To inquire about booking The Bentway as a venue, please email: [email protected]
In addition to programs run and delivered by The Bentway itself (find full listings here), The Bentway also acts as host venue to events and activations run by communities, partners, and clients.
In selecting these opportunities, The Bentway prioritizes events that:
- Are free or low-cost to attend
- Are open to the public
- Do not duplicate or compete with Bentway program offerings
- Preserve space for both Bentway programming and general public use of our spaces
- Align with the mission and values of the organization
Fees for event hosting and activations are scaled, and include special discounted rates for community groups and not-for-profits.
Like other registered charities, The Bentway relies on the contributions of a range of supporters, as well as income from occasional onsite hosting, to fuel our work. Income generated from event hosting helps enable year-round offerings delivered by The Bentway, such as free onsite skating, artist installations and performances, and community programs, plus the costs of onsite maintenance. Read more about The Bentway’s 365 impact here.
Please note that per City of Toronto protocols, organizers planning to hold a public demonstration onsite must inform Toronto Police Services in advance. Click here for more details.
Check out our available rental sites!
Strachan Gate
Location: 250 Fort York Blvd
With a capacity of 2500 people, Strachan Gate is ideal for mid-to large-scale events requiring multiple spaces for staging and crowds. Adjacent to two parking lots, it encompasses a Timber Mezzanine with tiered seating, a Green Amphitheatre and a large courtyard space below them. An indoor gallery is also included in your Strachan Gate rental, perfect as a back of house, artist greenroom or staff area.
Timbre Mezzanine
Directly below Strachan Avenue, the Timber Mezzanine operates as one of our site’s main entrances and is ideal for small performances, intimate gatherings, or as a VIP space for larger events taking place at Strachan Gate, below. With accessible tiered seating and a small ‘stage’ area, this space has a 250-person capacity.
Green Amphitheatre
Sloping towards the courtyard, the Green Amphitheatre gives up to 800 guests a fantastic view of the action down below.
The Courtyard
Equipped with a shipping container bar, large picnic tables and loungers, The Courtyard can host everything from dinners to dance parties for up to 1450 people.
Strachan Gallery
Brightly lit, open-concept space ideal for small workshops, talks, or back of house use, Strachan Gallery has a capacity of 60 people. It includes an extra-large swing door for easy load-on, and restroom separate from the rest of the site.
The Skate Trail
Location: 250 Fort York Blvd
With a capacity of up to 1350 people, The Bentway’s iconic skate trail is a figure-eight path weaving between the Gardiner’s concrete columns. A licensable location, the Skate Trail is outfitted with a 16×20 skate rental counter (easily outfitted as a bar), skate deck bar, seating containers, site furniture, power drops in 6+ locations, washrooms, and water fountains
The Landing
This flat, open space has a capacity for 1450 people and is ideal for markets, workshops, film shoots, and events. Highly visible from Fort York Blvd and the surrounding neighbourhood, The Landing is a blank canvas waiting to be brought to life!
Winter Skate Trail Rentals
Whether you’re looking to get visibility for your brand through an activation or interested in hosting an epic skating party, our iconic Skate Trail is the perfect winter spot. If you rent our Skate Deck for your skating party, you’ll get exclusive access to the deck and heated seating area for 4 hours, 25 free skate rentals or sharpenings, helmets, a hot chocolate bar, and cozy blankets!
The Bentway Studio
Location: 55 Fort York Blvd
Since opening in 2020, The Bentway Studio has served as an up and coming arts and cultural hub in the Fort York and City Place Neighbourhood. With over 8,500 sq ft of space, the Studio is a great spot to host anything from concerts, to conferences, to receptions. This site can accommodate both indoor and outdoor events, and has an on-site warming kitchen that makes catering a breeze!
Studio Atrium
The Studio Atrium is a bright and airy space with high ceilings and beautiful natural light. Able to accommodate up to 250 people, the Atrium is equipped with ample power, a reception desk, board room, and access to our warming kitchen.
Studio Patio
Overlooking Canoe Landing Park, the Studio Patio can accommodate 300 people and comes equipped with six power drops, making it the perfect spot for markets, brand activations, or receptions. The Patio is available as a standalone rental or as an add on to the Studio to increase capacity and offer guests access to outdoor space.