GhanaFest Toronto Celebrated Live at Earl Bales Park, North York, with Special Artist Samini from Ghana

GhanaFest Toronto returned to Earl Bales Park on Sunday August 2nd for its annual celebration of Ghanaian culture, food, music and community, headlined by dancehall star Samini.

GhanaFest Toronto returned to Earl Bales Park on Sunday, August 2nd for its annual celebration of Ghanaian culture, food, music, and community in the GTA. The free, family-friendly festival drew thousands of Ghanaians, African diaspora members and Torontonians to North York for a full day of live performances, cultural displays and networking.

The 2026 edition was headlined by Samini, the award-winning Ghanaian dancehall and reggae artist, whose performance was the main draw for the evening. The park was filled from mid-afternoon into the evening, and the atmosphere was vibrant and communal.

Families with children, youth groups, community leaders and dignitaries from Ghanaian associations across Ontario attended, while food vendors, craft stalls and cultural booths lined the park.

The day opened with traditional drumming and dance performances by local Ghanaian cultural groups, alongside displays of Ghanaian fashion, art and heritage exhibits celebrating Ghana's 16 regions.

Attendees enjoyed authentic Ghanaian cuisine — jollof rice, waakye, kelewele, suya, fufu with light soup and fresh coconut water — with Canadian and other African vendors also present.

The peak of the event was Samini's live set, a mix of his classic hits and newer dancehall and afrobeats tracks. The crowd sang along and danced, with chants of 'Ghana to the world', reinforcing GhanaFest's goal of connecting the diaspora to home through music.

Other local DJs and Toronto-based Ghanaian artists performed between sets to keep the energy up throughout the evening.