TORONTO — A new urban festival is inviting people to explore what it means to stay connected, grounded and human in an increasingly digital world.
Anthropos: The Sexuality and Consciousness Festival runs June 27-28 in downtown Toronto, bringing together talks, workshops, movement practices and interactive experiences focused on communication, intimacy, embodiment and self-awareness.
While sexuality is one aspect of the programming, the festival’s broader focus is on human connection, communication, relationships and conscious living.
Jovana Zmaj, one of the co-directors of Anthropos, said the festival was created in response to a common feeling in modern life: people are more connected through technology, but often less connected to themselves and each other.
“Technology is presenting a lot of challenges,” Zmaj said. “People are constantly connected, but feeling this quiet disconnection.”
Rather than positioning the festival as anti-technology, Zmaj said Anthropos is about strengthening the human skills that can help people navigate a fast-changing world.
“If human beings get really good at what makes us human, like communication, navigating conflict, building deep meaningful relationships and intimacy, we can actually use technology to our benefit rather than get steamrolled by it,” she said.
Anthropos: The Sexuality and Consciousness Festival 2026, a two-day event taking place June 27-28 in downtown Toronto.
The weekend begins Saturday evening with social programming at Pluto, including communication and interaction-based activities, along with dancing. Sunday’s main programming takes place at the Centre for Social Innovation on Spadina Avenue, with a full day of talks, practical workshops and experiential sessions. The festival closes Sunday evening at Alternity.
Zmaj said the event is designed for a wide range of participants, including people who are completely new to this kind of programming.
“We have geared this toward everyone, from a total newbie, anyone who has never done any kind of communication workshop or yoga class, all the way to people who have some level of mastery or proficiency and want to go a level deeper,” she said.
Some sessions will focus on talks and discussions, while others offer practical tools participants can immediately apply to their relationships, communication and everyday interactions.
Anthropos is created by ONE Conscious Experiences, the team behind the Toronto Tantra Festival. Organizers describe the event as an adults-only, alcohol-free festival rooted in consent, personal agency and respect for boundaries. No prior experience is required.
For Zmaj, the goal is for people to leave the weekend with more than new information.
She said she hopes participants walk away with “a deeper sense of themselves,” a stronger feeling of possibility and a renewed sense of connection to the people around them.
More information and tickets are available through the Anthropos Festival event page.
