Singers take over Toronto square in festival event
Published June 16, 2026 at 11:08 am
Hundreds of singers packed into a Toronto square as one of the events in a month-long festival.
The choristers from across the city flooded Sankofa Square at Yonge and Dundas streets to sing the climactic finale of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy on Friday night.
The performance was part of Luminato, a summer festival that brings together leading Canadian and international artists in theatre, circus, dance, opera, music, magic, film and public art.
Celebrating 20 years, the 2026 instalment runs from June 3–28, the longest festival in its history. There are over 50 free and ticketed events and more than 140 performances at over 25 locations across the city.
The Ode to Joy choristers sang the finale of Ode to Joy in German, conducted by Jean-Sébastien Vallée, with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, which was at Roy Thompson Hall and on the video in the square.
For more information on Luminato and a complete lineup of events, see the website here.