December is peak Christmas in Toronto. The markets are in full swing, the stages are packed with holiday shows and every weekend has something new. Here’s what’s on in December 2026, in date order.
December 2026 calendar
| Date | Event | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| All month (closed Dec 25) | Distillery Winter Village | Free/ticketed |
| Thu – Sun until Dec 22 | St. Lawrence Market Winter Market | Free |
| All month | Cavalcade of Lights and skating, Nathan Phillips Square | Free |
| Until Dec 6 | One of a Kind Christmas Show (late night Dec 3) | Ticketed |
| Wed, Dec 2 | The Andy Kim Christmas Show, Massey Hall | Ticketed |
| Dec 3 – 6 | Elf in Concert, TSO, Roy Thomson Hall | Ticketed |
| Evening of Fri, Dec 4 | Hanukkah begins (through Dec 12) | — |
| Dec 5 – 31 | The Nutcracker, Four Seasons Centre | From $72 |
| Dec 5, 6, 12, 13 | Christmas on the Rails, Halton County Radial Railway, Milton | Ticketed |
| Dec 9 – 10 | TSO Holiday Pops with Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy | Ticketed |
| Wed, Dec 9 | Deadline to mail your letter to Santa | Free |
| Sat, Dec 12 | St. Michael’s Choir School Christmas concert, Massey Hall | Ticketed |
| Dec 12 – Jan 10 | Goblin: Christmas Carol, CAA Theatre | Ticketed |
| Sun, Dec 13 | Toronto Children’s Chorus, Roy Thomson Hall | Ticketed |
| From Dec 14 | Distillery Winter Village ticketed every evening after 4 p.m. | From $16 |
| Dec 15 – 20 | TSO Messiah, Roy Thomson Hall | Ticketed |
| Dec 15 – Jan 3 | The Thrill of Hope: A Holiday Concert, Soulpepper | From $39 |
| Thu, Dec 17 | Good Lovelies Christmas, Massey Hall | Ticketed |
| Dec 17 – 19 | Tafelmusik Messiah, Koerner Hall | Ticketed |
| Fri, Dec 18 | The Barra MacNeils: An East Coast Christmas, Massey Hall | Ticketed |
| Sat, Dec 19 | Choir! Choir! Choir!: Un-Silent Night, Massey Hall | Ticketed |
| Sun, Dec 20 | Tafelmusik Sing-Along Messiah, Massey Hall | Ticketed |
| Mon, Dec 21 | Winter solstice, the longest night | — |
| Thu, Dec 24 | Christmas Eve | — |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas Day; most shops and the Distillery closed | — |
| Sat, Dec 26 | Boxing Day and Boxing Day sales | — |
| Thu, Dec 31 | New Year’s Eve | Free and ticketed |
Week by week
December 1 to 6: last week of One of a Kind
One of a Kind wraps up on December 6, with its late-night shopping party on Thursday, December 3. Andy Kim’s Christmas concert, Elf in Concert and the opening of The Nutcracker make this a big week for shows. Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4.
December 7 to 13: concerts and the last free Distillery days
The TSO’s Holiday Pops plays on December 9 and 10. Mail letters to Santa by December 9. This is the last week of free Monday to Wednesday entry to the Distillery Winter Village, so go now if you want to avoid tickets.
December 14 to 20: Messiah week
Three versions of Handel’s Messiah, plus Good Lovelies, the Barra MacNeils and Choir! Choir! Choir! at Massey Hall. Every evening at the Distillery is ticketed from December 14 to 31.
December 21 to 26: Christmas week
Celebrate the solstice on December 21, do last-minute shopping at the St. Lawrence Winter Market until December 22, and check what’s open on Christmas Day and what’s open on Boxing Day before you plan meals.
December 27 to 31: between Christmas and New Year’s
The Nutcracker runs until December 31, the Distillery stays open until January 3 and the city winds up with New Year’s Eve. See things to do between Christmas and New Year’s.
Back to Toronto Christmas events in November or the full Toronto Christmas events 2026 guide.
