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Welcome to the Toronto International Storytelling Festival 2026!


Check back in as we approach the festival for updates on tickets, performers and daily schedules!

Meet Our Performers

Register for Festival Events:

  • Storypillar Series: Folk Edition

    • Saturday, March 21, 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    • The Palmerston Public Library Theatre
    • 105
    Register

    StorytellingToronto is proud to announce TALES OF WISDOM: FOLK at the Palmerston Public Library Theatre on Saturday March 21. This event is part of Storytelling Toronto’s new STORYPILLARS SERIES leading up to the Toronto International Storytelling Festival May 7-10, 2026.

    WHAT IS THIS EVENT?

    TALES OF WISDOM is a storytelling concert featuring a collection of tellers sharing FOLK stories (traditional or folk) that impart a lasting life lesson. 

    Theme: Wisdom Tales - Life Lessons in Stories

    Featuring Adham Husseini, Feni Fina, Brandon Lista, Alistair Martin, Rensia Melles, Laxmi Balaji and Chukky Enyi Ibe!






    Show details

  • Storypillar Series: Non Fiction

    • Saturday, April 25, 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    • The Palmerston Public Library Theatre
    • 120
    Register

    WHAT IS THIS EVENT?

    TALES OF WISDOM is a storytelling concert featuring a collection of tellers sharing NON-FICTION stories that impart a lasting life lesson. 

    Theme: Wisdom Tales - Life Lessons in Stories

    Tellers will share personal stories of lessons learned, challenges overcome and life events that have stayed with them. Wisdom tales that impart a pearl of lived knowledge.

    Featuring Briane Nasimok, Sara Rose Caplan, Brad Woods, Yvy Ringler, Rubena Sinha, Dave Keystone and Jennielea Roxon

    The tellers at the event are selected via lottery determined prior to the event. 

    Show details

  • Festival Kick-Off

    • Thursday, May 07, 2026
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • A Different Booklist - 779 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5S 0B7
    Register

    Help us kick off the 2026 Toronto International Storytelling Festival with a fun mixer at A Different Booklist with a performance from celebrated storyteller Itah Sadu. 

    Casual mixer to follow at the Palmerston Library Theatre from 1:00-3:00pm.

    REGISTER FOR FREE.


    Show details

  • Welcome Concert

    • Thursday, May 07, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2P7
    • 118
    Register

    The 2026 Toronto International Storytelling Festival officially begins with our Welcome Concert featuring a showcase of some of our featured performers in the festival, including Daniel Morden, Lenore Keeshig Tobias, Jacqui Du Toit,  and Raccontamiunastori.  

    Please note the schedule and lineup are subject to change.



    Show details

  • Corin Raymond's BOOKWORM

    • Thursday, May 07, 2026
    • 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM
    • Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2P7
    • 118
    Register


    From storyteller Corin Raymond comes a joyously-bookish, spoken-word love-letter to the books we’ve loaned and lost, and to the secret paths they travel in the world to find us. BOOKMARKS is a “memoir-o-logue,” a feast of word-fun, and a healing spell for anyone who’s ever lost someone – or something – they deeply loved. 


    Winnipeg Free Press ★★★★ ½


    Little more info:

    Corin Raymond is also a Juno-nominated singer/songwriter. His previous “bookish

    monologue,” Bookworm (2011), won Best of Fringe in Vancouver in 2012 “Corin

    has impeccable timing, and his performance is at once intimate, open-hearted and

    evangelical,” Vancouver’s Georgia Straight. His other storytelling-show, The Great

    Canadian Tire Money Caper (2015), tells how Corin and a worldwide-community

    paid for the making of an entire double-album (Paper Nickels, 2013) with

    Canadian Tire money. Corin has released 8 full-length albums, and he keeps his

    stuff in Toronto, where he lives with his dog Reese.


    “Corin Raymond is a storyteller who by the end of the night you’ll have known your

    whole life” – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail.




    Show details

  • Daniel Morden Workshop

    • Friday, May 08, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    • Palmerston LIbrary Theatre, 560 Palmerston Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2P7
    • 119
    Register


    Join renowned traditional folk storyteller Daniel Morden for this thought provoking workshop as he analyses his process of building Tales From The Dark woods repertoire. This process involves an exploration of the original manuscripts that inspired the piece, as well as a performance of a sample of the piece in its present form.

    This workshop is perfect for storytellers looking for skills and insight on how to broaden their understanding of traditional folk stories. It is also an exhilarating opportunity to hear one of the world’s greatest living storytellers speak on their craft.

    Participants must be 18+

    Show details

  • 1001 FRIDAY NIGHTS OF STORYTELLING: TORONTO SHOWCASE

    • Friday, May 08, 2026
    • 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Toronto Reference Library Atrium Lobby - 789 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8
    Register

    Come celebrate the rich oral tradition of storytelling with 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling performed LIVE at the Toronto Reference Library Atrium lobby performance space. This showcase will include Festival guest artists Daniel Morden, Lenore Keeshig Tobias, Jacqui Du Toit, Paola Balbi & Davide Bardi of Raccontamiunastoria, and the members of the wonderful 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling.

