Black History Month 2025 is officially here, and you can attend events all across Toronto to celebrate the city’s Black community, while learning about its history in shaping the place we all call home.
In Toronto, on top of cities across North America, the entire month of February stands as a time for us to learn about, recognize and celebrate the wide-spanning contributions of the Black community, and, lucky for us, there are a ton of events across the city all month long to help us do it.
Major events
Perhaps the crown jewel of Toronto’s Black History Month celebrations, Harbourfront Centre’s Kuumba Festival kicks off its 30th anniversary season on Feb. 1 and runs all month long, featuring a slew of special programming.
Some of the highlights at this year’s Kuumba Festival include a Bob Marley tribute in honour of the late singer and activist’s birthday on Feb. 6, a late-night celebration of Jamaican culture on Feb. 7 and the annual Rock Harder break dancing competition on Feb. 15 and 16.
Alongside Kuumba, the annual Black Diamond Ball is another marquee event of the month, bringing together and honouring a diverse array of achievements in the arts, culture, community and business.
If the movies are your scene, the Toronto Black Film Festival runs from Feb. 12 to 17 at a number of theatres in the city, showing some of the best new films by local and international Black filmmakers, crews and casts.
It’s not just big events that deserve your attention during Black History Month this year, though; there are also a host of smaller, independent affairs that you’ll want to check out.
Workshops
The month is, first and foremost, a month for learning, and there are a number of workshops happening in the city that can expand your mind.
At Lakeshore Arts, A Breathing – A gathering for Black folks, where Canadian poet and writer, Jedidiah Mugarura, will lead you through an engaging reading and writing workship, is happening on Feb. 7.
Also on Feb. 7 at Meridian Arts Centre, you can get your groove on at a dance workshop led by Aly Keita, where you can explore the sounds of traditional West African Instruments like the kora and the djembe and move your body along to them.
If you prefer your events to come with a side of alcohol, there’s a Black Grapes Wine Tasting taking place at Stackt Market for the third year in a row on Feb. 20, giving you the chance to taste wines from a selection of Black winemakers while learning about their process.
Performances
What better way to ring in the month of February than with a slew of live performances, from music to comedy and everything in between, that highlight Black excellence in all its forms?
When it comes to music, Toronto is in very good hands. Celebrations and Revelations, held at the Globe and Mail Centre is gearing up to honour the Black community’s foundational role in creating and shaping country music with performances from four trailblazing Black performers on Feb. 28.
On Feb. 21, Black History Month Showcase takes over the City of Toronto archives with an immersive musical exhibition that features legendary hip-hop duo Dream Warriors alongside a number of special guests, DJs and speakers.
If the spoken word is more your speed, this is a great time to take in some theatre that explores the Black experience. Black Girl Little Secrets, which runs from Feb. 6 to 9 at Alumnae Theatre, poses a particularly heartfelt look into playwright and star, Arfina Lamy’s own life experiences.
For something a little more light hearted, Underground Comedy Railroad, which arrives in Toronto on Feb. 14 at Comedy Bar East is one of Canada’s preeminent all-Black comedy tours, and features some of the funniest comedians working in the country today.
But wait, there’s more
One of the best ways to support marginalized communities in Toronto is to put your money where your mouth is, but, luckily, The Trending Table, the team behind HER Market, is making that fun, with a Black History Month market taking place at Scarborough Town Centre from Feb. 7 to 9.
The market features all BIPOC and Black-owned local businesses, and is the perfect opportunity to find your new favourites of everything from jewellery to snacks.
Taking place at Malvern Town Centre on Feb. 22, the TAIBU Black History Month Celebration promises a lively and inspiring celebration of Toronto’s Black community, featuring music, art and food organized by the UBUNTU Elder Council.
Just passing through? Over the course of the month, Union Station will play host to a number of special events held in recognition of Black History Month, including free music performances from Savannah Ré and Aiza on Feb. 25, and the unveiling of A Transit Through Time, a station-wide exhibit featuring works from seven local artists on Feb. 12.
