13 breathtaking buildings you absolutely can't miss at Doors Open Toronto 2026
Buildings to visit at Doors Open Toronto 2026 run the gamut from hallowed execution grounds to the intense sweetness of a literal sugar refinery.
This year's free all-access pass behind the curtain of Toronto's most impressive and historically significant off-limits landmarks runs on the weekend of May 23-24, 2026, and will include several returning favourites as well as some new additions you've probably never seen before.
But with 168 different buildings and sites on the map for 2026, and such a vast area to cover, you might need to be a bit selective to make the most of your Doors Open Toronto experience this year.
Without further ado, here are 13 destinations you should really try to see during this year's Doors Open Toronto.
Ismaili Centre
Get a rare glimpse inside the stunning glass-enclosed prayer hall in this architecturally stunning complex near Eglinton and the Don Valley Parkway. If you're looking for an efficient cluster of stops, other nearby Doors Open destinations include the Aga Khan Museum and Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.
Jack Landau
Historic Don Jail at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital
It's kind of ironic that the site of Canada's final legal executions is now used to heal people. Whether you're here for the gallows, the medical science, or just the history the site is steeped in, it's a worthwhile stop you should try to work into your schedule.
Jack Landau
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Experience the stately government building where Doug Ford passes sweeping bills to snatch up waterfront land and inks deals for business jets. Not into politics? No sweat. It's also a really cool building that will make you feel like you're in a historic period drama.
Jack Landau
University of Toronto Department of Physics
Even if physics isn't your thing, you'll definitely want to take a trip up to the 15th floor for some stunning views of the Toronto skyline. Even if you've already seen the views from this secret observation deck, the rapid changes to the surrounding cityscape make this stop a must for repeat visitors.
View from the U of T Department of Physics Lab captured in 2019. Jack Landau.
Old City Hall
The modern City Hall just across Bay St. is a popular Doors Open destination, but access to Old City Hall, with its ornate interiors and secret courtyard, is a much rarer treat. While there have been talks of converting the aging landmark into a museum, the relocation of former courts in 2025 left the building vacant, meaning Old City Hall is one of the truly off-limits places you can visit this year.
Jack Landau
Osgoode Hall
Just about every space inside the historic Osgoode Hall complex will stun you with its intricate attention to detail, but my personal favourite part of this building is the library. It may not inspire awe like the building's Great Hall, but the beauty here is really in the details.
St. Lawrence Hall
Dating back to 1850, St. Lawrence Hall's interiors harken back to a time when Canada was just a British colony on the precipice of self-determination. Stand in the same room where the Fathers of Confederation addressed the people of Toronto on their campaign to form a nation, and soak in one of the city's most historically significant buildings.
Jack Landau
Toronto-Dominion Centre
Anyone who has ever dreamed of living the Mad Men life (perhaps minus the misogyny) should take an elevator up to the historic 54th floor of the TD Centre, where the preserved modernist vibes will transport you back to a time when cigarettes were healthy, and hard liquor was an office necessity.
Fareen Karim
Redpath Sugar Refinery
Take a sweet little detour to the waterfront and see an absurd quantity of sugar that even Cookie Monster would balk at. Even if you prefer the diet version to the real thing, there is just something inherently fascinating about this remnant of heavy industry on a central waterfront that has all but shed its maritime shipping past.
R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant
I'm going to go out on a limb and wager that the concept of water treatment isn't going to get most readers particularly excited. And, sure, I can accept that. But the so-called "Palace of Purification" is so much more than a source for our drinking water.
The almost century-old Art Deco masterpiece is also a cultural titan, playing prisons in several movies like Half Baked, Mimic and Flashpoint, and standing in as mental hospitals in several more films, including In the Mouth of Madness, RoboCop, and Strange Brew.
Scott Library at York University
If the films mentioned above aren't your style, you might be more in tune with the Stanley Kubrick vibes given off by this Brutalist-style masterpiece library at York University. The inherent coldness of the poured concrete interior is softened by flashes of colourful furniture and foliage, all naturally illuminated by a grand skylight.
TRCA Head Office
The newest building on this list was only completed last year, but its impressive eco-friendly timber construction and grand interior atrium make this a must-visit stop for anyone willing to make the trek.
TRCA
City Hall
Stunning architecture, a long-closed observation deck, and a look inside city council chambers await visitors to what is usually one of the most popular stops on the annual rotation.
Jack Landau
So, there you have it: 13 must-see destinations to check off your list as you explore the city on May 23 and 24.
Jack Landau at City Hall
