Massive wine festival uncorks in Toronto next month

An epic celebration of wine, drinks and springtime vibes is landing in Toronto next month, showcasing the best of the best on the local and international wine scenes.

Trees are budding, the sun is shining, and Wine Fest Toronto is gearing up for what might just be its best year yet: all sure signs that spring has well and truly arrived — at long last.

Enduring such a winter as that of 2025 to 2026 (remember the multiple feet of snowfall? The sub-freezing days well into April?) calls for a drink, and luckily for Toronto's wine fanatics, there are plenty with your name on them ready to be filled at Wine Fest.

One of the hottest events of the May long weekend, Wine Fest Toronto is back for its seventh year, and it's all about pushing past the bounds of your tried-and-true Pinot Grigio and exploring everything that the world of wine has to offer, from Old World varietals to the latest innovations. 

Though you'll be able to find wines from around the world at the festival, France is this year's featured region, inviting you to explore a showcase of the country's most-celebrated wines in all their diversity.

For 2026, the festival has implemented a new flexible token system to make it easier than ever to explore the wines that really interest you. Each ticket includes three complimentary pours to get you started, and, from there, you can use tokens stored in your digital wallet to sample as many wines as you like, or combine them to pay for a premium pour.

"The Fest has always been about discovery, and for this year, we wanted to feature wines from France and redesign how guests experience the festival," says Wine Fest Toronto's Chief Creative Officer, Angela Aiello. 

"The new token-based model means lower admission prices, giving guests more flexibility and a more intentional way to explore incredible wines and drinks from around the world."

That said, if wine isn't your style but you're not one to pass up a great party, there'll also be plenty of other ready to drinks, beers, seltzers and spirits that you can sample. On top of that, you'll be able to nibble on eats from a curated collection of artisanal food trucks, jam out to live music and attend a series of informative seminars to get your sommelier education on a roll.

Wine Fest Toronto returns on May 15, 16 and 17, and tickets, currently available at a special BOGO price of just $23 each when you purchase two, are on sale now through Wine Fest Toronto's website.