Toronto's Top 100 Events 2018 - Art & Design Events
1. Luminato
#1 Art & Design Event
The international arts festival grew to 19 days this year from 10, and included an on-stage conversation between Amal Cooney and her journalist father-in-law during the celeb lawyer’s first visit to Toronto. Sponsors included the province of Ontario and Volvo. Next: June 2019
2. Toronto Design Offsite
#3 Art & Design Event (up from #4)
The independent design festival hosted a record 140,000 attendees at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in 2018 and will grow again in 2019, expanding to 10 days from seven. George Brown College partners with the festival next year to deliver the fourth annual symposium: Unlocking the Future of Work. Next: January 18-27, 2019
3. Doors Open Toronto
#4 Art & Design Event (up from #5)
The theme for this year’s behind-the-scenes buildings tours was “Film, the Great Romance,” and weekend sites included 55 new buildings featured in the Toronto film and TV industry. Great Gulf remained the presenting sponsor and Carpenters and Allied Workers Local 27 also provided support. Next: May 25-26, 2019
4. Art Toronto
#5 Art & Design Event (up from #6)
RBC returned as presenting sponsor in 2017, when attendance grew to a record 23,500 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Focusing on artists from Los Angeles, the international fair presented talks, tours, and offsite V.I.P. events, and boasted strong sales to private collectors and museums. Next: October 26-29, 2018
5. Contact Photography Festival
#6 Art & Design Event
About one million people took in the world’s largest photography event this year, at 200 exhibits and happenings in major museums, galleries, and artist-run centers. Scotiabank returned as the title sponsor and pop-up marketer Big Digital was a new sponsor. May 1-31, 2019
6. Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
#7 Art & Design Event
Canada’s largest, longest-running contemporary outdoor art fair debuted a new brand identity this year and modified its name, becoming a “fair” rather than an “exhibition.” Artist participation increased to 360, with about 115,000 visitors and sponsors such as Shopify and Henderson Brewing Company. Next: July 2019
7. Interior Design Show
#8 Art & Design Event
The three-day event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre drew more than 53,000 design fans to experience work from more than 240 international exhibitors, as well as conferences, parties, and workshops. Celebrating 20 years, the show was sponsored by Miele and Caesarstone. Next: January 17-20, 2019
