Toronto/CMEDIA: The City of Toronto reportedly confirms Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway as the official venues for FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto marking a milestone in the city’s preparations to welcome the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
“Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway offer the ideal setting for Toronto’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Festival™…reflects our city’s rich history while providing a dynamic space for fans to connect and celebrate their love of soccer, right in the heart of our city…Torontonians and visitors alike to experience the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in this memorable location,” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said.
Bringing fans together to celebrate the world’s largest sporting spectacle, The FIFA Fan Festival™ will showcase Toronto’s unique cultural vibrancy through art, music and food while offering a free and inclusive space for residents and visitors to connect through the power of sport.
FIFA Fan Festival™
As a global celebration of soccer, culture and community. The FIFA Fan Festival™ is designed for fans to enjoy free live broadcasts of FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches while experiencing the excitement of an official FIFA World Cup™ atmosphere.
Running between Thursday, June 11 and Sunday, July 19, 2026, the FIFA Fan Festival™ will feature live match broadcasts on large screens, diverse cultural performances, interactive installations and a variety of local food experiences.
Specific operating days and hours will be available at a later date.
While celebrating Toronto’s unmatched diversity, talent and global appeal, this festival also reinforces the city’s reputation as being the “World in a City.”
Committed to keeping the community including local residents, businesses and Indigenous groups well-informed and actively engaged throughout the planning process for the FIFA Fan Festival™, the City will continue collaborating closely with these groups to ensure meaningful participation and dialogue.
An information session for area residents and businesses is planned in the coming months.
Details will be available on the City’s FIFA World Cup 26™ website.
About the venues
Designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1923, Fort York was built in 1793 and best known as the location of the Battle of York during the War of 1812 and served as the city’s primary harbour defence between the 1790s and 1880s and was the home of a military garrison until the 1930s.
Preserved today as a 43-acre archeological park and encloses Canada’s largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings, Fort York is visited every year by thousands of people who explore its fascinating history and enjoy its public programs.
“Hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Festival™ at Fort York and The Bentway provides…promises to be a memorable event, as we welcome soccer fans from near and far to experience the World Cup in one of the most diverse and dynamic cities on earth.” Neil Lumsden, Ontario Minister of Sport
Located below the elevated Gardiner Expressway in west downtown Toronto, The Bentway is a stunning outdoor public space known as both a beloved backyard park and one of the city’s top creative destinations.
An independent not-for-profit and registered charity fuelled by a mission to ignite the urban imagination. The Bentway Conservancy programming uses the city as site, subject and canvas for a range of artist installations, performances, experiments and community celebrations.
Besides their rich cultural offerings, both locations are ideal for the FIFA Fan Festival™ thanks to their proximity to transit and to Toronto Stadium.
“Toronto is the world in a city— and in 2026…Hosting the FIFA Fan Festival™ at this historic landmark will create a hub where fans can share their passion for the beautiful game — and where Torontonians can bring Toronto’s energy to life,” Peter Montopoli, Chief Tournament Officer, FIFA26 Canada
FIFA World Cup 26™
Six matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be hosted by Toronto, beginning with the first-ever men’s FIFA World Cup™ match on Canadian soil on Friday, June 12, 2026 and a round of 32 match on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
The necessary infrastructure and logistics in delivering Toronto’s matches and ancillary events for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ would be enhanced by the contribution of Funding and services provided by the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario.
An economic impact assessment, prepared by Deloitte CanadaIn December 2024 released by FIFA estimated that FIFA World Cup 26™ could generate up to $940 million in positive economic output for the Greater Toronto Area.
Included in this is a projected $520 million in GDP growth, $340 million in labor income and $25 million in government revenue, and expected to create more than 6,600 jobs between June 2023 and August 2026 providing a substantial boost to the region’s economy.
