Expanding the possibilities
of performance
How-to-Festival
Questions about the 2025 SummerWorks Performance Festival? Not sure where to go, who to engage with, or even where to begin? Are you new to the SummerWorks Performance Festival community or returning after some time away?
We’ve got you covered with our How-To-Festival guide!
Check out all of the details below, and link to further information about our Festival programming, ticketing and registrations, accessibility, the overall Festival schedule and so much more…
HOW THIS WORKS
What Will I Experience at the Festival?
SummerWorks Performance Festival is a curated festival of theatre, dance, music, live art and interdisciplinary forms, widely recognized as one of the most important platforms for launching new work in Canada. It is a space for innovation, exploration, and creative risk.
Learn more about our Festival programmingHow Do I Attend This Year's Festival?
Tickets can be purchased in advance (online) and in-person at one of our two (2) main Festival Box Office Hubs, conveniently located in the east and west ends of the city of Toronto.
Learn more / purchase your ticketsWhere Am I Going?
There are five (5) primary performance venues for this year’s Festival:
Daniels Spectrum: Aki Studio
585 Dundas Street East
Closest intersection: Dundas St East & Sackville St
The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance
304 Parliament Street
Closest intersection: Dundas St East & Parliament St
Factory Theatre
125 Bathurst Street
Closest intersection: Adelaide St West & Bathurst St
The Theatre Centre
1115 Queen Street West
Closest intersection: Queen St West & Lisgar St
Theatre Passe Muraille
16 Ryerson Avenue
Closest intersection: Queen St West & Ryerson Ave
There are eight (8) additional venues and locations for this year’s Festival:
A Space Gallery
401 Richmond Street West, Unit 110
Closest intersection: Richmond St West & Spadina Ave
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre
509 Parliament Street
Closest intersection: Parliament St & Carlton St
The Esplanade
264 The Esplanade
Closest intersection: The Esplanade & Berkeley St
Evergreen Brick Works
550 Bayview Avenue
Saint-Frère-André Secondary School
330 Lansdowne Avenue
Closest intersection: College St & Lansdowne Ave
Trinity St Paul’s Centre
427 Bloor Street West
Closest intersection: Bloor St West & Robert St
Union Station
65 Front Street West
Closest intersection: Front St West & York St
Victoria Memorial Square Park
10 Niagara Street
Closest intersection: Wellington St West & Portland St
What Happens at SummerWorks?
As an organization, we expand the possibilities of performance. SummerWorks is a leader, collaborator, and community builder at the forefront of contemporary performance.
Learn more about usHow Might I Engage With the Festival?
There's lots of opportunities to engage with us, as a volunteer, or as a staff or board member. Stick around for a post-show conversation, attend a party, or keep the discussion going on social media with #SummerWorksFun
Learn how to get involvedHow Much Do Tickets Cost?
SummerWorks has always been committed to affordable ticket prices as a way of ensuring access and allowing our audiences to experience multiple shows during the Festival. That’s why we use a Pay-What-You-Decide ticket option for every ticketed performance in the Festival.
What does this mean? Our ticket prices are $15, $30 or $45 – you pick whichever suits your budget. All tickets are general admission, and there are no limits on any price level.
Why would you do this? Because even at $45 you are receiving far more than your money’s worth. This approach allows patrons to increase their support for the Festival when possible, while ensuring financial accessibility for those who need it.
NEW! Festival Passes
The SummerWorks 6-Ticket Pass includes six (6) single general admission tickets to any paid, ticketed Festival event for $80.
The SummerWorks 3-Ticket Pass includes three (3) single general admission tickets to any paid, ticketed Festival event for $40.
All ticket prices are inclusive of HST. All purchases are subject to a $2.00 per ticket/pass processing fee.
What If I Can't Afford to Buy a Ticket?
SummerWorks believes that anyone who wants to attend a SummerWorks event can and should be able to. We have considered financial accessibility in the creation of our ticketing structure and fees, and further details on low- and no-cost ticket options for individuals and communities most in need will be announced in the coming days, prior to tickets going on sale.
Every summer, we offer Festival performances and events that are free-of-charge (with or without registration). Look out for the FREE tag on specific events and performances, and take note of when registration is required.
What Has Changed This Year?
Our box office systems change slightly from year-to-year, to enhance your Festival experience.
Online: Tickets and/or registrations are to be booked online at summerworks.ca.
Please Note: You can use your own electronic device (like a smartphone) to purchase tickets and/or register for performances/events right up until the listed start time.
By Phone: The Festival Box Office phone line is open from August 6th – 17th between 12:00pm – 4:00pm each day. Our phone line is available for general inquiries, ticket purchases, and/or registrations. Our Festival Box Office phone number is 647-904-8294.
Please Note: If you require assistance by phone before August 6th, please email boxoffice@summerworks.ca to arrange a call with a member of our Patron Services team.
In-Person: Our Festival Box Office Hubs are available to assist patrons with general inquiries, ticket purchases, and/or registrations for performances and events throughout the Festival. You can visit the Festival Box Office Hubs on the following dates and at these specific locations:
- Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St E) from August 7th – 10th. (East End Hub)
- The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen St W) from August 12th – 17th. (West End Hub)
- Theatre Passe Muraille (16 Ryerson Ave) Deaf-led Box Office* on August 14th & 15th from 5:30pm-9:30pm -and- August 17th from 3:30pm-6:30pm.
*ASL interpreters will also be available during Deaf-led Box Office hours.
During the dates when our in-person Festival Box Office Hubs are operational, they are open one hour prior to the first ticketed or registered performance of the day. They will close at the start time of the final ticketed or registered performance of the day. Tickets are available for purchase with debit/credit or cash.
Please Note: We will not have our Festival Box Office Hub open on Monday, August 11th.
Please Note: If you are planning to attend a ticketed performance or registered event outside of the venues where the Festival Box Office Hubs are located, you will NOT have access to an in-person Box Office. This means you will be unable to purchase tickets or register for events in-person at these venues. These venues include: The Citadel, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille (except for Deaf-led Box Office hours), Factory Theatre, Trinity St Paul’s Centre, and more to be confirmed. Please plan accordingly. Patrons looking to purchase tickets or register for events at these venues may do so online using their own electronic device, right up until the start time of the performance or event they wish to attend.
We encourage patrons to plan ahead and book their Festival experience online at summerworks.ca/tickets-2025. From August 6th to 17th, our phone line will be open daily from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Additionally, patrons can visit our Festival Box Office Hubs during their operational dates and times to book performances/events they wish to attend.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
SummerWorks cares deeply about artists and audiences. That’s why we’ve put forward information, policies, and procedures to help safeguard your personal information and support your overall Festival experience: