We invite you to review the information provided on this webpage, as well as the overall schedule of Focus/industry events and activities, and start by purchasing one of our SummerWorks Focus Passes!

Once you purchase a Pass, you’ll receive a link to register for all of these Focus/industry events and activities. Your prompt response helps us to plan for food/beverage, event capacities, and accessibility needs. We will consider any ‘maybe’ as a YES. If your availability changes, please contact Focus Producer Jahnelle Jones at community@summerworks.ca.

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We encourage you to explore the full 11-day Festival along with the SummerWorks Focus series. Here are a few links to help you familiarize yourself with the overall 2026 Festival and our ongoing Programming Initiatives:

• Overall Festival Programming
• Associate Artists
• The Expansion Pack
• Summer Break
• SummerWorks International Development Strategy

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If you have any questions or further inquiries about your attendance at the SummerWorks Performance Festival, please email Focus Producer, Jahnelle Jones at community@summerworks.ca.

This year, ALL SummerWorks Focus Industry Passes include:

• three (3) complimentary tickets to the following performances:
  • one (1) ticket to PROVISIONS by Lester Trips (co-presented with Factory Theatre) on August 11th at 6:00 PM
  • one (1) ticket to Heritage Building in Prime Location by storm&stress / 1s1 Theatre on August 12th at 6:00 PM
  • one (1) ticket to Little White Room by Quote Unquote Collective & El Ingenio del Caldero on August 13th at 4:00 PM
  • *subject to availability

• access to:
  • Talks and conversations, networking receptions, and social gatherings
  • Bespoke studio and venue visits with local Toronto-based artists and Festival partners
  • Artist sharings of works-in-development

• direct/bespoke connections to Festival artists, coordinated with the SummerWorks team.

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There are three (3) SummerWorks Focus Industry Pass options: 

• Industry Pass for $50, includes access to all Focus events & activities + three (3) complimentary tickets to the shows listed above;

• Industry Pass + 3 Tickets for $95, includes access to all Focus events & activities + three (3) complimentary tickets to the shows listed above + up to three (3) tickets to any paid, ticketed Festival performances;

• Industry Pass + 6 Tickets for $130, includes access to all Focus events & activities + three (3) complimentary tickets to the shows listed above + up to six (6) tickets to any paid, ticketed Festival performances.

*NOTE: All pass purchases are subject to a $2.00 per pass processing fee.

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Once you’ve purchased your Industry Pass, you will receive an email with a Coupon Code, which you will use to redeem for your specific tickets (if you’ve chosen the 3-ticket or 6-ticket Pass). We strongly encourage you to book your specific tickets as soon as possible, as Festival tickets tend to sell quite quickly, and are subject to availability.

*NOTE: an Industry Pass is required for entry to all Focus events and activities.

You are also welcome to book additional tickets to any performance, by visiting our Festival Ticketing and Registration Page. There are also many FREE Festival events/activities, and some require advance registration. We strongly encourage you to directly register for these events, as soon as possible.

For those of you joining us for SummerWorks Focus, specifically between August 10-14, please see the full Focus schedule below. We’ve also included a list of the shows happening on each day for you to map out your personal daily schedule.

*All Industry-specific events are included in your Pass and many require registration. The registration link will be sent in your confirmation email once you purchase your SummerWorks Focus Pass.

Focus/industry events and activities:

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Meeting for The CanDance Network, (for Network members only) – a private meeting for Canada’s national network of dance presenting organizations > The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance

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Optional ticketed performances:

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – The Upheld Present by Dance Arts Institute > Evergreen Brick Works (FREE)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Collision Project: Good Boy, Bad Girl by Unlock Dancing Plaza (co-presented with CanAsian Dance and Toronto Dance Theatre) > Winchester Street Theatre

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM – Collision Project: Spin and Click by Unlock Dancing Plaza (co-presented with CanAsian Dance and Toronto Dance Theatre) > Winchester Street Theatre

4:00 PM – 4:45 PM – Tandava by Nova Bhattacharya & Suvendrini Lena (co-presented with Citadel + Compagnie) > The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance

5:30 PM – 6:15 PM – No(body) by Syreeta Hector (presented in association with dance Immersion) > Daniels Spectrum Aki Studio

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Switching Regent(s) Jam ‘n’ Toast by Switch Collective > Daniels Spectrum (FREE)

Focus/industry events and activities:

