Restaurant and nightclub kingpin Charles Khabouth, a top party host for major studio and streamer movie premieres at the Toronto Film Festival each year, expects to feed and honor more Hollywood A-stars in town this year for the 2026 edition.
“Last year we did 46 events. This year we’re at 51 (parties) and counting,” Khabouth told The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, ahead of TIFF getting underway on Sept. 10 for an 11-day run. That’s good news for the wait and bar staff at his downtown Toronto venues around TIFF Lightbox like Vinny, Bisha Hotel, STORYS Building, Portland Room, Animl Steakhouse & Cocktail Den, Kost, Byblos and Bar Romy as prime locations for Hollywood star-watchers during the festival’s 51st edition.
And Khabouth expects even more American players to call about late-party bookings, or to upgrade cocktail events or intimate dinners to full-blown movie premiere parties. “With last-minute changes, I estimate we will hit 60 events this year,” he added, with around 35 of those expected to be parties with an average of 200 attendees.
That’s also good news for local food and alcohol suppliers, limo drivers, security personnel, tablecloth and glassware suppliers. And Toronto launching its inaugural TIFF: The Market is also predicted to offer even more business for local party suppliers, including those installing drapery, lighting and red carpets.
Khabouth cautions, however, party spending by Hollywood studios and streamers this year will continue to come down in Toronto, as it has since COVID. “There’s nobody throwing money around like they used to,” the top restaurateur, who has been in business in Toronto with his Ink Entertainment banner since 1983, reported as the Hollywood bean counters are now in charge.
That’s made lavish Hollywood premiere parties in Toronto, where the champagne flowed to help toast or tout upcoming award season contenders, a thing of the past. “It’s all budgeted. It’s all calculated. The studios are no longer doing what they used to. Budgets have been cut back everywhere and we understand,” Khabouth argued.
That means his restaurant and nightclub venues will continue to work within the budgets of the major American players, while still offering a superior product to ensure repeat business. “It’s still important to deliver that great experience. It showcases that we’re doing a good job,” Khabouth insisted.
The Toronto Film Festival is set to run Sept. 10 to 20 this year.
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