Pretty soon, the name Yonge-Dundas Square will be a distant memory from the past, as Toronto gets ready to reintroduce the cultural landmark.
On Saturday, August 23, 2025, the city will officially unveil Sankofa Square with a full-day celebration open to the public. This free event, known as Sankofa Day, will mark the renaming of the square and celebrate the African Diaspora through music, food, art, ceremonies, and community programming.
Due to its namesake’s connections of Dundas to the Transatlantic slave trade, the City of Toronto voted that Yonge-Dundas Square would be renamed back in 2023. While the rebranding process started almost immediately, the reopening celebration will mark the square’s complete transformation.
Its new name, “Sankofa,” is derived from the Akan people of Ghana and reflects the importance of returning to the past to move forward into the future. The date of the celebration aligns with UNESCO’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, making this event deeply symbolic and historically meaningful.
The opening celebration will begin at 10 a.m. and continue through to 11 p.m., featuring a series of African and Indigenous ancestral ceremonies, along with art installations created by local artists and powerful showcases of digital media and film.
A major highlight of the celebration is the live announcement of the iDREAM Awards, where five recipients will be granted $1 million in media awards for advancing equity across Canada.
Visitors can also expect cultural food experiences, sports and wellness activations, and live performances. To close out the evening, don’t miss an electrifying live performance by Moonshine feat. Pierre Kwenders.
Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.