The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres

The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres are a rare surviving example of a stacked theatre complex, where two distinct performance venues occupy the same building. The Winter Garden Theatre, on the top floors, is a lush, intimate space with a ceiling covered in real beech leaves and twinkling fairy lights, evoking an enchanted garden. The Elgin Theatre below is a more ornate, gilded auditorium that hosts Broadway shows, concerts, and film screenings. Located on Yonge Street in the heart of downtown Toronto, the complex is a National Historic Site of Canada. Visitors can take guided tours to learn about its vaudeville origins and see the original 1913 architecture, including the Winter Garden's hand-painted murals and the Elgin's grand chandelier. The theatres are still active performance venues, so attending a show is the best way to experience their magic.

Don't miss

• See the Winter Garden's ceiling of real beech leaves and twinkling lights
• Tour the ornate Elgin Theatre with its grand lobby and chandelier
• Attend a live performance or film screening
• Explore the historic Yonge Street location
• Take a guided tour to learn vaudeville history

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres

Cheapest way inToronto Essentials Tour: Old Town & Downtown Highlights (PWYC)4.8★ · 42 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$4 per personSee dates →Most bookedToronto: Authentic Food Tour with Local & International Flavors4.9★ · 772 travelers2–3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$75 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleCity Sightseeing Toronto Guided Night Bus Tour4.6★ · 15 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$38 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• Arrive early for tours as they fill up quickly.
• Check the schedule for live performances to combine a tour with a show.
• Photography is allowed in lobbies but may be restricted during performances.
• The theatres are a short walk from Dundas and Queen subway stations.

A bit of history

Opened in 1913 as a vaudeville house, the Elgin Theatre originally showed films and live acts. The Winter Garden Theatre above was added in 1914. After decades of decline, the complex was restored in the 1980s and reopened in 1989 as a performing arts venue.