Toronto’s festival of queer art and performance returns with REWILDING!, a city-wide programme of exhibitions, performances, public art, screenings, and community events.

Nuit Rose 2026: REWILDING!

This year’s festival is an invitation to explore how queerness, nature, imagination, and community reclaim what has been tamed.

Nuit Rose: Rewilding is the 7th edition of Toronto’s festival of queer art and performance. Organized by the Throbbing Rose Collective, the festival presents exhibitions, performances, screenings, public art, and community activations across the Church-Wellesley Village and beyond.

The 2026 festival runs from May 23 to July 5, 2026, culminating in a night-long art festival on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 5 to 11 p.m. across the Church-Wellesley Village. This year’s programme includes more than 20 exhibitions, performances, and events created by 55 Canadian and international queer artists working across a wide range of media.

All Nuit Rose: Rewilding events are free unless otherwise noted.

Art Exhibitions

  • The Green Hours

    Opening: Thursday, June 4, 6 to 9 pm

    Exhibition runs to: June 27
    Akasha Art Projects
    204D Carlton Street, Toronto

    Curated by SweetThings, James Fowler and Pearl Van Geest.

    Artists include Alana Bartol, Cai Sepulis, Grant Heaps, James Fowler, Kristy Boyce, Pearl Van Geest, Troy Brooks, Walter Segers, and Zachari Logan.

  • Going Rogue

    Opening: Friday, June 5, 6 to 8 pm

    Exhibition runs to: June 27, 2026
    Gagné Contemporary Project Space
    136 Brooklyn Avenue, rear lane, Toronto

    Curated by James Fowler, P. Elaine Sharpe, and Pearl Van Geest.

    This group exhibition starts at the act of deviation: from expected practice, inherited genre, and the sanctioned image.

  • The Wilding West

    Opening and Festival Launch:
    Thursday, June 18, 7 to 10 pm

    Exhibition runs to: July 1, 2026
    Youngplace Art Centre, Second Floor
    180 Shaw Street, Toronto

    Curated by Francisco Alvarez.

    A group exhibition with Canadian and international queer artists selected from the Call for Submissions and members of the Throbbing Rose Collective.

    Artists include Andi Syme, Francisco Alvarez, James Fowler, Joey Bruni, Mimmo Baronello, Pearl Van Geest, Schem Rogerson Bader, Stephen Olivier, Tara B. Patterson, and Walter Segers.

  • John Simone’s Photographic Voyages

    Opening: Thursday, June 18, 7 to 10 pm

    Exhibition runs to: July 5, 2026
    Youngplace Art Centre, Third Floor
    180 Shaw Street, Toronto

    Curated by Kelly McCray.

    A retrospective exhibition presenting 300 images from 50 countries and five continents.

  • Rewilding Unbound: We Won’t Be Tamed

    Opening: Friday, June 19, 6 to 8 pm

    Exhibition runs: June 3 to July 9, 2026
    Pegasus on Church
    489B Church Street, Toronto

    Curated by Walter Segers.

    Four artists explore nature and transformation. Cameron Tania performs June 19 and 20 at 8 p.m.

    Artists include Alex Scott, Eden Kinkaid, Matthew Moloney, and Salim Ali.

  • Rewilding Group Exhibition

    Opening: Saturday, June 20, 5 to 7 pm

    Exhibition runs to: June 27, 2026
    Foy House
    92 Isabella Street, Toronto

    Curated by James Fowler and John Rubino.

    This group exhibition brings together Canadian and international queer artists selected from the Call for Artists and members of the Throbbing Rose Collective.

    Artists include Christian Bernard Singer, Claire Forsythe, Eric Chengyang, Geoffrey Lok-Fay Cheung, Hunter Cascagnette, James Fowler, John Anthony Rubino, LOVED Collective: Charlie Hunter and Mike Wyeld, Michel Dumont, Mimmo Baronello, Pearl Van Geest, Per Wilt, Peter Wilde, Sarah Hunter, Terry Dame, Walter Segers, and Zachari Logan.

Festival
Night

Saturday, June 20, 5 to 11 pm
Church-Wellesley Village, Toronto

 

Festival Night brings together exhibitions, public art, performances, screenings, music, and community events across multiple venues and public spaces.

The evening includes:

- Rewilding Group Exhibition at Foy House

- Queer Street Art: Rewilding Public Space on Church Street

- Village Art Crawl & Light Parade: Walk on the Wild Side

- screenings, interactive projects, and musical performances at The 519

- exhibitions and events at Pegasus on Church, The ArQuives, and other festival venues

- the Rewilding After-Party at Foy House

Attendees are encouraged to wear glowing, light-emitting, or WILDly expressive attire for the Village Art Crawl and Light Parade.

Festival Night Highlights

  • Queer Street Art: Rewilding Public Space

    All evening

    Church Street, Toronto
    Curated by John Rubino and Joey Bruni.

    Street art and wheat-paste murals promoting queer visibility across Church Street, including work banned as propaganda in the United States, assembled by artist Jeremy Novy.

  • Village Art Crawl & Light Parade: Walk on the Wild Side

    6:30 to 10:30 pm

    Various locations, Church-Wellesley Village

    Co-curated by Michael Venus.

    An evening-long art crawl and light parade linking festival venues and public art across the neighbourhood. Attendees are encouraged to wear glowing or light-emitting attire.

  • The 519 Church Street Community Centre

    7 to 11 pm

    519 Church Street, Toronto

    Curated by John Rubino.

    The 519 hosts a screening room with short films, interactive projects, and musical performances in the Ballroom.

    Artists include Evan Tapper, Iain Downie, James Knott, Kim Fullerton, Nina Vroemen, Pablo Muñoz, RT Collective, and Simone Jones.

    Performances:

    • Counterpoint Community Orchestra, 7 to 8 pm

    • isa farah, 8:30 to 9:15 pm

    • Jonathan Gejtman & Astoria, 9:45 to 11 pm

  • The Wild & the Weeds and Glory Hole Gallery

    7 to 10 pm

    The ArQuives
    34 Isabella Street, Toronto

    Curated by McKenna Grey and Emily Peltier.

    A group exhibition exploring the queer, historic landscape of Hanlan’s Point.

    Artists include Emily Peltier, Morris Fox, Morgan Sears-Williams, and Patrick Stochmal.

  • Rewilding After-Party

    10 pm to late

    Foy House
    92 Isabella Street, Toronto

    18+, Cash bar, Attendees are encouraged to dress WILDly. Cash bar, music, and fun. 18+ only.

  • Foy Talks

    Post-Festival

    Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2 to 4 pm

    Foy House
    92 Isabella Street, Toronto

    Free

    Curators and artists in Nuit Rose: Rewilding present short talks about their work and lead conversations with audience members.

Volunteer

Volunteers are welcome to help at any event.

To sign up, visit:

throbbingrose.ca/volunteer

Sponsors, Partners and Funders

Nuit Rose: Rewilding is supported by funders, venue partners, and community partners.

  • Toronto Arts Council,

    Canada Council for the Arts,

    Community One Foundation

  • 401 Richmond Street West,

    The 519 Church Street Community Centre,

    Pegasus on Church,

    Akasha Art Projects,

    Gagné Contemporary Project Space,

    Youngplace Art Centre,

    Foy House,

    The ArQuives,

    Red Head Gallery

  • Church-Wellesley Village BIA,

    Pride Toronto