The Gathering: A World Arts Celebration
The Gathering is a city-wide cultural celebration that transforms the 2026 World Cup into a platform for unity, artistic expression, and belonging.
While the World Cup brings nations into competition, the Spoken Soul Collective in partnership with RISE brings communities together through language, story, and performance. Rooted in Toronto’s identity as one of the most diverse cities in the world, The Gathering creates space for diaspora voices to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
During the first stage of the tournament, 12 curated showcases will take place across the city—each aligned with a World Cup group and featuring poets, singers, and performers representing all four participating countries. These events will unfold in public venues, with a special focus on Scarborough, one of the most culturally rich and globally connected communities in Canada.
Taking place between June 11 and July 19, 2026, each showcase will happen before the matches begin, inviting audiences to experience culture before competition—through mother tongues, ancestral rhythms, and contemporary artistic expression.
More than a series of performances, The Gathering is an invitation to:
Celebrate identity
Honour cultural roots
Connect across difference
Experience the world through art
Because this isn’t just about the game.
It’s about the people, the stories, and the languages that move it.
The SPOKEN SOUL COLLECTIVE is looking for artists and performers to join us on putting some amazing showcases. From singers, to poets, to musicians to performers….if you want to represent your FIFA team country through art sign up here or come out to one of our auditions.
