Toronto is always a little chaotic, but this weekend will absolutely test your patience. Between World Cup celebrations, FIFA Fan Fest, Blue Jays games, NXNE, Taste of Little Italy, the Dragon Boat Race Festival, as well as tons of other events, getting around Toronto over the next few days will require a little strategy (and probably not a car).
If you do drive, it’ll involve a lot of planning. Here’s what to know before heading out.
Expect major delays around Exhibition Place, Fort York and Liberty Village
The main FIFA action kicks off Friday, June 12, when Canada takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium at Exhibition Place at 3 p.m.
Road closures around Toronto Stadium and the FIFA Fan Festival are in effect on match days, starting five hours before kickoff and ending about three hours after the match ends. Friday’s road closures include Lake Shore Boulevard W, Strachan Ave and the Exhibition Grounds.
Liberty Village will also be under local-access-only restrictions from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., while Fort York will have local-access/pass and pickup-area rules tied to FIFA Fan Festival hours throughout the weekend: Friday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Saturday, June 13, from noon to 12:30 a.m., and Sunday, June 14, from 12:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. So, if you don’t live or work in Fort York or Liberty Village, don’t try to cut through these areas by car in the next few days.
Bremner Boulevard will be closed on Friday because FIFA and the Jays overlap
As if one stadium crowd wasn’t enough, Rogers Centre is also hosting the Blue Jays this weekend. The Jays play the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with Friday’s game overlapping with the World Cup match.
Because both Toronto Stadium and Rogers Centre are hosting games today, Bremner Boulevard will be closed between Lower Simcoe St and Navy Wharf Crescent from noon to 11:30 p.m.
Even after Friday, the area around Rogers Centre, Union Station, the waterfront and the Entertainment District will likely be super busy, since the Jays are also playing on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Fleet Street is closed for Fleet Hub
Fleet St is closed between Fort York Boulevard and Strachan Ave until the end of July for Fleet Hub. The temporary transit terminal has dedicated boarding areas for the tournament and will help move the throng of people to and from Toronto Stadium and the FIFA Fan Festival.
Taste of Little Italy is shutting down College Street
Over in the west end, Taste of Little Italy is also taking over the weekend. And you might want to skip the car for this festival, too. College Street will be closed from Shaw St to Bathurst St beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 12, and will reopen Monday, June 15, at 3 a.m.
The festival itself runs Friday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., so expect heavy foot traffic, packed patios and delays around College, Bathurst, Ossington, Shaw and nearby side streets.
Before you head over, check out these tips on how to enjoy Taste of Little Italy without repeating the worst parts of Do West Fest.
NXNE will bring late-night crowds across the city
NXNE runs from June 10 to 14, with more than 300 artists playing across 30-plus Toronto venues, so expect more foot traffic and late-night congestion around Queen West, Kensington Market, Bloor, the Annex and other live music-heavy areas.
The Islands will be busy, too
If you’re looking to escape to the Islands, keep in mind that the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival takes place June 13-14 on Centre Island, which means the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is going to be packed. Ferry service to Centre Island for the festival begins at 6:30 a.m. on June 13 and 14, and participants are encouraged to take one of the first three ferries of the day.
How to get around this weekend
Transit is the best option, but even that will be busy. The good news is that the TTC and GO Transit are adding service for FIFA crowds.
The 504 King, 509 Harbourfront and 511 Bathurst streetcars will run every five minutes during the tournament, while the 29 Dufferin, 929 Dufferin Express and 829 Dufferin Gate Express will help connect fans to the stadium area. Some routes heading to Fleet Hub and Dufferin Gate Loop will also use dedicated rapid transit lanes. Expect expanded subway service on match days, with service running later on some nights, including Friday, June 12.
GO Transit is also increasing Lakeshore West and Lakeshore East train service during the tournament, with trains running about every 15 minutes for much of the day and extra late-night options from Union Station.
Of course, walking and cycling are always tried-and-true ways to get around, especially if you’re already downtown. Look out for enhanced routes and increased access to BikeShare TO and temporary cycle parking throughout the city.
If you still need more planning help, visit Toronto’s FIFA World Cup 2026 ‘Getting Around’ page for live updates on road closures and different ways to plan your journey. Also, check out the city’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Mobility Plan for more tips on how to move throughout the city during the tournament
