TIRGAN CENTRE FOR ART AND CULTURE

With over 160,000 visitors in 2019, Tirgan is recognized as the world’s largest celebration of Iranian art and culture outside Iran. What began as a festival has grown into a non-partisan, non-religious charitable organization dedicated to fostering cross-cultural dialogue between Iranians and the global community through the arts.

Founded in Toronto in 2006 by a group of student volunteers, Tirgan has spent nearly two decades welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors and bringing together internationally acclaimed artists, musicians, filmmakers, scholars, and cultural leaders. Central to this movement are the thousands of volunteers who have powered its events year after year—working side by side, building lasting bonds, and becoming part of the extended Tirgan family.

More than a festival, Tirgan is a cultural platform committed to preserving, celebrating, and evolving Iranian arts and traditions for generations to come. Through its programming, it has presented more than 30 festivals and cultural events, featuring over 1,000 programs and welcoming more than 1,200 artists from around the world—leaving a meaningful social, cultural, and economic impact on the Iranian diaspora and on Canada’s broader cultural landscape.

At the heart of Tirgan’s success are the extraordinary artists, performers, volunteers, and cultural voices who bring it to life.