Biblio Bash 2026 Raises Over $1M for Toronto Public Library’s After School Clubs
Written by Fête Chinoise Editorial Team (Kayla Lo)
Photography: George PImentel, Provided by Toronto Public Library Foundation
The Toronto Public Library (TPL) Foundation’s Biblio Bash held its 2026 edition at the Toronto Reference Library on April 23, 2026, once again transforming the iconic atrium into an evening where storytelling and philanthropy converged. The annual black-tie fundraiser welcomed more than 400 of Toronto’s leading philanthropists, city builders, and literary voices, raising over $1 million in support of youth-focused programming across the city.
Led by gala co-chairs Moez and Marissa Kassam and presented by Fitzrovia, the evening reflected the enduring impact of collective giving and the evolving role of public libraries as essential community anchors. Funds raised will directly support TPL’s Youth Programs, including After School Clubs, Leading to Reading, and other initiatives delivered across Toronto Public Library’s network of more than 100 branches.
Last year alone, these programs reached more than 15,000 children and teens, providing academic support, nutritious snacks, and safe, welcoming spaces to gather after school hours, supporting both educational needs and a sense of belonging for young people in the community.
Dwight Drummond
Cynthia Mulligan
“For so many young people, the Library serves as a place of first discovery – where new interests are sparked, a new skill is developed, a new sense of confidence or a connection takes root. That’s what makes nights like Biblio Bash so meaningful. ”
In October 2025, TPL extended the opening hours of its 100 branches to Sundays from 12–5 pm (excluding holiday weekends), with plans to expand to seven-day-a-week operations year-round beginning in summer 2026. This move further strengthens the Library’s role as an accessible public and community space for youth and the broader community.
Will Stewart (TPLF CEO), Mayor of Toronto Olivia Chow, Amber Morley, Moe Hosseini-Ara (TPL City Librarian)
The Library is a living space for storytelling, where literature lives within the stacks and is actively shared and experienced across the community it serves. Biblio Bash also celebrates literary voices in support of literacy and storytelling. This year’s edition brought together 35 celebrated Canadian authors, including Souvankham Thammavongsa, Linwood Barclay, Brandi Leifso, Jess Gibson, Ann Y.K. Choi, and Jinwoo Park.
A spirited live auction led by Afrim Pristine added momentum to the evening, helping secure one of the most successful fundraising totals in the event’s history. The result reflects a growing recognition of the Library as more than a civic institution—it is a place where opportunity is shaped through access, imagination, and connection.
2026 Authors
Emily Austin
Linwood Barclay
Heather Birrell
Michael Bungay Stanier
Ann Y. K. Choi
Matthew James Duffy
Don Gillmor
Jess Gibson
Sue Hincenbergs
Alex Hutchinson
Uzma Jalaluddin
Zak Jones
Adnan Khan
Zane Koss
Lavanya Lakshmi
Shari Lapena
Brandi Leifso
Terese Mason Pierre
Greg Mercer
Shani Mootoo
Téa Mutonji
Amil Niazi
Otoniya J. Okot Bitek
Jinwoo Park
Afrim Pristine
Nita Prose
Kate Robson
Sonya Singh
Brian Stewart
Souvankham Thammavongsa
Karen Van Kampen
Moira Welsh
Dan Werb
Dr. Samra Zafar
Tyler and Claire Macnamara
Moez Kassam, Ange Rocca, Adrian Rocca
Arati Sharma and Satish Kanwar
Jordan Morassutti and Maki Morassutti
Lavanya Lakshmi and Jess Gibson
More from Fête Chiniose
The Toronto Public Library (TPL) Foundation’s Biblio Bash held its 2026 edition at the Toronto Reference Library on April 23, 2026, once again transforming the iconic atrium into an evening where storytelling and philanthropy converged. The annual black-tie fundraiser welcomed more than 400 of Toronto’s leading philanthropists, city builders, and literary voices, raising over $1 million in support of youth-focused programming across the city.