The Toronto International Film Festival is officially back this week, and while the films may be the main attraction, the celebrity sightings are a close second.
For 10 days, from Sept. 10 to 20, Toronto becomes a revolving door of actors, directors, musicians and industry heavyweights, with much of the action happening away from the red carpet. From exclusive portrait studios and invitation-only dinners to Yorkville cocktail bars and luxury hotels known for keeping their guestlists under wraps, there are plenty of places to catch a glimpse of Hollywood during TIFF.
Here are some of the places to keep on your radar this year.
The Campari Cinema Center at Cassius
Where 624 King St. W.
By day, interviews. By night, premiere parties. The Campari Cinema Center returns from Sept. 11 to 15 with a new home at Cassius on King St. W., where the restaurant also debuts its new patio.
During the day, the Collider Media Studio will welcome actors and filmmakers for interviews. Once the sun goes down, the space will turn into a series of premiere celebrations, cocktail receptions and cast gatherings.
- Hotel Toronto
Where 550 Wellington St. W.
The bar at Flora Lounge at 1 Hotel.
The Hollywood Reporter is bringing its Green Room to 1 Hotel Toronto to kick off TIFF, with an opening-night event on Sept. 10. And history suggests the hotel is worth staking out.
Taking place at Flora Lounge, located in the lobby of the hotel, there will be live music performances Sept. 11 to 13 and Sept. 17 to 20 from 8 to 11 p.m. And it’s open to public for walk-ins.
The Hollywood Reporter Studio has previously turned 1 Hotel into one of TIFF’s most star-packed interview and portrait destinations. When the studio was held there in 2022, visitors included Jennifer Lawrence, Steven Spielberg, Kate Hudson, Harry Styles, Daniel Craig, Brendan Fraser, Zac Efron and Laura Dern.
Who will walk through the doors in 2026 remains to be seen, but with The Hollywood Reporter back in the building, expect plenty of famous faces.
BISHA Hotel Toronto
Where 80 Blue Jays Way
If your TIFF strategy involves positioning yourself somewhere celebrities actually have to walk through the front door, BISHA is where to watch.
From Sept. 11 to 14, the hotel will once again host the Deadline Portrait Studio, where some of the festival’s biggest actors and filmmakers will stop by for exclusive portrait sessions.
Throughout TIFF, the property will also transform into The House of BISHA, bringing together celebrity guests, media and industry events under one roof. There will be plenty of activity around 80 Blue Jays Way.
Nobu Toronto
Where 33 Mercer St.
Being one block south of the TIFF Bell Lightbox and being an internationally known brand, means a go-to for celebrities. The 36-suite Nobu Hotel Toronto features a private, key-card-access lobby, exactly the kind of discretion visiting talent tends to appreciate, while Nobu Restaurant Toronto is expected to host several film studio buyouts and premiere parties throughout the festival.
Names are understandably under wraps, but past Nobu Toronto sightings have included Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, Kiernan Shipka, Anderson .Paak, Jacob Elordi, Pharrell Williams and Martha Stewart.
Even if you don’t spot a star, you can drink like one: Nobu’s TIFF cocktail, the Red Carpet, combines hojicha-infused Roku Gin with dry curaçao, cherry and lime before being milk-clarified and served over a king cube with berry fruit leather resembling its namesake.
CineDine at PUNCH
Where 30 Mercer St.
Some of TIFF’s most interesting celebrity gatherings aren’t happening at traditional parties this year. And this one is just across the street from Nobu.
From Sept. 14 to 17, CineDine by Redbreast Whiskey will take over PUNCH at Le Germain Hôtel Toronto for a new invitation-only supper club bringing together film and entertainment names for private dinners, cocktail receptions and cast celebrations.
Shinji
Where 333 Bay St.
TIFF isn’t just about what happens on the red carpet. Some of the festival’s best sightings happen around the dinner table.
Newly opened Shinji could be one of this year’s wild cards. The modern Japanese steak house comes from Harlo Entertainment, the group behind Yorkville celebrity haunts including Kasa Moto, and is helmed by executive chef and partner Jia Zou.
The Financial District restaurant centres its menu around a grill, with beef sourced directly from Himeji and Kobe alongside seafood, nigiri and sashimi.
It’s new, polished and discreet, three things that tend to work rather well during TIFF.
The Hazelton Hotel
Where 118 Yorkville Ave.
Of all Toronto’s luxury hotels, few are quite as notoriously tight-lipped about their famous guests, which is precisely why they keep coming back.
The Yorkville hotel has long been associated with some of the biggest names visiting Toronto, with Drake among its most famous fans. The Toronto rapper even name-checked The Hazelton and ONE Restaurant in “Make Them Pay” from ICEMAN. Justin and Hailey Bieber have also been among the famous faces associated with the Yorkville property.
During TIFF, the Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond and Two MICHELIN Key hotel becomes one of Yorkville’s most closely watched addresses. But don’t expect the staff to tell you who’s upstairs. At The Hazelton, discretion is part of the appeal and during TIFF, if you know, you know.
RBC Red Carpet
Where 215 King St. W.
For guaranteed red-carpet action, head to King Street West. The RBC Red Carpet Gallery returns, directly along the Roy Thomson Hall red carpet. The gallery gives Avion Rewards members prime access to watch stars arrive for TIFF Gala premieres, making it one of the festival’s most reliable celebrity-spotting locations. Elite and Premium members can reserve in advance, while a standby line offers the public a shot at day-of access, subject to availability.
Nearby, RBC House returns to Petros82 as a hub for film-industry parties and events surrounding some of TIFF’s biggest premieres. It will also host the Los Angeles Times Studio presented by RBC for the fifth year, where actors and filmmakers will stop in for interviews and portrait sessions throughout the festival.
Between the red carpet at Roy Thomson Hall and the talent making their way through RBC House, this pocket of the Entertainment District should be one of the busiest places for star spotting during TIFF.
The St. Regis Toronto
Where 325 Bay St.
The St. Regis Toronto has long been a polished downtown hideaway, and during TIFF it’s rolling out a collection of experiences suited to the occasion.
Among them is a Champagne Sabrage Ritual available to just one booking per day, complete with Ossetra caviar, blinis, Champagne and a seafood plateau. The hotel is also introducing The Velvet Curtain, a cocktail pairing The Macallan M Black with Damblat Armagnac, Madagascar vanilla, cherry bark bitters and mahogany smoke.
There is also a TIFF Afternoon Tea, a 13-layer red velvet King’s Cake at LOUIX LOUIS and private in-room spa treatments for guests looking to disappear from the festival frenzy for a few hours.
The hotel is also a known celeb (and athletes) location year round, and TIFF is no exception.
Powder Room
Where 129 Yorkville Ave.
One of Yorkville’s newest hidden cocktail lounges has already established some serious celebrity credentials.
Powder Room has welcomed the likes of Nick Jonas, Leon Thomas and Niall Horan since opening, making the intimate spot one to watch as TIFF takes over the neighbourhood.
For the festival, the bar is leaning into the theme with its Rotten Tomatoes martini, made with muddled Campari tomatoes, 15-year-old white balsamic vinegar, Ketel One Vodka, shiso and cracked black pepper. There are also Red Carpet Tater Tots, crispy tots dusted with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos powder, crème fraîche, chives, and caviar.
