2026 DesignTO Launch Party at MOCA Toronto. Photo by Stephen Chu @picnchu89

On January 23, MOCA Toronto buzzed with energy. Friends reunited, new connections sparked, and by 7:00 pm, art, music, and conversation came alive. The sold-out 2026 DesignTO Launch Party marked the start of our 16th Festival, and set the tone for 10 days of inspiration.

This wasn’t just a party (though there was dancing). It was a celebration of what design can do when community shows up.

16 Years of Designing a Better Future

Since its founding 16 years ago, DesignTO has grown into Canada’s largest annual design festival, welcoming over 1 million attendees and supporting 7,000+ artists. The Launch Party honoured that legacy, with MOCA’s industrial architecture in the Auto BLDG, once a WWII aluminium factory, now a hub for ideas, mirroring design’s transformation from industry to imagination.

Experiencing Jeff Wall Photographs 1984–2023

Guests explored ‘Jeff Wall Photographs 1984–2023’, a four-decade survey of light box transparencies and photographic works. The festive setting made art feel shared and accessible, with conversations and reactions adding a living layer to the experience.

A Cross-Cultural Soundtrack

Music, curated by local·global, set a joyful, connective tone. Toronto-based DJ Isabel Okoro (ISA) blended Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Afro-House, while Adeola Abegunde followed with Afrobeats, dancehall, R&B, and global sounds. Artists, architects, students, and city leaders all shared the dance floor—proof of music’s power to unite.

 

Community and Impact

The Launch Party also raised funds for DesignTO’s public programming. Guests included executives from Grohe, representatives from the Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. Their presence reinforced a key point: design shapes policy, public space, and community. Conversations that start here ripple outward.

Supported by Partners Who Believe in Design

The evening was made possible by:

The Festival is also supported by the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto, helping keep events free and accessible. Sustainability, inclusivity, and community-building guide every choice we make.

More Than a Party

Photos capture laughter, bold outfits, and dancing, but the Launch Party was just the beginning. Over 10 days, Toronto became a hub of creativity, hosting 100+ free events, installations, and exhibitions that inspired thousands of attendees with ideas for more sustainable cities, inclusivity, and everyday joy.

Here’s to 16 years—and designing a more sustainable, just, and joyful future together.