Your Guide to TIFF 2026: Must-See Films, Festival Highlights & Where to Stay near TIFF Lightbox
King Street West during Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
Every September, Toronto takes centre stage as filmmakers, actors and film lovers from around the world arrive for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). And at SoHo Hotel Toronto, TIFF really is just around the corner.
The 51st Toronto International Film Festival takes place September 10 to 20, 2026, bringing some of the year's most anticipated films to theatres throughout downtown Toronto. Located in the heart of the Entertainment District, SoHo Hotel Toronto is steps from TIFF Lightbox and within easy walking distance of many of the Festival's major screening venues.
With more than 200 films in this year's Festival lineup, deciding what to see is part of the fun. We've narrowed down the programme and put together a six-day TIFF 2026 itinerary featuring some of the films we're most looking forward to seeing.
TIFF 2026 at a Glance
Dates: Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 20, 2026
Festival: 51st Toronto International Film Festival
Festival Hub: TIFF Lightbox at 350 King Street West
SoHo Hotel Toronto: 318 Wellington Street West
Neighbourhood: Toronto's Entertainment District
SoHo's TIFF 2026 Film Picks
Friday, September 11: Fjord
Start the weekend with Fjord, a legal thriller inspired by the true story of a conservative couple whose children are forcibly removed from their care by Norwegian authorities.
Following its reception at Cannes, the film arrives in Toronto as one of the intriguing international titles on our TIFF watchlist.
Saturday, September 12: I Play Rocky
Movie lovers know Rocky. I Play Rocky takes audiences behind the movie to tell the remarkable story of how an unknown Sylvester Stallone fought to get his screenplay produced while insisting that he play Rocky Balboa himself.
Directed by Academy Award winner Peter Farrelly, the film turns one of Hollywood's greatest underdog movies into an underdog story of its own.
Sunday, September 13: The Debut
Jesse Eisenberg writes and directs The Debut, starring Julianne Moore as a shy woman who unexpectedly finds herself cast in a local production of an original musical.
With Moore in the lead and Eisenberg behind the camera, this character-driven drama is one we're particularly curious to see.
Monday, September 14: Wild Horse Nine
Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich head to Easter Island in Wild Horse Nine, a dark comedy about CIA officers dispatched to one of the world's most remote inhabited islands.
The combination of Rockwell, Malkovich and an unusual setting puts this high on our TIFF 2026 list.
Tuesday, September 15: All That She Wants
For something lighter, Schitt's Creek star Annie Murphy leads the romantic comedy All That She Wants.
A casual encounter with a charming younger man becomes considerably more complicated when Murphy's character realizes she used to be his babysitter. What begins as an embarrassing discovery develops into an unexpected connection.
Wednesday, September 16: Ink
Our final selection is Ink, the latest film from director Danny Boyle.
Starring Guy Pearce, the film charts the rise of Rupert Murdoch's fledgling newspaper The Sun and the beginnings of the provocative tabloid culture that would transform Britain's media landscape.
It's a compelling combination of director, star and subject matter, and a fitting finale to our six days of TIFF picks.
Stay Steps from TIFF in Toronto's Entertainment District
During TIFF, location matters. Festival days can mean moving between screenings, premieres and events from morning until late at night, and staying in Toronto's Entertainment District puts much of the action within walking distance.
SoHo Hotel Toronto is located at 318 Wellington Street West, just south of King Street and steps from the centre of TIFF activity. Many of the Festival's key venues are an easy walk from the Hotel:
TIFF Lightbox – 6-minute walk
Roy Thomson Hall – 7-minute walk
Princess of Wales Theatre – 7-minute walk
Scotiabank Theatre – 9-minute walk
During TIFF's opening weekend, King Street West transforms into TIFF Festival Street, a pedestrian celebration of film just steps from the Hotel. From September 10 to 13, visitors can explore free public programming, the TIFF Art Market, food and partner activations, while nearby Cinema Park at David Pecaut Square offers free outdoor film screenings each night.
Between screenings, take in the energy of Festival Street, explore the Entertainment District, or simply return to the Hotel to recharge before your next event.
With so much of TIFF happening nearby, you can spend less time getting around the city and more time enjoying the Festival.
A Hotel that Offers an Escape from the Festival
TIFF may be about the excitement outside, but after a full day of screenings and events, having somewhere quiet to return to matters just as much.
SoHo Hotel Toronto combines the location of a downtown Toronto hotel with the privacy and more residential atmosphere of a luxury boutique property. Our spacious rooms and suites provide room to unwind between Festival events, while the Hotel's Entertainment District location keeps guests close to screenings, dining and nightlife.
Start the day with coffee or breakfast at Moretti Caffe, meet friends for Italian dining at Moretti Toronto, or retreat to your room with in-room dining to recharge before the next screening.
For Festival guests, it's the best of both worlds: TIFF outside the door, and a private place to escape from it when the day is done.
Between screenings, guests can also unwind in the Hotel's saltwater pool, steam room and fitness facilities before heading back out for an evening premiere or event.
Experience TIFF 2026 from the centre of Toronto’s Entertainment District
For decades, the Toronto International Film Festival has transformed Downtown Toronto into one of the world's great meeting places for cinema. For SoHo Hotel Toronto, it's also one of our favourite times of year.
Whether you're coming to Toronto to catch a highly anticipated premiere, discover an emerging filmmaker, attend industry events or simply soak up the atmosphere along King Street West, staying within walking distance makes experiencing TIFF that much easier.
The Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10 to 20, 2026.
Make SoHo Hotel Toronto your home in the Entertainment District and experience TIFF 2026 from just around the corner.