Elevate Festival Returns With a Standout Lineup
Elevate Festival, Canada’s largest homegrown tech and innovation gathering, is back for its sixth annual edition. The three-day event runs October 1-3 in Toronto, taking over Meridian Hall and the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Expect a packed program that brings together industry leaders, creative thinkers, and tech enthusiasts for conversations that matter, hands-on learning, and the kind of networking you can feel long after the lights go down.
Across the halls and on every stage, the focus stays clear: real ideas, real people, real progress. Whether you’re building a startup, steering a team, or simply curious about what’s next, the festival is designed to help you learn something useful and meet someone you’ll want to keep in touch with.
Trailblazing Voices on the Main Stage
This year’s speaker lineup reads like a who’s who of tech, media, culture, and business. You’ll hear from journalist and broadcaster Lisa LaFlamme; visionary filmmaker Director X; Canadian music duo Tegan and Sara; acclaimed journalist Kara Swisher; astronaut and Elevate co-chair Chris Hadfield; Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify; entrepreneur Arlene Dickinson; Dax Dasilva, CEO of Lightspeed; Erika Ayers Badan, former CEO of Barstool Sports; and Teresa Resch, President of WNBA Toronto—among many others. They’re set to share hard-won insights, lessons learned, and stories from the front lines.
From the opening keynote to the final session, the tone is practical and forward-looking. Expect candid takes on leadership, product, growth, and culture—told by people who’ve shipped, scaled, and stayed curious.
Sessions That Spark Action
Sixty sessions are already on the books, with more to be announced as October approaches. Workshops, fireside chats, and panels aim to be useful, not just inspiring. Come with a question; leave with a plan. The full roster of speakers and session details will continue to expand in the lead-up to the festival.
Whether you want a deep dive or a quick hit of perspective, you’ll find formats that fit. Learn something in the morning, test it with peers in the afternoon, and carry it into your next build.
Meet, Learn, and Build Your Network
Elevate is built around connection, not just speeches. Curated meetups and small-group discussions make it easy to sit down with people who care about the same problems you do. And thanks to the festival app, you can start the conversation before you arrive, line up meetings, and make the most of your time on site.
It’s the kind of networking that doesn’t feel like networking—focused, relevant, and grounded in shared interests.
New Content Tracks
This year introduces eight content tracks that get specific on what’s shaping the future: AI, fintech, cybersecurity, product engineering, and more. A standout addition, Moonshots, brings leaders together to take on big, global challenges. Expect thoughtful discussions on climate, healthcare, and space exploration—where the questions are hard and the stakes are high.
Each track is designed to meet you where you are: building, scaling, or just getting started. You can follow a single track or mix and match to map your own path through the festival.
Spotlight on Founders and Startups
Founders are front and center. Elevate will host more than 350 startup–investor meetings, alongside targeted roundtables built for early-stage teams. It’s a practical setup for honest feedback, investor conversations, and sharing what’s working (and what isn’t) with people in the same trenches.
Startups will also find room to showcase what they’re building in an environment that values substance over hype. The goal is simple: help founders take the next step.
The festival runs on the support of partners and sponsors who believe in this work. Interac, Google, and the University of Toronto are among the organizations helping nurture a community where innovation can take root and grow.
Be Part of the Elevate Community
If you’re drawn to ideas that ship and conversations that move, Elevate Festival is worth your calendar. You’ll find details on programming and how to purchase tickets on the official Elevate Festival website.
Beyond these three days, Elevate continues its mission year-round—building a stronger Canadian tech ecosystem through ongoing events and partnerships that connect startups with investors and shine a light on homegrown innovation. Come for the ideas; stay for the people you’ll build with next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Elevate Festival?
Elevate Festival is Canada’s largest homegrown tech and innovation event, bringing together leading voices, builders, and creators for talks, workshops, and meaningful networking.
When and where is it happening?
The festival runs October 1-3 in Toronto across two venues: Meridian Hall and the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.
Who’s speaking this year?
The lineup includes Lisa LaFlamme, Director X, Tegan and Sara, Kara Swisher, Chris Hadfield, Harley Finkelstein, Arlene Dickinson, Dax Dasilva, Erika Ayers Badan, and Teresa Resch, among others.
How do I get tickets and event details?
You can find programming information and purchase tickets on the official Elevate Festival website.
What networking opportunities can I expect?
Attendees can join curated meetups and small-group discussions, with a dedicated festival app that lets you start connecting and scheduling conversations before you arrive.
