Christmas already? We haven’t even gotten through Halloween yet (and somehow, it still feels like summer). But we’re not complaining. The Distillery Winter Village is officially returning to the Distillery District on Nov. 12, and tickets for the popular Christmas market are on sale now!
The holiday market returns for its 17th year and will take over 13 acres of the District’s cobblestone streets through Jan. 3, 2027, transforming the neighbourhood with thousands of twinkling lights, festive food and drinks, vendor cabins, live performances and, of course, a massive Christmas tree.
There are a few new additions to look out for this year, too.
The famous centrepiece tree will debut an entirely new look for 2026 (although organizers are keeping the design hush-hush until opening night). There will also be a new immersive digital Nutcracker experience, complete with interactive games and treats inspired by the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Santa’s Village is returning to Soulpepper Theatre, but this time with a nostalgic Christmas makeover inspired by the vintage European department store setting of Soulpepper’s holiday production Parfumerie. Visitors will be able to meet Santa, write holiday letters and warm up with specialty hot chocolates and treats.
Elsewhere throughout the market, expect cozy fireplaces, viral food faves, holiday photo ops, the Countdown to Christmas Clock and cabins filled with gifts and treats from local and Canadian businesses.
Carollers and live music will fill the streets throughout the season, with special performances from Mirvish Productions, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Myriad Ensemble (the full 2026 programming lineup, including additional new experiences and a few yet-to-be-revealed surprises, is expected in October).
And yes, we’re only in September, but it’s never too early to start planning your Christmas market visits: opening night is ticketed and traditionally sells out quickly, while the market is expecting more than one million visitors over the 2026 season.
“The Distillery Winter Village has become much more than a holiday tradition,” Rik Ocvirk, director of experiences and events at The Distillery Historic District, said. “Every visit has an impact on our community of Canadian makers, independent businesses, restaurants, artists and performers. At a time when there is so much conversation about supporting Canadian, we’re proud to give more than a million visitors the opportunity to discover them right here in The Distillery District.”
The Distillery Winter Village runs from Nov. 12, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027, and will be closed on Christmas Day. Opening night begins at 6 p.m. on Nov. 12 with the annual tree-lighting ceremony, when thousands of visitors are expected to join Santa in counting down to light up the massive tree!
If you’d rather wander through the lights without paying admission, there are still tons of opportunities to do so. Entry is free all day Monday through Wednesday until Dec. 13. Otherwise, tickets are required on opening night; after 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; after 4 p.m. on Thursdays in December; and daily after 4 p.m. from Dec. 14 to 31.
Tickets start at $16 plus HST and service fees; children nine and under can enter for free without a ticket.
Tickets and the complete admission calendar are available now at TheDistilleryWinterVillage.com. Follow @distilleryto for updates.
