DesignTO Festival Toronto 2027: How to Plan Your Ten Days

January in Toronto is quiet, then a whole city lights up with ideas, window displays and things you can touch.

When is DesignTO Festival 2027?

The 17th annual DesignTO Festival runs January 22 to 31, 2027. DesignTO describes it as Canada’s largest celebration of design, and it forms Toronto’s design week. The full 2027 schedule is not posted yet, so treat this as your planning guide and check DesignTO’s own site as the programme goes up.

What is DesignTO?

DesignTO is a charitable arts organization that organizes the annual festival. It was founded in 2010 as the Toronto Design Offsite Festival and held its first annual event in January 2011. It became a registered charity in 2025. By its own count, it has showcased over 7,500 artists and designers since 2011.

What can you expect, based on last year?

The 2026 festival ran January 23 to February 1 and showed 100+ events, exhibitions and installations across more than 20 neighbourhoods. DesignTO says the festival drew over 250K visitors in 2026. If you want a feel for the mix, the schedule is a good place to start browsing: last year’s listings included exhibitions, window installations and talks.

Most 2026 events and exhibitions were free, but some needed an RSVP or tickets, and every window installation could be viewed from the outdoors. That is a gift on a cold evening: you can stroll, look in through the glass and keep moving. The 2027 mix may differ, so check each listing for the details once the programme is out.

Why make time for it?

Design is easy to walk past and hard to forget once you stop and look. A festival like this turns shopfronts, galleries and studios into places to pause, and it asks very little of you: a warm coat, a curious eye and a free evening. It is one of those events where everyone in your group will find a different favourite, which makes for a good debrief over dinner.

How do you build your route?

The 2027 programme is still to come, so here is our plan for when it lands. This is our suggestion, not the festival’s.

1. Pick one neighbourhood per day. Last year’s events spread across more than 20 neighbourhoods, so you will likely see more if you stay in one area than if you zigzag.
2. Save as you browse. Last year’s schedule page offered card, map and list views and a Save option, which is handy for sorting a short list.
3. Mix indoors and outdoors. Pair a gallery or talk with a window installation walk, so you are never far from a warm room.
4. Leave a spare hour. The best finds are often the next door down.

How do you stay in the loop?

Sign up for DesignTO’s newsletter. The sign-up includes an option for daily emails during festival week, which is a handy way to pick your next stop.

Pair your festival days with a browse through our events calendar, a visit to the Distillery District, or a list of art galleries in Toronto. If you like to take home a handmade piece, see our handmade gifts from Toronto makers. For more cold-weather ideas, our winter in Toronto guide has plenty.

Send this to the friend who is always rearranging their living room.