The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing, and with it comes one of the most anticipated traditions of the festival season: the celebrity portrait studio. This year, the PEOPLE/EW and Shutterstock studio at TIFF has welcomed some of Hollywood’s biggest names, capturing intimate, candid moments with stars promoting their buzziest projects.
From Sarah Paulson to Courteney Cox, Sebastian Stan to Zooey Deschanel, the studio has become a destination for actors and filmmakers looking to step away from the red carpet chaos and into a more relaxed, playful setting. This year, that setting also included adorable rescue puppies, courtesy of Project Paws Dog Rescue.
Here’s a look at the standout celebrity portraits from TIFF 2026, along with the films and projects bringing these stars to Toronto.
The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 to 20, 2026, screening 293 films across seven venues in downtown Toronto. Approximately 800 guests are expected to attend, including major Hollywood stars, international filmmakers, and emerging talent.
TIFF has long been a key stop on the fall festival circuit, positioned strategically after Venice and Telluride and before the awards season intensifies. For actors and directors, a TIFF premiere can generate crucial momentum for Oscar campaigns, while for audiences, it offers a rare chance to see major stars in a more accessible setting.
This year’s lineup includes films like Wild Horse Nine, Being Heumann, The Housewife, Below, and Evil Genius—projects that have drawn A-list talent to Toronto for premieres, Q&As, and promotional events.
The PEOPLE/EW and Shutterstock portrait studio at TIFF operates inside the NKPR IT House, presented by Q Tower. Unlike traditional red-carpet photography, which captures stars in the formal, often chaotic environment of a premiere, portrait studios offer a controlled, intimate setting where celebrities can relax and engage more directly with the camera.
These sessions serve multiple purposes. For the actors, they provide a chance to promote their films in a visually appealing format that can be shared across magazines, websites, and social media. For publications, they generate exclusive content that captures the personality and style of the stars in a way that red-carpet shots often cannot.
This year, the studio also featured adoptable Shepherd Husky mix puppies named Ziggy, Doubie, Willy, and Ash, all 9-10 weeks old, from Project Paws Dog Rescue. Stars including Courteney Cox, Sebastian Stan, Luke Evans, and Josh Hartnett opted to pose with the puppies, adding a lighter, more playful dimension to the portrait sessions. A donation is made to Artists for Peace and Justice for every celebrity who visits the studio.
The following celebrities have been confirmed as participants in the PEOPLE/EW and Shutterstock portrait studio at TIFF 2026, according to the published gallery. Each is presented with their associated project.
[PHOTO: Rebel Wilson — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Rebel Wilson attends the TIFF 2026 portrait studio in connection with her film Girl Group, which she wrote, directed, and stars in.
Wilson’s Girl Group is a comedy about a pop singer who takes a hiatus from her band to pursue a solo career, making questionable choices along the way. Jennifer Coolidge co-stars.
[PHOTO: Charlie Heaton — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Charlie Heaton visits the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for his film Below.
[PHOTO: David Harbour — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: David Harbour attends the TIFF 2026 portrait studio in connection with Evil Genius.
[PHOTO: Patricia Arquette — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Patricia Arquette poses at the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for Evil Genius.
[PHOTO: Courteney Cox — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Courteney Cox visits the TIFF 2026 portrait studio in connection with Evil Genius. Cox also posed with rescue puppies at the studio.
[PHOTO: Gary Oldman — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Gary Oldman attends the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for Slow Horses.
[PHOTO: Sebastian Stan — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Sebastian Stan poses at the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for his film Fjord. Stan also participated in the puppy portrait session.
[PHOTO: Sarah Paulson — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Sarah Paulson visits the TIFF 2026 portrait studio in connection with Closing Night.
[PHOTO: Cole Sprouse and Kiko Mizuhara — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Cole Sprouse and Kiko Mizuhara attend the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for Vintage Violence.
[PHOTO: Dylan O’Brien — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Dylan O’Brien poses at the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for Being Heumann, TIFF’s opening night film.
[PHOTO: Josh Hartnett — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Josh Hartnett attends the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for Below. Hartnett also posed with rescue puppies.
[PHOTO: Zooey Deschanel — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Zooey Deschanel visits the TIFF 2026 portrait studio in connection with Trash Mountain. Deschanel also participated in the puppy portrait session.
[PHOTO: Naomi Watts — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Naomi Watts attends the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for The Housewife.
[PHOTO: Luke Evans — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Luke Evans poses at the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for The Housewife. Evans also posed with rescue puppies.
[PHOTO: James McAvoy — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: James McAvoy visits the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for Faith.
[PHOTO: Megan Rapinoe — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Megan Rapinoe attends the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for the documentary Rapinoe. Rapinoe also participated in the puppy portrait session.
