Free outdoor movies are coming back to Toronto this summer and here's when

When the sun starts setting a little later in the day, our minds instantly rush to planning park dates, patio reservations, and outdoor movies. Though we’ve had the chance to enjoy two out of the three, we can now start to plan our movie nights. Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) is back this summer and has revealed this year’s dates.

Starting June 26, TOPS will host its 16th annual movie festival, kicking off with a three-night weekend special at Christie Pits Park.

Following that weekend, the festival will continue at the park on Sundays throughout July and August 2026.

But of course, TOPS will take over other parts of the city, bringing movie night fun to Corktown Common and Bell Manor Park.

Corktown will see screenings on Thursdays in July, while Bell Manor will have movies playing from Aug. 13 to 15.

Unfortunately for those in Fort York, you’ll have to wait until next summer as the grounds will be a little preoccupied with another massive event.

“This year, our beloved Fort York venue will be busy hosting official Fan Festival events throughout FIFA World Cup ’26, and won’t be available for TOPS events, but we can’t wait to return to the site in 2027,” shared organizers.

Now, as for which movies we could expect to see on the silver screen, we’ll have to wait until it’s officially announced. The first TOPS programme will be revealed on Tuesday, May 12.

As always, TOPS movies are free to enjoy and thankfully don’t require tickets to attend. All you need is a blanket, maybe some chairs, and snacks.

Showtime begins at sundown.

The countdown to summer AND outdoor movies is on.

When: June 26 to 28, 2026
Festival dates: Christie Pits: Sundays, July 5 to Aug. 23; Corktown Common: Thursdays, July 2 to 30; Bell Manor Park: Aug. 13 to 15, 2026
Time: Sundown
Where: Select locations
Cost: Free

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Karen Doradea

Senior Staff Writer, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Crave, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.

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