    Please note the schedule and lineup are subject to change.

    Every Friday night since 1978, storytellers and listeners have been gathering in Toronto for an open evening of oral stories. Each Friday night is unique, and everyone is welcome to come and listen, come and tell. You might hear traditional tales, stories of personal experience, literary stories, original stories, ballads, or episodes from history, all told through the human voice.

    Show details

  • FUNNY YOU SHOULD TELL THAT…

    • Friday, May 08, 2026
    • 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    • Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2P7
    • 117
    Register

    Join the hilarious Briane Nasimok for a night cap of madcap entertainment featuring a showcase of fine and funny tellers, including Christle Bartiles, Evan Carter, Alexa Higgins, Justin Shaw, and more!

    Please note the schedule and lineup are subject to change.

    Door: 7:30pm

    Show: 8:00pm-9:30pm





    Show details

  • The Hottentot Venus - Untold

    • Saturday, May 09, 2026
    • 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    • Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2P7
    • 119
    Register

    Don’t miss this exciting piece of theatrical storytelling performed by multi-award winning storyteller Jacqui Du Toit.

    Hottentot Venus Untold traces the life of Saartjie Baartman, an Indigenous South African woman taken into slavery and brought to London, where she was cruelly displayed as a “savage curiosity.” History remembers her as a symbol of exploitation—but her story is far more layered, resilient, and human.

    The performance unfolds in five chapters, each told through the voice of a fictional female character who, in some way—spiritually or physically—intersects with Saartjie’s journey. Each perspective reveals a different truth, creating a five-dimensional portrait of a woman whose life embodied both suffering and courage. Through movement, song, gesture, and spoken word, the voices of these women bring Saartjie’s story to life, challenging the audience to reflect on the ongoing realities of colonization, exploitation, and the erasure of Indigenous voices. At once intimate and epic, this storytelling theatre piece is not just a remembrance of Saartjie Baartman—it is also a mirror held up to the present. It confronts historical injustices while highlighting the strength of Indigenous women, both past and present, whose voices demand to be heard.

    Door 1:00pm

    Show: 1:30-3:00pm



    Show details

  • QUEERS IN YOUR EARS

    • Saturday, May 09, 2026
    • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    • The Arquives 34 Isabella St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1N1
    • 28
    Register


    Join us for a riveting afternoon of storytelling featuring a renowned collective of storytellers that have been part of the Festival since its inception - Queers in Your Ears!

    Founded in 1997 by Rico Rodriguez, this collective is dedicated to telling stories about being queer — stories that had long gone unheard. Focusing on original material, embracing vibrant, queer voices and perspectives, from personal histories to reimagined fairy tales, QIYE pushes boundaries and brings bold new dimensions to the art of storytelling. QIYE is a platform where our queer tales thrive, provoke, and inspire. This year, we trade halos for horns, indulge in some deadly sins, and add a few of our own. After all, QIYE has always proven that a little sin never hurt… much. This event features performances from Rico Rodrigues, Clare Nobbs, Jeffrey Canton, and TJ Banate!

    Please note the schedule and lineup are subject to change.

    Doors: 3:00pm

    Show: 3:30pm-5:00pm




    Show details

  • THE ILIAD by Raccontamiunastoria

    • Saturday, May 09, 2026
    • 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    • Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2P7
    • 118
    Register


    Don’t miss this performance of Raccontamiunastoria’s provoking and engaging performance of ILIAD- The song of Thetis, an epic storytelling show based on Homer’s Iliad.

    This show was created and performed by Paola Balbi and Davide Bardi and directed by Joele Anastasi.  An incendiary retelling of Homer’s Iliad, sung through the voice of Thetis, Achilles’mother. Two performers fluidly shift between gods and mortals, mother and warrior, goddess and lover, masculine and feminine, collapsing the boundaries of gender, power and fate. Love -maternal, erotic, spiritual- collides with the brutal machinery of war. Developed through international residencies and informed by artistic exchange with Lebanese and Palestinian collaborators working amid ongoing conflict, the production refuses nostalgia. Olympus is not distant; it is political, volatile, human. Nearly three millennia later, the epic burns with the same question: who wages war, and who pays the price?

    The production was developed through a two-year innovative creative process within the frame of MYTHICA Project 2024/2025, supported by Rome city Council involving international artistic residencies, open door rehearsals with audience involvement and contributions from top international storytellers and young emerging voices. Crucial to the creative process were real-time testimonies from women artists whose lives are presently affected by the ongoing war in the Middle East: Palestinian storyteller Fidaa Ataya and Lebanese storyteller Sarah Kassir. A key contribution came also by Martinican storyteller Valer Egouy, who supported the cast in exploring the psychological and social dynamics of slavery. 





