Every year since 1967, the City of Toronto has kicked off the holiday season by lighting its official Christmas tree in front of City Hall. The Cavalcade of Lights turns Nathan Phillips Square into the city’s biggest free holiday light display, with a giant tree, hundreds of thousands of LED lights, an outdoor skating rink and an opening night with live music and a skating show.
Cavalcade of Lights 2026 at a glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Where | Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West |
| When | Opening night usually the last Saturday in November; lights stay up into early January |
| 2026 dates | To be announced by the City of Toronto, typically in early November |
| Cost | Free |
| Lights | More than 300,000 energy-efficient LED lights |
| Nightly hours | Lit from dusk until late evening |
For reference, the 2025 season opened on Saturday, November 29 and ran until January 7, 2026, with the square lit nightly from dusk until 11 p.m. We’ll update this page as soon as the City confirms the 2026 dates.
What happens on opening night
Opening night is the big event. It usually runs from early evening until about 11 p.m., and recent editions have included:
- Live music on the main stage, often with Canadian headliners
- A countdown to the lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree
- A skating show on the rink
- Roaming performers and holiday characters around the square
- Cultural performances that reflect the city’s diversity
Recent opening nights have not included fireworks, so don’t expect them. The crowd is biggest just before the tree lighting, so arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes early if you want a view of the stage.
After opening night
The tree and lights stay up every night through the holidays, which makes the square one of the best free evening stops in the city. Light installations wrap the rink, the arches over the ice glow and the Toronto sign sits lit up in front of City Hall. It’s a short walk from the Eaton Centre, so it pairs naturally with an evening of shopping. Our downtown Christmas lights walking tour starts here.
In past years the City has also held free skating parties at Nathan Phillips Square and at other rinks, including North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, McCowan District Park and Colonel Samuel Smith Park, with free skate rentals, hot chocolate and DJs.
Skating at Nathan Phillips Square
The rink is the heart of the square in winter. Skating is free if you bring your own skates, and rentals and sharpening are available on site. The rink usually opens for the season in late November, weather permitting, and stays open until mid-March. See skating at Nathan Phillips Square for hours and tips, or outdoor skating in Toronto for every rink in the city.
Getting there
Nathan Phillips Square is in the centre of downtown at Queen and Bay.
- Subway: Osgoode Station (Line 1) is about a three-minute walk. Queen Station (Line 1) is also close.
- Streetcar: the 501 Queen streetcar stops right outside.
- From Union Station or the UP Express: about a 15-minute walk north, or one subway ride.
- Driving: there’s an underground City Hall garage, but expect road closures and heavy traffic around the square on opening night. Transit is much easier. See parking and transit for Christmas events.
Tips for visiting
- Dress warmly. You’ll be standing outdoors on an open square, and late-November evenings are often close to freezing. See Toronto weather in December.
- Go on a weeknight after opening night if crowds aren’t your thing. The lights are just as bright and the rink is less busy.
- Pair it with the Eaton Centre. The mall’s own holiday decorations are a few minutes’ walk east. See Eaton Centre at Christmas.
- Come back for New Year’s Eve. The City’s free New Year’s Eve celebration moved to the waterfront at Harbourfront Centre in 2025, with fireworks over the lake at midnight rather than at City Hall. See New Year’s Eve fireworks in Toronto.
More tree lightings and lights
The Cavalcade is the City’s official tree lighting, but it’s not the only one. The Distillery Winter Village lights its tree on November 12, and malls, neighbourhoods and attractions hold their own ceremonies through November. See all of them in Toronto Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, and find more displays in the best Christmas lights in Toronto and free Christmas lights in Toronto.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Cavalcade of Lights in 2026?
The City of Toronto hasn’t announced the 2026 dates yet. Opening night is usually the last Saturday of November (in 2025 it was November 29), and the lights stay up until early January.
Is the Cavalcade of Lights free?
Yes. Opening night and the nightly lights are free, and skating is free if you bring your own skates.
What time is the tree lighting?
In recent years the tree has been lit at about 6:30 p.m. on opening night, after a countdown on the main stage. Check the City’s schedule for 2026.
Are there fireworks at the Cavalcade of Lights?
Recent opening nights have not had fireworks. The City’s New Year’s Eve celebration, held on the waterfront at Harbourfront Centre in 2025, ends with fireworks at midnight.
How long has the Cavalcade of Lights been running?
Since 1967. It started as a one-night tree lighting and grew into a season-long festival in the early 2000s.
Plan the rest of the season with our complete guide to Christmas in Toronto.
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