Report By: Mehboob Ali Shaikh
Toronto is once again the global capital of cinema as the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) officially gets underway, running September 10–20 with nearly 300 screenings and close to 800 celebrities, filmmakers and rising stars expected to grace the city.
The festival opened Thursday at Roy Thomson Hall with Being Heumann, a powerful true story about disability-rights activist Judy Heumann and the historic fight against discrimination.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow highlighted a major milestone, saying TIFF 2026 features the festival’s first fully accessible red carpet, a commitment expected to continue in future editions.
From Channing Tatum, Penélope Cruz and Anna Kendrick to Lalisa Manobal and hundreds of other stars, Toronto is set to shine under the international spotlight.
Meanwhile, Mayor Chow has unveiled another major headline: if re-elected, she says she will introduce a weekly TTC fare cap in 2027 after 10 trips in a week, additional TTC rides would be free. She also pledged to freeze TTC fares for a fourth consecutive year.
With film, celebrity glamour, accessibility and major city-policy announcements all taking center stage, Toronto is making headlines around the world
