Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) - LGBTQ+ Programming
About This Event
The Toronto International Film Festival is not an LGBTQ+ festival. It is one of the biggest mainstream film festivals in North America, held every September since 1976, and this page is about the queer films that turn up in its lineup. There is no separate Pride section: queer titles are spread across the Galas, Special Presentations, Discovery and the other strands.
For 2026, NOW Toronto picked out six queer titles, among them The Man I Love, about art and the AIDS epidemic in 1980s New York, plus Club Kid, I Am Mario and Ancestors. Around the festival, Toronto's Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival hosted a Queer Brunch on 13 September, and the fifth Trans Filmmakers Summit ran the same day.
Screenings are spread across downtown cinemas, with TIFF Lightbox on King Street West as the hub. Tickets are sold through tiff.net, and anything with a big name attached goes quickly.
The 2026 edition ran 10 to 20 September. The 2027 dates hadn't been announced when we checked. If you want a fully queer film week in Toronto, Inside Out in late spring is the one to plan around.
Where to stay during Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) - LGBTQ+ Programming
via Stay22Our three picks · Toronto
via Stay22Guesthouse on Gloucester Street, a block from Church Street in Toronto's Church-Wellesley Village.
Art hotel in a Victorian building on Queen Street West, with artist-designed rooms and an events program.
Full-service InterContinental on Bremner Boulevard, next to the convention centre and a short walk from the CN Tower.
Practical Tips
Check the Full Lineup Early
TIFF's LGBTQ+ programming is extensive. Consult the official festival schedule once released to identify specific films and events of interest.
Consider Industry Passes
If you're in the film industry, explore options for industry accreditation or passes that may offer access to special events and networking opportunities.
Book Tickets in Advance
Popular screenings and events, especially those with LGBTQ+ themes, can sell out quickly. Purchase tickets as soon as they become available.
Explore Related Events
Look out for events like the Inside Out Queer Brunch and the Trans Filmmakers Summit, which often run alongside TIFF and offer unique programming for the queer community.
Videos
I AM MARIO Trailer | TIFF 2026
