Toronto events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Toronto Islands, St Lawrence Market, plus Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. December in Toronto averages 2°C / 35°F highs, -5°C / 23°F nights, and about 10 rainy days.
Expect 2°C/35°F days and about 10 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Toronto Islands★ 4.7 · 2.0k reviewsFerries from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal reach Ward's Island, Centre Island, beaches, bike paths, picnic areas, and skyline viewpoints.
- St Lawrence Market★ 4.6 · 42.2k reviewsThe market district dates to 19th-century Toronto, with the South Market holding butchers, bakeries, produce stalls, seafood, cheese, and peameal…
- Rich The Kid - Presented By F7 & Nightshift EntertainmentDec 2The Danforth Music Hall · Source: Ticketmaster
30% off a Going membership when you plan your trip.
By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Toronto in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
35°F / 23°F
1.5°C / -5°C
RainPrecipitation
10d
2.4in · 62mm
LightDaylight
8.8h
December is cold, with Distillery Winter Village, City Hall skating, holiday lights, and subway-linked museums carrying the trip.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1 – Dec 20
Toronto Christmas Market 2026
Annual festive market held in the Distillery Historic District featuring holiday shopping, food, and entertainment.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Toronto Light Festival 2026
An outdoor light art festival showcasing installations by local and international artists in the historic Distillery District.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Winterlicious 2026
Toronto's winter culinary festival offering prix-fixe menus at participating restaurants across the city.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
Show all 39 events for December
- Dec 2
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 5 – Dec 31
Cavalcade of Lights 2026
Toronto's official holiday lighting ceremony and winter festival at Nathan Phillips Square, featuring light displays, music, and skating.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5 – Dec 6
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 31
'Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soleil
Arts & Theatre · Circus & Specialty Acts.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 10 – Dec 13
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 14
- Dec 17
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
Holiday Soul with Mississauga Symphony Orchestra
Arts & Theatre · Miscellaneous Theatre.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26Boxing DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Toronto
City overview
Toronto sits on Lake Ontario, with Downtown, Kensington Market, The Annex, Distillery District, Leslieville, Yorkville, Queen West, and The Beaches linking towers, streetcars, islands, markets, museums, sports venues, and immigrant food corridors. The CN Tower, St Lawrence Market, Toronto Islands, Queen Street West, and University Avenue give the city a clear axis from waterfront to neighborhoods.
Food & drink
Toronto food is market-stall and diaspora-heavy: peameal bacon sandwiches stack cornmeal-crusted back bacon on a bun, Jamaican patties wrap spiced beef or vegetables in flaky yellow pastry, doubles use curried chickpeas between bara, and butter tarts are the sticky Canadian bakery stop. St Lawrence Market, Kensington Market, Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Italy, Greektown, Queen West, and Scarborough food courts add poutine, dim sum, Korean barbecue, Italian sandwiches, souvlaki, and late-night slices.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square
- 2Royal Ontario Museum
- 3Art Gallery of Ontario
- 4Hockey Hall of Fame
- 5CN Tower
- 6Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
- 7Casa Loma
- 8Distillery District
1Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square
4.6★ · 41,268outdoorOpen dailyViljo Revell designed the curved twin towers and council chamber, opened in 1965 beside the older City Hall. Nathan Phillips Square adds the Toronto sign, skating in winter, public events, and direct access to Queen station.
2Royal Ontario Museum
4.7★ · 42,617indoorClosed MonThe museum opened on Bloor Street in 1914 and added Daniel Libeskind's Michael Lee-Chin Crystal in 2007. Galleries cover dinosaurs, Egypt, China, Indigenous collections, minerals, textiles, and natural history near Museum and St George stations.
Wikipedia
3Art Gallery of Ontario
4.7★ · 18,985indoorClosed MonThe AGO holds Canadian art, Group of Seven works, Indigenous art, European collections, photography, and Frank Gehry's 2008 wood-and-glass expansion. It sits on Dundas Street West near Chinatown and OCAD University.
Wikipedia
Show 3 more sights
- 4Hockey Hall of Fame
- 5CN Tower
- 6Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Neighborhoods
1Downtown and Entertainment District
Downtown is vertical and event-heavy, with Union Station, CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, theatres, hotels, and PATH corridors.
2Kensington Market and Chinatown
Kensington and Chinatown are dense and food-driven, with vintage shops, produce stands, dumpling houses, cafes, murals, and Spadina streetcars.
3The Annex and Yorkville
The Annex and Yorkville mix university blocks, bookstores, ROM, Bata Shoe Museum, Bloor shopping, Victorian houses, and restaurant patios.
Day trips
130km / about 90min by GO train and bus or 2h by car from Union Station
Niagara Falls
Horseshoe Falls, boat cruises, viewpoints, Clifton Hill, and Niagara Parks trails make the classic full day from Toronto.
150km / about 2h by VIA Rail or seasonal GO train from Union Station
Stratford Festival
Theatre venues, Avon River parks, restaurants, and Shakespeare-season programming make the strongest arts day west of the city.
70km / 1h by GO train from Union Station to West Harbour or Hamilton GO Centre
Hamilton and Dundas
Waterfront paths, Dundurn Castle, art galleries, and waterfall trails around the Niagara Escarpment create a compact city-and-nature day.
Getting around
TTC subway, streetcars, and buses use PRESTO and contactless payment, while GO Transit and UP Express link Union Station with suburbs, Niagara routing, and Pearson Airport. Use subway lines for north-south distance, streetcars for Queen and King corridors, ferries for the islands, and GO trains for day trips.
Planning a Toronto trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Toronto in December
- What to pack for Toronto in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Toronto checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 2°C / 35°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average -5°C / 23°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 10 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Toronto
- 4 days covers the main Toronto highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Toronto worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Toronto averages 2°C / 35°F highs, -5°C / 23°F nights, and about 10 rainy days.
Ready to plan Toronto?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Toronto plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.