Article Contributed by Eric Alper
Published on November 6, 2025
Winterfolk XXIV, Toronto’s beloved mid-winter music festival, returns bigger than ever for its 24th year with four full days of live roots and blues music at the Tranzac Club from February 12–15, 2026. Featuring more than 100 artists across multiple stages, Winterfolk celebrates the city’s vibrant folk, blues, and singer-songwriter community — keeping live music alive when the city needs it most.
For the first time in its history, Winterfolk expands to four days. The festival kicks off on Thursday, February 12, with the debut of ‘Emerging Talent Night at Winterfolk,’ a special evening dedicated to showcasing up-and-coming performers of all ages. Emerging artists can apply through the festival website to gain stage time, visibility, and new audiences. Applications and full festival details are available at www.winterfolk.com.
Over its two-decade legacy, Winterfolk has become one of Toronto’s cornerstone music events — a space where artists, audiences, and venues come together to celebrate creativity, connection, and community. Founded by songwriter and performer Brian Gladstone, the festival has always stayed true to its grassroots spirit. “We started Winterfolk because I couldn’t find a stage,” Gladstone says. “Two decades later, we’re still building it — for anyone with something real to say through song.”
This year’s confirmed artists include Donne Roberts, Lynn Harrison, Robert Priest, Jesse Greene, Tyler Ellis, Shawna Caspi, Melanie Peterson, Jessica Stewart, Brian Gladstone, Noah Zacharin, Frankie Hart, Suzanne Jarvie, Glen Hornblast, and Jory Nash — with many more to be announced in the coming weeks.
Winterfolk XXIV takes place at the Tranzac Club, located at 292 Brunswick Avenue, just south of Bloor Street in Toronto’s Annex. A longtime home for indie musicians and live music lovers alike, the Tranzac serves as the perfect backdrop for this city tradition. Festival hours are Thursday and Friday from 7–11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m.
Tickets are now available through http://www.winterfolk.com. A special two-for-one advance ticket offer is available until November 15, with weekend passes priced at $40 in advance (door price $80). Thursday’s Emerging Talent Night requires a separate one-day ticket, while the weekend pass covers February 13–15.
Before the festival officially begins, fans can get an early taste of the Winterfolk experience at the Winterfolk Festival Preview Show at Hugh’s Room Live on November 25, 2025. Tickets are available now here. With each Hugh’s Room ticket purchase, attendees will receive a $20 discount code toward a Winterfolk weekend pass.
“Winterfolk’s always been about community,” says Gladstone. “We work with the roots scene to help artists find paying gigs, keep venues alive, and bring people out when the city’s usually quiet. By the end of it, you can feel it — the whole roots community’s a little richer, a little stronger, and a little more connected.”
This year, the festival is also focused on the next generation. “The folk and roots community needs young artists to carry the torch,” Gladstone adds. “That’s why Emerging Talent Night is such an important addition — it’s about giving new voices a platform and helping them grow.”
From its earliest days to its 24th year, Winterfolk has kept its promise: to fill the coldest nights with warmth, music, and meaning. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of roots music or discovering it for the first time, Winterfolk XXIV invites you to celebrate the heart of Toronto’s live music scene — four unforgettable days of songs, stories, and community.
Website: www.winterfolk.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068621510244
