Christmas Shopping in Toronto: The Complete Guide

Toronto is one of the best cities in Canada for Christmas shopping. You can tick off your list at a giant downtown mall, browse designer boutiques in Yorkville, find handmade gifts at a Victorian-era Christmas market or pick up a fresh tree on your way home. This guide covers where to shop, when, and how to do it without losing your festive spirit.

Key 2026 shopping dates

Date	What’s happening
Nov 12	Distillery Winter Village opens, with its vendor cabins of Canadian makers
Nov 19	Free St. Lawrence Winter Market opens
Nov 27	Black Friday; One of a Kind Christmas Show opens
Nov 30	Cyber Monday
Dec 24	Christmas Eve: most stores close early
Dec 25	Christmas Day: most stores closed
Dec 26	Boxing Day sales

Where to shop

Malls

• CF Toronto Eaton Centre: the downtown giant, with 200+ stores, holiday decorations and direct subway access.
• Yorkdale Shopping Centre: Toronto’s luxury mall, on Line 1.
• CF Sherway Gardens, CF Fairview Mall and Scarborough Town Centre for the suburbs, plus Square One in Mississauga.

Check Toronto mall holiday hours before you go.

Shopping streets

• Bloor-Yorkville: designer boutiques and the city’s prettiest holiday decorations.
• Queen Street West and Ossington: independent fashion, design and gift shops.
• Kensington Market: vintage, food and quirky gifts.
• Leslieville and the Junction: neighbourhood boutiques and cafés.

See Toronto’s best shopping streets at Christmas.

Christmas markets

For handmade and local gifts, nothing beats the markets: the Distillery Winter Village, the One of a Kind Christmas Show, the St. Lawrence Winter Market and dozens of craft fairs. Start with Toronto Christmas markets 2026.

Gift ideas

• Made-in-Toronto gifts from local makers
• Experience gifts in Toronto, from show tickets to food tours
• Gifts for people who love Toronto

Trees and decorations

• Where to buy a Christmas tree in Toronto
• Cut-your-own tree farms near Toronto
• Where to buy Christmas decorations

Sales

• Black Friday (November 27): the start of the holiday sales season. Guide
• Boxing Day (December 26): Canada’s biggest post-Christmas sale day. Guide

Toronto’s best shopping areas at Christmas

Area	Best for	Guide
Eaton Centre and Queen Street	Big brands, one-stop shopping	Eaton Centre at Christmas
Bloor-Yorkville	Luxury and designer gifts	Yorkville at Christmas
Queen West and Ossington	Independent fashion and design	Christmas on Queen West
Distillery District	Artisan gifts and market cabins	Distillery Winter Village
Kensington Market	Vintage and quirky finds	Kensington Market
Leslieville and the Junction	Local makers and boutiques	Christmas in Leslieville

More streets: best Christmas shopping streets in Toronto.

Shop local this Christmas

Toronto has a thriving maker community. Seasonal markets and shows like the One of a Kind Show, craft fairs and neighbourhood holiday markets are the easiest way to find handmade gifts. For ready-made ideas, see Toronto-made gifts and gifts for Toronto lovers.

Avoid the crowds

• Shop weekday mornings. Malls are quietest from opening until about 11 a.m.
• Skip the last two Saturdays before Christmas if you can. In 2026 those are December 12 and 19.
• Use the PATH downtown to move between malls and towers without going outside.
• Order online early if you need delivery: carriers get busy from Black Friday onward.

Christmas shopping in Toronto: FAQ

When do Toronto malls extend their hours? Most malls open longer in December, especially in the final two weeks before Christmas. See mall holiday hours.

Are stores open on Boxing Day in Toronto? Yes. Boxing Day (Saturday, December 26, 2026) is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. See Boxing Day sales.

Are stores open on Christmas Day? Almost all retail stores are closed on December 25 under Ontario’s retail holiday rules. See what’s open on Christmas Day.

Tips for Christmas shopping in Toronto

• Shop weekday mornings to avoid the crowds, especially in December.
• Take the TTC to downtown malls; parking is expensive and busy.
• Shop local early; small makers sell out of popular items before mid-December.
• Leaving it late? See last-minute Christmas shopping in Toronto.

For the full season, see the complete guide to Christmas in Toronto.