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

On January 23, the sold-out 2026 DesignTO Launch Party marked the start of our 16th Festival, and set the tone for 10 days of inspiration. MOCA Toronto buzzed with energy, friends reunited, new connections sparked, and conversation came alive. 

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

Curated by local·global, the music 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, designers, students, and city leaders shared the dance floor—proof of music’s power to unite.

 

Community and Impact

DesignTO’s Launch Party also raised funds for both charitable organizations. Guests included cultural leaders, representatives from Ontario’s arts and tourism granting bodies, 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 moments of connection and joy, bold outfits, and dancing, but the DesignTO 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 festival 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!