solution by December 31, 2026.

8. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee, as part of a progress update on the Festivals Strategy, with updates, analysis and actions on sector development activities that encourage easy access to funding from the Cultural Festival Funding Program and the Special Events Stabilization Initiative in all parts of the city, including those outside the downtown core, in underrepresented communities, and the incubation of new festivals.

9. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to provide an update, in consultation with the local Councillor, on the work completed to fulfil the Council-approved direction to engage with the Distillery District on a year-round activation strategy to support small business and report back as part of the annual progress report of Culture Connects - An Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector scheduled for May 2026.

10. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to engage with the Toronto Garlic Festival to support in finding a new host location for the Fall 2027 event, and around options to pursue a Citywide Garlic Week Activation, prioritizing locations for the festival where possible in Ward 10, including the Distillery District, as part of the Council-approved approach to engagement with the Distillery District on a year-round activation strategy and report back in annual progress report of Culture Connects - An Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector scheduled for May 2026.

11. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, and in collaboration with the Liberty Village BIA and Liberty Village Residents Association, to promote and enable the activation of the spaces in particular for small-scale festivals in Lamport Stadium Park and 34 Hanna Park, and to work with event organizers to promote using active transportation for visitors to these venue to not add further congestion to the neighbourhood and report back in annual progress report of Culture Connects - An Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector scheduled for May 2026.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt Toronto's Festival Strategy, as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (February 10, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to formally establish the Special Events Stabilization Initiative as a funding program as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (February 10, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.

3. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to review the Cultural Festival Funding Program and Special Events Stabilization Initiative and streamline programs as deemed necessary, with funding allocation to be subject to the necessary budget processes and in accordance with the City of Toronto's Community Grants Policy.

4. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to negotiate, enter into and execute funding agreements with eligible applicants funded through the Special Events Stabilization Initiative, with funding recipients and grant amounts to be determined annually by the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture within the budget allocation for the program, and on such terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

5. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to negotiate, enter into, and amend any agreements, on terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, necessary to support the implementation of actions related to Sector Development and Sector Sustainability and Resilience priorities as detailed in Attachment 1 to the report (February 10, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, within the resources included in the operating or capital budget.

6. City Council advocate for additional funding from the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario that supports a longer-term sustainable funding model for festivals.

7. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in collaboration with the Chief Technology Officer, Technology Services to implement Release Two of the centralized digital permitting solution by December 31, 2026.

8. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee, as part of a progress update on the Festivals Strategy, with updates, analysis and actions on sector development activities that encourage easy access to funding from the Cultural Festival Funding Program and the Special Events Stabilization Initiative in all parts of the city, including those outside the downtown core, in underrepresented communities, and the incubation of new festivals.

9. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to provide an update, in consultation with the local Councillor, on the work completed to fulfil the Council-approved direction to engage with the Distillery District on a year-round activation strategy to support small business and report back as part of the annual progress report of Culture Connects - An Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector scheduled for May 2026.

10. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to engage with the Toronto Garlic Festival to support in finding a new host location for the Fall 2027 event, and around options to pursue a Citywide Garlic Week Activation, prioritizing locations for the festival where possible in Ward 10, including the Distillery District, as part of the Council-approved approach to engagement with the Distillery District on a year-round activation strategy and report back in annual progress report of Culture Connects - An Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector scheduled for May 2026.

11. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, and in collaboration with the Liberty Village BIA and Liberty Village Residents Association, to promote and enable the activation of the spaces in particular for small-scale festivals in Lamport Stadium Park and 34 Hanna Park, and to work with event organizers to promote using active transportation for visitors to these venue to not add further congestion to the neighbourhood and report back in annual progress report of Culture Connects - An Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector scheduled for May 2026.

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Directed the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to report directly to the March 25, 2026 City Council meeting with an update on work done to date in response to direction in TE22.19 related to managing festivals and events on private property, including next steps and a summary of related existing City regulations. 

The Toronto's Festival Strategy (2026-2031) aims to ensure that Torontonians can access free, inclusive and diverse cultural experiences in their neighbourhoods and that Toronto’s festival sector is better supported as they continue to strengthen community belonging, enliven main streets, and contribute to the city's global competitiveness. Toronto hosts approximately 300 festivals and they are a critical cultural and economic force that contributes to the vibrancy of the city. It is estimated that as a sector, festivals and events generate more than $1 billion in GDP across Canada.[1] Toronto's Festival Strategy builds on the strengths of the festival sector while addressing key challenges experienced in recent years and proposing opportunities for adaptation, resiliency and growth.

The Festival Strategy will advance Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto, which made immediate investments into festivals and identified them as a vital way that Torontonians experience culture. This strategy builds on a strong foundation, informed by additional engagement and research by OCAD University's Cultural Policy Hub (Attachment 2) to address key challenges facing Toronto's festival sector. This report outlines the need for this strategy, the role of the City in supporting festivals, the engagement and research undertaken as well as the vision, priorities, notable actions and next steps.

The Festival Strategy, included as Attachment 1, provides 17 actions grouped into four strategic priorities: Sector Development; Sector Sustainability and Resilience; Improving Processes; and Awareness and Impact. Each action has associated performance measures to help ensure success in achieving the strategy's vision. Toronto’s Festival Strategy will serve as an important framework to guide the City’s actions in supporting the festival sector over the next 5 years, ensuring that Torontonians can continue to access meaningful local cultural experiences and contributing to the city's global competitiveness in attracting visitors.