    Show details

  • FAMILY STORYTELLING

    • Sunday, May 10, 2026
    • 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
    • First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto - East Hall, 473 Oakwood Ave, York, ON M6C 2R5
    • 19
    Register

    Bring the children for an afternoon of family storytelling featuring Parent-Child Mother Goose Program, Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Jacqui Du Toit, and Lenore Keeshig-Tobias. 

    12:30pm -1:00pm - Parent-Child Mother Goose

    1:15pm - 1:45pm - Teddy Bear’s Picnic

    2:00pm - 2:30pm - Lenore Keeshig-Tobias

    2:45 - 3:15pm - Jacqui Du Toit

    * Schedule subject to change, please follow Storytelling Toronto on social media for any scheduling updates.

    REGISTER FOR FREE!


    Show details

  • BEYOND BOARDERS: Storytelling in Europe

    • Sunday, May 10, 2026
    • 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
    • First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto - Room 101, 473 Oakwood Ave, York, ON M6C 2R5
    • 20
    Register


    Curious about performing internationally?

    Join Paola Balbi (Raccontamiunastoria) for a discussion about storytelling in Europe as she shares insight from her experience being on the Board of the Federation of European Storytelling in her role as Expert in the field of Performing Storytelling Training.”

    Questions about the state of storytelling in Europe are welcomed and encouraged!




    Show details

  • DANIEL MORDEN’S - THE THIEF’S TALE

    • Sunday, May 10, 2026
    • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
    • First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto - Sanctuary, 473 Oakwood Ave, York, ON M6C 2R5
    • 198
    Register


    Don’t miss Daniel Morden’s THE THIEF'S TALE - Grisly fun with one of Europe's finest storytellers. A thrilling folktale from long ago, brimming with monsters, madness and gruesome humour, told by celebrated storyteller DANIEL MORDEN. One part Homer's Odyssey, one part anxiety dream, The Thief's Tale is a celebration of the art of telling a cracking tell well. 

    'His performances were full of suspense and drama' NATIONAL THEATRE

    'He combines the skills of the troubadour, the actor, the bard, the standup comedian and the preacher in the pulpit.. One of the UK's greatest storytellers' BBC RADIO 3

    Suitable 12+ (contains mentions of gore)


    Show details


Venues

Palmerston Public Library Theatre

560 Palmerston Avenue, Toronto


For more information:

(416) 393 7680

https://tpl.ca/locations/PM/


Directions

The closest major intersection is Bathurst Street and Bloor Street. The Palmerston Library is located two blocks west of Bathurst Street on the North side of Bloor Street.

Public Transit

The nearest TTC subway station is Bathurst. From there, walk one block west on Eleanor Ross Lane to the library.


Parking

More information to come.

Accessibility

More information to come.

First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto

473 Oakwood Ave, York


For more information:

(416) 924 9654
https://www.firstunitariantoronto.org/


Directions

The closest major intersection is Vaughan Road and Oakwood Avenue. The First Unitarian Congregation of toronto is located a few blocks southeast of Eglinton Avenue and Dufferin Street.


Public Transit

The nearest TTC stop is Oakwood Station, walk south 8 minutes down Oakwood Ave.

The 63 Ossington bus travels on Oakwood Ave between Lines 1 & 5’s Cedarvale station and Line 2’s Ossington station.  

The 90 Vaughan bus travels southbound from Cedarvale station, and northbound from Line 1’s St Clair West station.

Sunday bus service operates at 10-minute intervals.

Parking

Special Parking: There are a limited number of parking spots just east of the building, these spots are reserved for those with mobility challenges.

Free Parking: Within 500 metres of 473 Oakwood, there are numerous public roads that offer free parking with various restrictions related to time of day, time of week and time of year.

Paid Parking: Municipal commercial parking lots are located 350 metres south (a 5-minute walk) at 402 Oakwood providing approximately 18 spaces, and 150 metres further south (total 8-minute walk) at 52 Holland Park Avenue providing approximately 22 spaces.


Accessibility

More information to come.


ARQUIVES
34 Isabella St, Toronto


For more information:
(416) 777 2755
https://arquives.ca/


Directions

The closest major intersections are Yonge & Bloor, and Yonge & Wellesley. The ArQuives is on the north side at 34 Isabella Street.


Public Transit

The nearest TTC subway station is Yonge-Bloor Station. From here travel 3 blocks south on Yonge Street to Isabella Street. Turn east on Isabella Street


Parking

More information to come.


Accessibility

The entrance is at the front of the building and has an accessibility ramp. The doors do not open automatically, please ring the doorbell at the front entrance for access.

More accessibility information can be found here.


601 Christie Street, Studio 173 Artscape

Wychwood Barns, Toronto, ON M6G 4C7

Phone: (416) 656-2445  

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