Toronto’s Runway Reels open-air cinema returns at YZD Hangar with live pre-shows

Toronto’s fall open-air cinema tradition is back at the YZD Hangar on the former Downsview airport lands, with Runway Reels opening another four-weekend season on Oct. 2. BlogTO reports the 2026 edition widens the format beyond weekend movies alone, framing nights as shared experiences under the stars with live entertainment before the film.

Each evening is set to begin with a performance presented by Small World Music, a not-for-profit that highlights cultural diversity through music. Pre-shows are slated for 6:30 p.m., with screenings starting at sunset. The lineup runs through Oct. 24 and mixes sing-alongs, cult favourites and seasonal picks — including Mamma Mia! and Frozen on the opening weekend, later dates for Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie, Shrek 2, Barbie, A Minecraft Movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Admission is free with registration required to reserve a spot. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and cushions; concessions are available on site for an extra cost. The hangar is at 10 Hanover Rd. For autumn movie nights that do not require a cottage driveway, Runway Reels keeps the Downsview runway-adjacent hangar on Toronto’s cultural calendar through late October.

Sources: BlogTO.