The first-ever Toronto Horror Theatre Festival is coming to the city this week, featuring terrifying horror plays by different local artists. Here’s what to know.

Eldritch Theatre and Spindle Collective have teamed up to produce Dead of Winter: The First Toronto Horror Theatre Festival, playing for five nights, starting Jan. 21, 2026.

According to organizers, there will be six original horror plays that will feature different guest musicians who “thrive in the dark each night for a special performance.”

There will be two entirely different shows to choose from, with two entirely different line-ups of Terror and Fear: Night of Terror and Evening of Fear.

Night of Terror includes spilleHOLLE by Natalia Bushnik and Kathleen Welch, The Matchmaker by Aaliya Alibhai, music by Andra Zlatescu, and The Hag of Bell Island by David Ferry.

Evening of Fear presents Perfect Pains by Faizan Bokhari, Jimmy by Marcia Tratt, music by Morgara, and Mercy of the Vampire by Jeff Dingle.

“Don’t miss out on what is to be the most exciting, strange and mysterious event of the Winter Theatre Season, that supports indie artists in the creation of new innovative works, allows us to celebrate horror as a community, and appeases the Elder Gods,” shares organizers.

It’s all going down at The Red Sandcastle Theatre. Tickets are available starting at $30.

Recent Posts:
This Toronto spot is hosting free cozy movie nights all winter
A job fair with employers from multiple industries is coming to Toronto this spring