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM – Coffee Connect, an informal gathering to start your day > Boxcar Social Harbourfront

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM – Festivals Are Scary: River Walk by the Lake by Theresa Cutknife & Emily Jung > Canada Sqaure at Harbourfront Centre

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM – An Elder’s Journey in Re:verse by Festival Elder, Dr. Duke Redbird > Toronto Music Garden

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Meeting for The CanDance Network, (for Network members only) – a private meeting for Canada’s national network of dance presenting organizations > Centre for Social Innovation Spadina

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Grant Info Session for Visitors, (for national & international guests only) presented by SummerWorks, featuring representatives from Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and Global Affairs Canada > Envoke Office Space (401 Richmond)

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Optional ticketed performances:

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – PROVISIONS by Lester Trips (co-presented with Factory Theatre) > Factory Theatre Studio

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Blood Brothers by Sheep’s Clothing Theatre (co-presented with Outside the March, as part of the Expansion Pack) > Delta Upsilon Fraternity

Focus/industry events and activities:

9:15 AM – 10:00 AM – Coffee Connect, an informal gathering to start your day > A Space Gallery

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Sustainable Art-Working: Crossing Cultures, presented by SummerWorks, in association with Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) > A Space Gallery

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Every Day of Peace in the Last Hundred Years by Moez Surani and Nina Leo > A Space Gallery

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Eats & Chats, catered lunch and bespoke conversations with Festival artists, presented by SummerWorks, in association with Ontario Culture Days > ONCD Office Space (401 Richmond)

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM – The International Happy Hour, an informal meetup with our visiting international guests > location TBD

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM* – PROVISIONS by Lester Trips (co-presented with Factory Theatre) > Factory Theatre Studio (*followed by a brief post-show Q&A) (this performance is included in your Industry Pass – advance registration required; subject to availability)

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Optional ticketed performances:

1:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Every Day of Peace in the Last Hundred Years by Moez Surani & Nina Leo > A Space Gallery (FREE)

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Our Other Organ by Boaz Barkan > The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Blood Brothers by Sheep’s Clothing Theatre (co-presented with Outside the March, as part of the Expansion Pack) > Delta Upsilon Fraternity

Focus/industry events and activities:

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Coffee Connect, an informal gathering to start your day > Tarragon Theatre

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Artist Sharing: Pamela Mala Sinha, presented by Tarragon Theatre > Tarragon Theatre Rehearsal Hall

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch > Tarragon Theatre Extra Space

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – A Focus on Pure Research, presented by Nightswimming > Tarragon Theatre Rehearsal Hall

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Celebrating 30 Years with Nightswimming, presented by Nightswimming > Tarragon Theatre Rehearsal Hall

6:00 PM – 7:15 PM* – Heritage Building in Prime Location by storm&stress / 1s1 Theatre > Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace (*followed by a brief post-show Q&A) (this performance is included in your Industry Pass – advance registration required; subject to availability)

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Optional ticketed performances:

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Rot Hat by Nate Yaffe > The Theatre Centre Franco Boni Theatre

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Blood Brothers by Sheep’s Clothing Theatre (co-presented with Outside the March, as part of the Expansion Pack) > Delta Upsilon Fraternity

9:30 PM – 10:30 PM – Our Other Organ by Boaz Barkan > The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator

Focus/industry events and activities:

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Bespoke Venue Visits and Meetings with Festival Partners

Theatre

• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM – The Bentway
• 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Why Not Theatre
• 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM – Outside the March

Dance

• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM – The Bentway
• 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM – Studio Visit w/ Kwasi Obeng, hosted by Dancemakers
• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Wandering Talks, hosted by CanAsian Dance
• 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM – Citadel + Compagnie

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM* – Little White Room by Quote Unquote Collective & El Ingenio del Caldero > The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator (*followed by a brief post-show Q&A) (this performance is included in your Industry Pass – advance registration required; subject to availability)

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Optional ticketed performances:

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Every Day of Peace in the Last Hundred Years by Moez Surani & Nina Leo > A Space Gallery (FREE)

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM* – Hello Sunshine! by Sara Porter Productions > The Theatre Centre Franco Boni Theatre (*followed by a brief post-show Q&A)

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Free Touch: Staging Presence by Chou Kuan Jou > Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace

7:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Our Other Organ by Boaz Barkan > The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Blood Brothers by Sheep’s Clothing Theatre (co-presented with Outside the March, as part of the Expansion Pack) > Delta Upsilon Fraternity

