Rendezvous With Madness 2026: dates, tickets and Toronto venues
by 
Babylon Radio
Listen nowRendezvous With Madness 2026 returns to Toronto from 22 October to 1 November, with films, talks, workshops and visual art exploring mental health and care. The 34th edition is organized by Workman Arts. Its theme, Complexities of Care, asks who provides care, who receives it and how that work is valued.
For newcomers, the program offers a way to explore Toronto’s arts scene through stories about family, identity and belonging. Some works deal with difficult subjects. Read each event description and choose a program that suits you. All event times below are local to Toronto.
What is on the 2026 program?
Opening night: Frank & Louis
Frank & Louis screens on Thursday 22 October at 6.45pm, after a 6pm reception. The venue is the CAMH Arrell Family Auditorium, 1025 Queen Street West, second floor. The film follows a man in prison who becomes a caregiver for another prisoner living with dementia. The event lists a wheelchair-accessible venue and open captions.
A film about family across cultures
Vietnamese-Canadian director Carol Nguyen’s Still Night, Burning House screens on Tuesday 27 October at 7pm. It explores family history and grief across generations, in English and Vietnamese.
This screening is at Small World Centre, 180 Shaw Street, Unit 101. The listing confirms wheelchair access and open captions. Check the address carefully: it is a different venue from the opening night.
A hands-on workshop
Artist Seden Lai leads Kinetic Paper Mobiles on Sunday 25 October, 11am–2pm. Participants use paper, metal and found objects to help make a shared hanging sculpture. It takes place at Workman Arts OFFSITE, 32 Lisgar Street, second floor, Room 12. Use the event page to check booking and access details.
The full schedule also includes Surrender on 22 October, Meadowlarks and the Noticing as Care panel on 23 October, and Tight Lettuce on 28 October.
Where is the visual-art exhibition?
Community Conversations runs from 24 October to 8 November at Workman Arts OFFSITE, 32 Lisgar Street, second floor, Room 12. It continues beyond the main festival dates.
The exhibition is curated by GAS Collective (Gizem Candan and Steffi Sin Tung Ng), with artists Michelle Peraza and Seden Lai. It explores care through materials and shared creative work.
Opening hours vary. The listing gives 1pm–4pm on 24–25 October and 1pm–6pm on 29 October–1 November and 5–8 November. It is closed on 27 October. Check the exhibition page before travelling rather than assuming it is open daily.
How do tickets and seating work?
The current ticketing FAQ describes general admission with limited seating and asks visitors to choose a ticket price that fits their needs. Follow the booking option on your chosen event for the current price and format.
Book ahead where possible. If a program is off sale, the organiser says a rush list opens at the venue one hour before the start. A place on that list does not guarantee admission. Ticket holders should arrive at least 15 minutes early to reduce the risk of their seat being given to someone waiting.
Refunds are accepted only in special circumstances. For a specific access need, check the individual event and contact Workman Arts on 416-583-4339 before booking.
More Toronto cultural coverage
These earlier Babylon guides introduce two other community festivals. Their September 2026 dates have already passed.
Sources checked on 19 October 2026. Featured image: illustrative cinema audience, not a photograph of Rendezvous With Madness. Photo: Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels, used under the Pexels License. Cropped.