SankofaFest
August 21-23, 2026
Friday: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 8:30 PM
What began as a powerful one-day cultural gathering in 2025 is now evolving into a full three-day festival.
Following the success of the inaugural Sankofa Day, Sankofa Square will launch the first-ever SankofaFest taking place August 21–23, 2026. The expanded festival builds on the momentum of last year’s debut, which was recognized by The Toronto Star as one of Toronto’s standout cultural moments, and transforms the Square into a larger platform for African diasporic creativity, remembrance, and celebration.
Anchored around August 23, UNESCO’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, also recognized globally as Sankofa Day, the festival continues its mission under the theme “Looking Back, Building Forward,” honouring ancestral memory while creating new pathways for future generations.
Across three days, SankofaFest will bring together fashion, music, film, art, sport, and community programming, creating one of Toronto’s most dynamic public cultural experiences of the summer.
Co-curated by the teams at Sankofa Square and D.PE Agency, with vital programming contributions from African Fashion Week Toronto, Double A Management, and community partners, the three-day festival will feature immersive programming designed to celebrate the richness, innovation, and global influence of Black culture. The festival’s promotional creative was developed by D.PE Agency, the team behind Sankofa Square’s new brand identity.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SANKOFA DAY 2025
Photos by Max Power
FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
Fashion, Culture & Marketplace
The festival opens with a full day dedicated to fashion, culture, and commerce. Sankofa Square will transform into a vibrant marketplace featuring curated vendors, food experiences, live DJs, interactive activations, and a major runway presentation as part of African Fashion Week Toronto.
Highlights include:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
Live Music & Headliner Experience
Saturday shifts into a full-scale concert and nightlife experience, bringing together some of the most exciting names across Afrobeat, dancehall, and global Black music culture. The day builds from emerging artists and collectives to a major international headliner.
Featured programming includes:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
Community, Access & Creative Expression
Closing on UNESCO Sankofa Day, the final day centers on community access, youth, and creative expression. Designed as an inclusive gathering for families and emerging creators, the day combines sport, storytelling, film, and art to reinforce Sankofa’s deeper mission of education, empowerment, and cultural preservation.
Programming includes:
For updates, artist announcements, and full schedules, visit sankofasquare.ca and @sankofasqaure.
Follow along at #SankofaFestTO and #SankofaSquare
Sankofa Square would like to thank our sponsors:
Supporters include:
Appleton Estate, Grace Foods Canada, and the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area.
For Media: Media images can be found HERE.