#17 The Oud Legend Toronto Has Been Waiting For (October 9–15)
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Toronto’s Arabic-rooted scene is stacked this week — from laughs and live music to stunning visual art and a major awards night featuring some of the city’s biggest Arabic-speaking stars. Here are five picks to help you plan your week.
Events This Week
Laugh It Forward: Comedy Fundraiser for Glia Equal Care
A night of big laughs with local Toronto comedians — and a meaningful way to support Glia Equal Care’s medical work in Gaza.
🌟 Performer(s): Local Toronto comedians
💬 Language: English
🗓️ Date & Time: Thursday, September 11 · Doors 7:00 pm, Show 7:30 pm
📍 Venue: Society Clubhouse, 967 College Street, Toronto, ON M6H 1A6
🎟️ Tickets: Paid ticket (Eventbrite)
TIFF 50: Eagles of the Republic
A gripping political thriller set in Cairo’s film-and-power circles, where an actor is pulled into a regime-backed movie — and into dangerous territory.
🌟 Performer(s): Starring Fares Fares (with Amr Waked & Zineb Triki) · Directed by Tarik Saleh
💬 Language: Egyptian Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Date & Time: Multiple days: Friday, Sept 12 | Saturday, Sept 13 | Sunday, Sept 14
📍 Venue: Scotiabank Theatre, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets: Paid ticket (TIFF)
Hassan Hajjaj: The Arab Women’s Gym Exhibition
A vibrant, pop-art-inspired exhibition celebrating Arab women in sport — challenging stereotypes with bold portraits full of colour, fashion, and swagger.
🌟 Performer(s): Hassan Hajjaj
💬 Language: English / French / Arabic (primarily visual, minimal text)
🗓️ Date & Time: September 13, 2025 – May 31, 2026
📍 Venue: Aga Khan Park (Aga Khan Museum), 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto, ON M3C 1K1
🎟️ Tickets: Public event
Love in the Time of Shadia and Layla Murad
A nostalgic evening celebrating two giants of Arabic music — told through stories of love and longing, brought to life with live performance.
🌟 Performer(s): Sounds from Damascus (Ruba Zouzou, Tamadur Alkhatib, Nour Khedder) + special guest Hadia Kamal
💬 Language: Arabic
🗓️ Date & Time: Sunday, September 14, 2025 · 7:30 – 9:30 pm
📍 Venue: Peoples Theatre for the Performing Arts, 22 Esna Park Dr, Markham, ON L3R 1E1
🎟️ Tickets: Paid ticket (Eveenty)
Polarise Music Awards 2025
Canada’s biggest night for forward-thinking music, with major performances and nominees — including Toronto’s Arabic-speaking stars Mustafa and Nemahsis.
🌟 Performer(s): Mustafa, Nemahsis, and more award nominees
💬 Language: English
🗓️ Date & Time: Thursday, Sept 18, 2025 · Doors 7:00 pm, Awards Show 8:00 pm
📍 Venue: Massey Hall, Toronto
🎟️ Tickets: Paid ticket (Massey Hall)
👉🏽 Looking for more events for this week? Browse the full khamsa community calendar .
Please note that event details can change, and cancellations are sometimes made by the organizers. It's always a good idea to double-check the event page before heading out.
Know about an upcoming event that should be featured? Submit it to the khamsa calendar here .