📅 Dates: July 11 & 12, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM (both days)
Location: Gerrard India Bazaar, Toronto, from Glenside Ave. to Coxwell Ave.
Admission: FREE & open to everyone
Join us at the 24th TD Festival of South Asia 2026, one of North America’s largest and most vibrant South Asian street festivals, transforming Toronto’s iconic Gerrard India Bazaar into a spectacular celebration of culture, music, food, art, and community.
Over two exciting days, the festival will feature 300+ artists and performers across three dynamic stages, showcasing everything from Bollywood, Bhangra, Qawwali, folk, fusion, classical, and contemporary South Asian music and dance.
The festival will also feature a dedicated Bangladesh Pavilion celebrating Bangladeshi culture, heritage, food, and performances, along with an “Impromptu Stage” designed to give emerging and new artists an opportunity to perform live and connect with audiences.
Visitors can enjoy exciting community activities including Soccer Mania, interactive fan experiences, cultural installations, and opportunities to learn more about the history of Gerrard India Bazaar through the Heritage Toronto activation booth. Guests can also participate in guided walking tours by Culinary Adventures Co., exploring the stories, flavours, and hidden gems of Little India.
Festival Highlights
🎭 300+ artists and performers across three stages
Experience Bhangra, Bharatanatyam, Bollywood, Folk, Garba, Ghazals, Qawwali, and exciting fusion performances.
💃 Interactive dance workshops
Because culture isn’t just meant to be watched — it’s meant to be experienced. Jump in and learn the moves.
🍛 The Food Trail
Dosas, butter chicken, kulfi, paan, sugar cane juice, biryani, kebabs, chaats, and more — each bite tells a story.
🧘♀️ Cultural wellness space
Explore yoga, henna, guided meditation, and traditions rooted in South Asian culture.
🎨 Art installations & murals
Photo-worthy and immersive cultural moments throughout the festival.
🏏 Cricket cage + Kids Zone
Friendly matches, face painting, LEGO, storytelling, games, and bowling tutorials for kids.
🎉 Desi Block Party vibes
Music in the air, community in every corner, and celebration all weekend long.
And best of all — the festival is completely free and open to everyone.
The festival will also support opportunities for visitors to participate in scientific and community research initiatives through on-site educational and engagement activations, including Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for South Asian Children.
Festival Food Experiences
Food is one of the biggest highlights of the festival, featuring authentic flavours from across the South Asian subcontinent and beyond. Visitors can enjoy exclusive and iconic dishes including:
- “Mohabbat Ka Sharbat” at Leela Restaurant — a refreshing summer drink from the streets of Old Delhi made with milk, watermelon, Rooh Afza, sugar, and ice.
- “Desi Burger” at Desi Burger and Lahore Chaat & Desi Burger — a South Asian-style burger infused with bold spices and chutneys.
- Indian Chicken Tikka at Chandni Chowk.
- Bombay Dosa and Vada Pav at Udupi Palace.
- Mango Lassi at Moti Mahal.
- Fresh South Asian-style Sugar Cane Juice at Lahore Chaat & Desi Burger, Chandni Chowk, Desi Burger, India Paan, and Lahore BBQ & Paan Center.
- Shawarma at Doner Palace.
- Authentic Afghani cuisine at Kabul Kabab House.
The TD Festival of South Asia is not just about performances — it also offers a unique shopping experience. Attendees can explore a bustling marketplace filled with South Asian fashion, jewelry, textiles, crafts, artworks, and cultural treasures from across the diaspora.
But beyond the performances and food, it’s the energy that sets this festival apart. You’ll see grandparents getting nostalgic, children making new memories, friends reconnecting, and newcomers discovering something that feels like home.
What truly makes this festival special is its support for local small businesses — the backbone of our economy and the heart of our communities.
Small businesses drive local economies, create jobs, and enrich neighbourhoods like ours with diversity, authenticity, and resilience. Festivals like this help drive foot traffic, increase visibility, and celebrate the entrepreneurs whose shops line our streets and whose stories are woven into Canada’s multicultural fabric.
Supporting them isn’t just about economics. It’s about preserving culture, building community, and shaping a vibrant future.
Held in the heart of Gerrard India Bazaar — Canada’s largest South Asian marketplace — the festival celebrates multiculturalism, tourism, community pride, and economic vibrancy while creating a welcoming and inclusive experience for residents, visitors, families, and tourists alike.
More Information
🌐 www.festivalofsouthasia.ca
📘 www.facebook.com/gerrardindiabazaar
📸 www.instagram.com/gerrardindiabaz
Event Venue
Gerrard India Bazaar BIA, 1426 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1Z6, Canada
CAD 0.00
