2026 FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
FESTIVAL DAY 1
FRIDAY AUG 7
7:30PM - 9:30PM
TAIKO ROOTS: Short Films Screening & Keynote
FESTIVAL DAY 2
SATURDAY AUG 8
9AM
Registration
9:30AM
Opening Circle
10AM-12:30PM
Workshop Block 1
12:30PM-2PM
Lunch Break
2PM-4:30PM
Workshop Block 2
8PM-10PM
BANG ON! Taiko Concert
FESTIVAL DAY 3
SUNDAY AUG 9
10AM-12:30PM
Workshop Block 3
12:30PM-2PM
Lunch Break
2PM-4:30PM
Workshop Block 4
5PM-5:30PM
Closing Circle
LEARN MORE
TTF MARKETPLACE
Moku Studio are proud to be Canada’s only local craftsmen of Japanese Taiko drums and accessories. They have created bachi, taiko drums and taiko stands for taiko artists and performing ensembles all over Canada. Moku will be vending on-site with an assortment of locally crafted bachi (new styles coming soon!), stands, taiko and more!
www.mokustudio.ca
FESTIVAL FACULTY
Taiko in Canada: Leaders Convening at TTF 2026!
Unique to this year’s festival, we are pleased to announce that our 2026 faculty features over a dozen artist facilitators, each bringing to the festival line-up their own skills, approaches, and knowledges of taiko! This special opportunity is made possible due to the Taiko in Canada: Leaders Convening (TCLC), taking place immediately prior to Toronto Taiko Festival 2026:
Envisioned and produced by RAW Taiko, the TCLC brings together a cohort of taiko leaders from across Canada to exchange knowledge, foster artistry, nurture collaboration and learn together with a focus on access, equity, and social justice in taiko arts within Canada. With many of the taiko leaders staying on to teach at TTF 2026, we are thrilled to be able to offer up this special opportunity for festival participants to learn from such a wide variety of practitioners in one place!
Location & Travel
The 2026 Toronto Taiko Festival takes place in downtown Toronto at Randolph College for the Performing Arts (736 Bathurst Street)!
All festival activities will take place at Randolph College, from workshops to concert to film screening. Scroll down to the accessibility section below for info on where to enter the building.
Transit
The nearest subway station (Line 2) is Bathurst Station, located just a couple minutes walk from Randolph College. The college can also be accessed via the 511 Streetcar (Bathurst & Lennox stop).
Parking
There is local Street Parking along the side streets in the area, paid street parking along Bloor, or the nearest Green P parking is located at Bloor / Lippincott St. Please allow yourself extra time to find parking if arriving by car. Note that the Randolph College parking lot is not available to patrons.
Air Canada Discount Code
Attendees flying into Toronto, may consider using the following Air Canada Discount Code:
Promotion Code: F2Q3GDF1
Applicable Discounts:
North America - 5% applies on standard fares, 10% on flex fares & higher.
For International Travel - 10% on standard fares & higher. 12% discount on Business Class fares (exception: 5% on the lowest Business Class).
The discount is applicable on the following routes between July 28 and August 17, 2026
FROM - TO:
ALL INTERNATIONAL - Toronto All Airports (YTZ,YYZ) (ON)
ALL USA - Toronto All Airports (YTZ,YYZ) (ON)
ALL SUN - Toronto All Airports (YTZ,YYZ) (ON)
ALL CANADA - Toronto All Airports (YTZ,YYZ) (ON)
Accessibility & COVID-19 Safety
Lennox St. Accessible Entrance
Main festival entry
Located one door down from Randolph Theatre Entrance
Randolph Theatre Entrance
Corner of Bathurst & Lennox. Only in use for Bang On! Concert
Accessibility
GENERAL ACCESSIBILITY:
-
Note that Randolph College is housed in an older heritage building, so different barrier-free paths exist to the multiple spaces in use by the festival. Find a summary of accessibility info below, however if you will require barrier-free entry to any of our events, we encourage you to let us know via email so that we can be best prepared to support you! Contact us at TTF@rawtaiko.ca
-
All festival activities will be held in spaces on the main floor of Randolph College, which houses both Randolph Theatre and Annex Theatre - both have wheelchair accessible seating areas (more details below for Randolph Theatre).
ASL INTERPRETATION:
-
ASL Interpretation will be provided for: Spoken portions of the Bang On! concert, Taiko Roots keynote & Q&A (films include open captions), and select workshops (TBA).
BANG ON! CONCERT:
-
Main entrance for the BANG ON! CONCERT will be the Randolph Theatre entrance at the corner of Bathurst & Lennox (up 7 steps to enter).
-
Anyone requiring barrier-free entry for the concert may use the wheelchair accessible Lennox St entrance. There is a wide metal ramp that leads up to the building. The width of the door is 2'7" and opens outwards no greater than 80°. Once inside, there is immediate access to Randolph Theatre via a door to your left. The width of the door is 2'9" and the door opens outwards greater than 90°. There is a narrow path with a slight incline to reach wheelchair seating, located in the centre back of the House. It is 2'9" at the narrowest point and 3'5" at the widest. It is entirely carpeted past the theatre entrance, with no steps to access regular seating in the orchestra section. Neither doors via this entrance are automatic but an usher will be present during the concert to assist during entry and exit.
-
Main public washrooms are located in the basement. There is one all-gender single person washroom in the lobby by the Lennox St entrance (heavy door is not automatic, a volunteer will be present to assist with the door as needed). To access this washroom there are 3 steps up or a steep ramp with railing and sharp right turn.
Access to lobby washroom by Lennox St entrance
Randolph Theatre entry is directly to the left, before the ramp & steps.
WORKSHOPS & TAIKO ROOTS EVENT:
-
Main entrance for WORKSHOP attendees and TAIKO ROOTS audience will be the wheelchair accessible Lennox St entrance.
-
Once inside, there is immediate access to Randolph Theatre via a door to your left. To access the other venues from this entrance, there are 3 steps up or a steep ramp with railing and sharp right turn. If you require alternate entry for workshops & the Taiko Roots event, please contact us for details.
-
There is one all-gender single person washroom in the main floor lobby (heavy door with no automatic button, requires a key from the front desk to utilize) as well as main floor washrooms (all gender stalls, including large accessibility stalls) located in the Annex Theatre. Additional public washrooms are located in the basement.
-
Due to space limitations, one of the three workshops offered in each block will be held on the stage of Randolph Theatre. There are 4 steps up to access the stage.
COVID-19 Safety
In order to increase safety for all at the festival, while not mandatory, masking is highly encouraged for all workshop participants and audience members. Masks will be available at the door for anyone requiring one. We also ask that you do not attend any Toronto Taiko Festival activities if you are feeling sick or have symptoms of illness that are new or unusual for you.
Click here to learn more about RAW's approach to COVID-19 safety:
2026 Festival Acknowledgements
