Toronto Outdoor Art Fair Opens Artist Call with Major $65,000 Awards Announcement

62nd Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Nathan Phillips Square. Photography by Shane Fester, 2023.

TOAF65 Call for Artists & Makers

July 10–12, 2026 | Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
Early Bird Deadline: February 27, 2026 @ 11:59pm EST
Final Application Deadline: March 6, 2026 @ 11:59pm EST

About TOAF65

The Call for Artists for the 65th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is now open. To mark this milestone, TOAF is celebrating with $65,000 in cash and in-kind prizes for artists across Canada. Two of the Fair’s most celebrated awards—the Best of Art Fair supported by IG Wealth Management and Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award supported by the Koffler Family Foundation—will each award $10,000 to their recipients at the 2026 Fair.

Apply to exhibit your work, grow your practice, and join a landmark year at TOAF that celebrates the vibrant connection between artists and art lovers.

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is Canada’s largest and longest-running outdoor art Fair, and a leading online showcase—an essential launchpad for artists building and sustaining their careers since 1961. TOAF’s Awards Program is the largest of its kind in Canada: intentionally expansive and inclusive, creating real opportunities for artists at every stage to gain recognition, visibility, and meaningful financial support.

This legacy runs deep. In 1961, painter Ken Danby received the first Best of Exhibition Award—$1,000 at the time ($10,000 today), a bold early investment that helped propel the career of an artist who would become a household name in Canadian art. Sixty-five years later, TOAF’s spirit remains the same.

TOAF65 calls for something big—something that honours its history and the artists who give Canada its creative pulse.

TOAF65 is your chance to join the story.

Apply Now

Best of Student Award recipient Alex Hall, TOAF64. Photography by Shane Fester, 2025.

Who Should Apply?

Artists and contemporary makers at any stage of their careers from across Canada—working in painting, photography, sculpture, installation, textiles, jewellery, and beyond.

Choose to exhibit:

• In-person at Nathan Phillips Square;
• Exclusively Online at TOAF.ca.

TOAF is committed to accessibility and meaningful participation. Limited Exhibition Bursaries (free exhibition space) and Travel Bursaries are available for artists coming from outside Ontario through the Art Encounters Access & Outreach Program. Artists may opt into this program during their application, which offers free exhibition space, mentorship, professional development, accessibility support (as required), and artist fees. Please review eligibility details.

TOAF is a juried showcase. Artists are selected for artistic excellence, originality, and consistency of ideas and design.

What Are the Perks?

• Unmatched Exposure – Canada’s best-attended art fair, with over 170,000 visitors
• Major Income Generator – Over $2 million in artwork sales
• Prestigious Awards & Recognition – $65K in cash and in-kind prizes
• Top-Notch Reach – Far-reaching local and national marketing and media campaign valued at $200K
• Affordable & Accessible – Flexible formats including sliding-scale booth options, Exclusively Online participation, and Art Encounters Access & Outreach Program
• Powerful Online Fair – A national discovery platform with 2,000+ artworks sold since its launch in 2020
• Artist Support – On-site and online assistance and professional development opportunities

Submission Requirements

• A cohesive body of 6 artwork images
• 1 image of your art in context (in a booth, table top or on a wall)
• Brief artist statement (500 characters)
• Description of your art/process (200 characters)
• Application fee

Application Fee:

• Regular: $50
• Students: $30
• Late Fee: Additional $50 (applies from March 1, 2026)

For more information on the Call for Artists, visit TOAF.ca/call-for-artists.

Apply Now

Murray Koffler presents $1,000 Best in Show Award to 1970 Recipient Dennis Cliff. The painting was a purchase for the new Four Seasons Sheraton Hotel across the street from Nathan Phillips Square. Photo courtesy of City of Toronto Archives.

About Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is Canada’s leading outdoor and online art fair. Established in 1961 to connect Canadian artists directly to the public, TOAF showcases 400+ emerging and established visual artists, and brings together 170,000 art lovers and enthusiasts who spend over 2 million dollars on art during the Fair. This free public event takes place every July—rain or shine—at Nathan Phillips Square in the heart of downtown Toronto. Since 2020, TOAF’s online Fair has become Canada’s fastest-growing e-commerce and discovery platform for artists across Canada. The Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is a registered charitable nonprofit organization.

416-408-2754 (texts welcome) | info@TOAF.ca
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Accessibility: Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is fully accessible.