Fan favourite Toronto food festival expanding to new Ontario city this summer
Though there's still snow on the ground, warmer days are ahead for Toronto, and with increased sunshine comes the long-anticipated return of food festival season.
Summer of 2026 — however far away it seems — is already taking the shape of what could be one of the best GTA food festival seasons in recent years. Given that the past few summers have been marked by a swath of event cancellations, that may not be saying much, but I'm standing by what I said.
Earlier this February, both Doug Ford and Olivia Chow committed funding to support the return of Taste of the Danforth after two consecutive years of closures, and now, there's even more good news: Taco Fest Toronto is officially returning this summer, and it's expanding to another city in Ontario, too.
One of the most enthusiastically attended, consistently sold-out food festivals in Toronto, year after year, Taco Fest sees Fort York packed with stalls from the city's favourite food and beverage vendors from the Gardiner to the tracks.
It's become a summertime staple in Toronto, nearing comparable popularity to other local traditions like Taste of Little Italy and Do West Fest, and, in 2026, its footprint is getting even bigger.
For the first time ever, Taco Fest is kicking off its run with a stint in Mississauga, to be held June 27 and June 28 at Port Credit Memorial Park. Later in the summer, after the Toronto event, Taco Fest will also take over Montreal's Clock Tower Pier on Sept. 5 through Sept. 7.
"Mississauga has an incredible culinary community, and we're excited to create a space where local chefs can compete, collaborate and celebrate Mexican cuisine in a big way," says Taco Fest co-founder Brad Wishen.
As for the Toronto leg of the tour, it's set to take over Fort York from Aug. 7 to Aug. 9, with a caliente lineup of some of the city's top taco vendors, along with additional bites and beverages to keep bellies full and vibes high all weekend long.
The weekend culminates with the crowning of Toronto's best taco, as voted on by festival attendees. In 2025, Kensington Market's Birria Catrina took home the title, but who'll walk away with the carnita crown this year?
You'll just have to attend to find out.
Sign-ups for presale are open now through Taco Fest's website. Given that the festival sells out every year, you'll want to scoop yours up quickly.
