Toronto is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Canada, and Hanukkah is part of the city’s winter celebrations. In 2026, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12.
Public menorah lightings
Mel Lastman Square, North York
For more than three decades, the Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario (JRCC) has hosted a big public menorah lighting at Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street. The free, family-friendly celebration usually includes a concert, Hanukkah music, dancing and free latkes, doughnuts and chocolate gelt, with elected officials from across the GTA. In 2025 it was held on the second night of Hanukkah. Watch for the 2026 date.
Community lightings
Synagogues, Jewish community centres and Chabad centres across Toronto and York Region (especially along the Bathurst corridor, in Thornhill and in Vaughan) hold public lightings, parties and children’s events throughout the eight nights.
Hanukkah 2026 at a glance
| Night | Date (begins at sundown) |
|---|---|
| First candle | Friday, December 4, 2026 |
| Second candle | Saturday, December 5 |
| Third candle | Sunday, December 6 |
| Fourth candle | Monday, December 7 |
| Fifth candle | Tuesday, December 8 |
| Sixth candle | Wednesday, December 9 |
| Seventh candle | Thursday, December 10 |
| Eighth candle | Friday, December 11 |
| Ends | Nightfall on Saturday, December 12 |
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE. According to tradition, a single day’s supply of oil kept the Temple’s menorah burning for eight days. Families light one more candle on the menorah (hanukkiah) each night, recite blessings, sing songs, play dreidel and eat foods fried in oil.
Where to shop for Hanukkah in Toronto
The Bathurst Street corridor from Eglinton north into Thornhill is the heart of Toronto’s Jewish community, with Jewish bakeries, delis, Judaica shops and kosher grocers. It’s the best place to pick up menorahs, candles, dreidels, gelt and fresh sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Order baked goods ahead for the first night and weekends, as they sell out.
Hanukkah for families
- Public menorah lightings with music, treats and crafts.
- Library programmes with Hanukkah stories and crafts.
- Community centre events with games and latkes.
- A family latke cook-off at home.
- Dreidel tournaments with chocolate gelt.
Hanukkah and Christmas
Hanukkah isn’t related to Christmas, but because both fall in December, many Toronto families and workplaces celebrate the season together. Wishing someone “Happy Hanukkah” or “Chag Sameach” is always welcome. See holiday traditions in Toronto.
Hanukkah in Toronto: FAQ
When does Hanukkah start in 2026? At sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026.
Where is the big public menorah lighting? Mel Lastman Square in North York has hosted a large public lighting for many years. Watch for the 2026 date.
Food
Hanukkah is a festival of fried foods. Look for latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) at Jewish bakeries and delis along Bathurst Street and in North York, which bake them by the thousands in the lead-up to the holiday.
Celebrating together
Toronto’s winter is a mix of traditions: Hanukkah, Christmas, the winter solstice, Kwanzaa and Orthodox Christmas in January. See holiday traditions in Toronto.
1 Comment
Pingback: Toronto Christmas Events December 2026: Full Calendar