Our Venues
A dynamic campus in the heart of Toronto
CONFERENCE VENUES
New for 2026, the Departure Conference will move into the heart of downtown Toronto, with transit-accessible venues in a new walkable footprint.
Fairmont Royal York
Departure returns to the Fairmont Royal York, offering a meaningful nod to Departure’s roots as Canadian Music Week, which operated out of the landmark hotel for many years.
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
With its two main stages, the Bluma Appel Theatre and Jane Mallett Theatre, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts will be a vibrant Departure hub for keynotes and panels, networking mixers and lounges, and select festival events.
Departure House
Departure House located at Transmission Studios is our new innovative pop-up destination for immersive brand activations and specialized programming.
Frequently Asked
Why is Departure moving locations in 2026?
Departure 2026 is moving to the core of the city to expand into a true city-wide experience. This move allows us to create a dynamic, walkable campus that is easily accessible by transit and better showcases the vibrant energy of our city to our international delegates.
In the coming weeks, Departure will also announce a roster of Official Hotel & Hospitality Partners expanding its commitment to growing Toronto’s visitor economy, and highlighting the breadth of the city’s culinary landscape to both conference and festival attendees.
How will networking function with Departure happening across multiple venues?
The “magic” isn’t going anywhere. We are designing our programming to foster both curated and spontaneous connections. With dedicated networking lounges, evening receptions, and uniting tracks for keynote programming, the global creative industry will find more opportunities than ever to connect, collaborate, and accelerate business.