Luminato Festival 2023: What To See

Since 2007, Luminato Festival has been dedicated to showcasing the best of local and international talent across various artistic disciplines. This year, the festival’s 2023 edition promises to be just as immersive and transformative an experience as ever before. With a variety of groundbreaking works, thought-provoking exhibitions and breathtaking performances to choose from, we selected a couple events you won’t want to miss. 

Nuit

For dancer lovers, legendary Canadian choreographer Jean-Pierre Perreault’s Nuit returns to Toronto’s Luminato Festival. Nuit is one of the most important pieces in the history of Canadian choreography. Artistic Director Laurence Lemieux danced in the original production and brought it back to the stage for the first time since Perreault’s passing. June 8-10. 

Dragon’s Tale

Co-produced by Tapestry Opera and Soundstreams, Dragon’s Tale is a new opera that will be performing on Toronto’s waterfront for Luminato Festival 2023. It depicts the origins of Dragon Boat racing and celebrates Chinese tradition by way of live music and storytelling. June 15-18.

Aalaapi

In Inuktitut, Aalaapi means “Choosing silence to hear something beautiful”. In this Luminato Festival 2023 original piece presented by Native Earth Performing Arts and Le Théâtre français de Toronto, an intimate portrait of young women in Northern communities, depicted with speech, sound, and silences, reveals the richness of their history and the power of their future. June 8-10.

Walk With Amal

Amir Nizar Zuabi, the man behind the Walk with Amal project, wanted to create something that celebrates the long and arduous journey that refugees make across Europe. To celebrate her arrival in Toronto, a variety of cultural gestures and performances will take place as the moving art piece makes its way from Union Station through the Financial District to Nathan Philips Square. June 7.