9:00 PM – 10:15 PM – Rot Hat by Nate Yaffe > The Theatre Centre Franco Boni Theatre

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Soft Squishy Things by Ghost River Theatre / Macromatter > Factory Theatre Studio

10:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Working On My Night Moves by Julia Croft & Nisha Madhan > Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse

Focus/industry events and activities:

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Dance Talks, co-presented with CanAsian Dance > Winchester Street Theatre

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Closing Lunch > location TBD

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM – Toronto Dance Theatre – Partner/Venue Visit > Winchester Street Theatre

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM – Confluence: Creative Exchange (Hong Kong/Canada) – Studio Visit, presented by CanAsian Dance > Winchester Street Theatre

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Optional ticketed performances:

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Body Story by Xin Ji > The Theatre Centre Franco Boni Theatre

6:00 PM – 7:15 PM – GPO Box No. 211 by Theatre du Poulet > A Space Gallery

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM* – Soft Squishy Things by Ghost River Theatre / Macromatter > Factory Theatre Studio (*followed by a brief post-show Q&A)

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM – Little White Room by Quote Unquote Collective & El Ingenio del Caldero > The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Blood Brothers by Sheep’s Clothing Theatre (co-presented with Outside the March, as part of the Expansion Pack) > Delta Upsilon Fraternity

9:00 PM – 10:15 PM – Hello Sunshine! by Sara Porter Productions > The Theatre Centre Franco Boni Theatre

9:00 PM – 10:30 PM – Free Touch: Staging Presence by Chou Kuan Jou > Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace

10:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Working on My Night Moves by Julia Croft & Nisha Madhan > Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse

SummerWorks has confirmed a discounted rate for booking your stay in Toronto!*

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Book directly: https://reservations.stayatuoft.com/search-rates

• Select a specific accommodation from the drop-down menu.
• Enter your dates. Valid August 2 (check-in) to August 18 (check-out).
• Add promo code: SummerW

*Subject to availability

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Chestnut Residence, conveniently situated in downtown Toronto near the Eaton Centre, offers easy access to the heart of the city. Our rates include full breakfast in our dining hall.

Room Types:

• Single Room with 1 double-sized bed, private bathroom – $150 CAD, per room, per night + 13% tax
• Double Room with 2 double-sized bed, private bathroom (maximum 2 people) – $176 CAD, per room, per night + 13% tax

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Knox Residence, located within the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus, provides traditional dormitory-style accommodations immersed in the vibrant university atmosphere. We do not offer a meal plan available at this property.

Room Type:

• Single Room with 1 twin-sized bed, shared traditional dormitory-style bathroom. – $75 CAD, per room, per night + 13% tax

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Oak House, located minutes away from the iconic Robarts Library, Oak House is a brand new student residence. Modern comfort with state-of-the-art spaces and amenities, we have easy access to public transit to explore the city. We do not offer a meal plan at this property.

Room Type:

• Standard Room with 1 single occupancy bedroom with private ensuite – $187 CAD, per room, per night + 13% tax
• Connected Unit with 2 double occupancy bedrooms sharing a private ensuite – $220 CAD, per room, per night + 13% tax

Locations & Directions

1. A Space Gallery — 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 110
2. The Bentway — 55 Fort York Blvd
3. Boxcar Social Harbourfront — 235 Queens Quay West
4. Canada Square at Harbourfront Centre — 235 Queens Quay West
5. Centre for Social Innovation Spadina — 192 Spadina Avenue
6. The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance — 304 Parliament Street
7. Daniels Spectrum Aki Studio — 585 Dundas Street East
8. Delta Upsilon Fraternity — 182 St George Street
9. Envoke Office Space — 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 421
10. Evergreen Brick Works — 550 Bayview Avenue
11. Factory Theatre — 125 Bathurst Street
12. Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse — 79 St George Street
13. ONCD Office Space — 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 403
14. Outside the March — 258 Wallace Avenue, Unit 202
15. Tarragon Theatre — 30 Bridgman Avenue
16. Toronto Music Garden — 479 Queens Quay West
17. The Theatre Centre — 1115 Queen Street West
18. Theatre Passe Muraille — 16 Ryerson Avenue
19. Winchester Street Theatre — 80 Winchester Street
20. Why Not Theatre — 33 Bloor Street East, 5th Floor