Illuminite 2026

Illuminite is a free, annual winter outdoor art festival organized by the Downtown Yonge BIA that transforms the Downtown Yonge area into a public gallery with interactive light installations. This year the event features five main installations focused on the theme of “Play”.

Each site features a playful, interactive experience designed to spark joy, movement, and connection in the heart of winter. Whether you’re a curious explorer or just passing through, Illuminite 2026 invites everyone to pause, play, and light up the city together.

This year the five art installations are located at:

• Yonge-Dundas Square
• Trinity Square Park
• College Park
• 777 Bay Plaza
• Granby Parkette

I paid a little visit to each site; here’s what I found (installation descriptions courtesy of the Illuminite 2026 website):

Pop!

Something Fun Is Popping Up
Company: Gentilhomme
Location: Yonge-Dundas Square (1 Dundas Street East)

Something playful is bubbling beneath the surface at Yonge-Dundas Square, and it’s ready to POP! Hidden inside glowing monoliths are five quirky characters – named Popo, Popup, Popli, Popette, and Popotin – just waiting to burst out and start the party.

To set them free, you’ll need to call out, sing, or dance your way into their world. As each figure responds with movement, sound, and colour, the installation transforms into a joyful, collective celebration of music, surprise, and togetherness.

Domino Effect

Sparks In Sequence
Artist: Ingrid Ingrid
Location: Trinity Square Park (19 Trinity Square, behind Eaton Centre)

Get ready to knock down winter blues with a musical chain reaction! Domino Effect invites visitors of all ages to play, collaborate, and co-create a symphony of sound and light using giant pastel-coloured dominos.

Each domino triggers a unique note, from vocals to percussion, and every cascade becomes a playful performance of rhythm, colour, and connection. Work together to build longer sequences, reverse the direction, and unlock new melodies in this interactive orchestra of joy.

Horizon

The Light Is In Sight
Artist: MattCreative
Location: College Park – Yonge Street Entrance (420 Yonge Street)

Step into a glowing field of motion and colour. Horizon is a large-scale 3D LED matrix that visualizes waves of light as they move through space and time. With over 3,000 LEDs and interactive controls, this immersive installation invites you to shape shifting patterns of light in real time, turning College Park into a dynamic playground of sight and sound.

Oval Swings

Coming Full Circle
Company: Prevail Activations
Location: 777 Bay Plaza (777 Bay Street)

Feel the glow and let yourself sway. Oval Swings bring playful energy and luminous charm to 777 Bay Plaza. Designed for all ages, these glowing LED swings invite you to pause, connect, and capture the moment: a joyful blend of movement, light, and pure winter magic.

A delightful, hands-on experience that turns Trinity Square Park into a hub of movement, laughter, and collective creativity.

Hearts At Play

Find The Missing Piece
Artist: Daria Domnikova
Location: Granby Parkette (431 Yonge Street)

Granby Parkette comes alive with Hearts at Play, a vibrant trio of interactive sculptures that celebrate community, creativity, and connection in Downtown Yonge.

Bold in colour and glowing with light, these artworks encourage visitors to pause, play, reflect, and rediscover the heart of the city, and their place within it.

Illuminite runs until March 8, 2026. The event is now in its third year.