Queen West LIVE Turns Toronto’s Streets Into Nine Days of Music
Queen Street West is getting louder this August. Queen West LIVE is bringing performances to established venues, courtyards, shops and street-facing spaces across the neighbourhood.
Running from August 21 to 30, 2026, the series brings together The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar, the Horseshoe Tavern, Cameron House, The Rivoli and several less expected locations. The lineup moves from jazz and experimental music to country, rock and silent-disco sets. Several events are free or pay what you can, while others require advance registration or tickets.
Opening night takes place August 21 at 8 p.m. in the courtyard of Campbell House, 160 Queen Street West, with live music, food, outdoor games and a beer garden. Earlier that evening, Cameron House begins its Queen West LIVE programming at 5 p.m. The Front Room is known for a rotating local lineup, and many performances use a pay-what-you-can model.
On August 22, LIVE on Queen West takes over Reflector at 300 Queen Street West. Seu starts at 1 p.m., Escalate! follows at 2:30 p.m., and Animatist performs at 4 p.m. The three-act bill crosses jazz, funk, soul, psychedelic and experimental sounds.
The Rex hosts multiple early-evening sets. The Jacob Gorzhaltsan Quartet plays August 24 at 5 p.m., followed by Toronto quartet FCTION on August 26 and the Laura Dubin Trio on August 27. The latter two sets also begin at 5 p.m., and the August 27 performance is listed as pay what you can.
Night programming includes a pool-hall show at The Rivoli on August 24, a pop-up at Ollie Quinn on August 25 and Spurs Night at the Horseshoe Tavern on August 26. Spurs Night is a free 19+ event with queer line-dancing and two-step lessons, followed by Dani-Rae Clark and Easy-Rider. On August 27, The Rivoli hosts Sam Casey, Double Experience and The Satisfactory in support of MusiCounts, which helps fund instruments and music education for youth in Canada.
The series closes August 29 at CB2, 651 Queen Street West, with a night inspired by the former Big Bop entertainment complex. Live performances on the main floor lead into a 1990s and 2000s silent disco upstairs.
The full schedule and individual registration links are available through the official Queen West LIVE page. Since admission rules vary by venue, check the listing attached to the performance you want to attend. TTC is the simplest way to move along this stretch; use the TTC trip planner for current routes and service notices.
Event Details
Dates: August 21–29, 2026
Location: Multiple venues along Queen Street West, Toronto
Admission: Free, pay-what-you-can and ticketed events; see the official schedule
