Toronto Waterfront Festival cancelled for 2026, plans to return in 2027

Mama Duck, which has appeared at previous Toronto Waterfront festivals, is a six-storey, 16,000-pound rubber duck.

The Toronto Waterfront Festival has announced it will pause the annual event in 2026 because of funding challenges and FIFA-related pressures.

“A perfect storm of circumstances led to this difficult decision,” festival organizers said in a press release Tuesday.

The annual festival, originally planned for September, features Mama Duck, a six-storey, 16,000-pound rubber duck recognized by many as the world’s largest rubber duck.

Officials said the event, which is sponsored by Redpath Sugar Refinery, received no grant funding from municipal, provincial or federal governments.

Organizers also said that as a result of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there was “considerable competition” for corporate sponsorship

“Taking a year off is not a decision we made lightly,” said Mike Riehl, chair of the Water’s Edge Festivals & Events board of directors.

“We are not in a financial position to put on a successful event in 2026. We are committed to doing this right, and we will be back.”

Event officials say the festival will return to Toronto’s waterfront in 2027.