[PHOTO: Noomi Rapace — TIFF 2026 Portrait]
Caption: Noomi Rapace poses at the TIFF 2026 portrait studio for In Alaska.
The portrait studio participants represent a cross-section of TIFF 2026’s most prominent films. Here’s context on some of the key projects:
Evil Genius — This film brought multiple stars to the portrait studio, including David Harbour, Patricia Arquette, and Courteney Cox. The project appears to be a major ensemble piece at this year’s festival.
The Housewife — Naomi Watts and Luke Evans star in this film, which had its premiere at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Watts wore a black midi-length Celine dress with silver rose embellishments for the red carpet.
Below — Charlie Heaton, Josh Hartnett, and Mackenzie Davis are associated with this project, which premiered at TIFF Lightbox.
Being Heumann — Directed by Oscar winner Siân Heder, this biographical drama about disability rights activist Judy Heumann opened the festival. Dylan O’Brien and the film’s cast visited the portrait studio.
Fjord — Sebastian Stan stars in this film, which brought him to both the portrait studio and the puppy session.
Girl Group — Rebel Wilson wrote, directed, and stars in this comedy alongside Jennifer Coolidge. The film follows a pop singer navigating a solo career after leaving her band.
Slow Horses — Gary Oldman and several co-stars from the series visited the portrait studio, suggesting a TIFF presentation for the show.
Beyond the portrait studio, TIFF 2026 has delivered several notable red-carpet fashion moments.
Naomi Watts made an impression at The Housewife premiere in a black, midi-length shift dress by Celine, featuring silver rose embellishments and a retro-inspired high neckline with a structured bow across the bodice.
Keerthy Suresh attended the world premiere of her Tamil film Dorothy in a contemporary interpretation of traditional Kanjivaram styling. Her ensemble, designed by Karan Torani and styled by Ami Patel, featured a burgundy and antique-gold palette with a structured cropped blouse and a voluminous maroon skirt inspired by a Kanjivaram saree. She completed the look with traditional Kerala jewellery, including layered gold necklaces.
Luke Evans wore wide-leg cream belted trousers with a crimson shirt and untied necktie by Mithridate, paired with chocolate brown brogues, for The Housewife premiere.
Patrick Dempsey, in Toronto filming season 2 of Memory of a Killer, wore a single-breasted navy blue pinstripe suit to The Housewife premiere.
Celebrity portrait studios have become an integral part of the film festival ecosystem over the past two decades. During a festival like TIFF, where hundreds of films screen over ten days and stars are pulled in multiple directions, these studio sessions offer a structured, efficient way for actors to generate promotional content.
For publications, the portraits provide exclusive visual material that differentiates their coverage from standard red-carpet reporting. For celebrities, the sessions offer a chance to present themselves in a more controlled, often more relaxed environment than the red carpet allows.
The addition of rescue puppies to this year’s studio is part of a broader trend of incorporating philanthropy and lighter content into festival coverage. Project Paws Dog Rescue, a Canadian volunteer-based organization, benefits from the visibility, while the celebrities get to show a more playful side.
TIFF’s portrait studio tradition reflects the festival’s unique position in the entertainment calendar. Unlike Cannes, which maintains a more formal, glamorous atmosphere, or Sundance, which centers on independent discovery, TIFF balances Hollywood star power with accessibility and audience engagement. The portrait studio captures that balance—intimate but professional, playful but purposeful.
Dates: September 10–20, 2026
Edition: 51st
Films: 293 films, including more than 60 world premieres
Venues: Seven locations, including Roy Thomson Hall, Princess of Wales Theatre, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Scotiabank Theatre, and TIFF Lightbox
Opening Night Film: Being Heumann, directed by Siân Heder, starring Ruth Madeley and Mark Ruffalo
Expected Guests: Approximately 800 celebrities, filmmakers, and industry professionals
Notable Attendees: Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Michelle Yeoh, John Malkovich, Chris Rock, Helen Mirren, Zack Snyder, Seth Rogen, Channing Tatum, K-pop star Lisa, and many more
Street Festival: King Street closed between Peter Street and University Avenue from September 11–13 for an open-air celebration with free screenings, live music, and activities
What is the PEOPLE portrait studio at TIFF 2026?
The PEOPLE/EW and Shutterstock portrait studio is a dedicated space at TIFF where celebrities pose for photographs in a controlled, intimate setting. It operates inside the NKPR IT House, presented by Q Tower.
Which celebrities visited the TIFF 2026 portrait studio?
Confirmed participants include Rebel Wilson, Charlie Heaton, David Harbour, Patricia Arquette, Courteney Cox, Gary Oldman, Sebastian Stan, Sarah Paulson, Cole Sprouse, Kiko Mizuhara, Dylan O’Brien, Josh Hartnett, Zooey Deschanel, Naomi Watts, Luke Evans, James McAvoy, Megan Rapinoe, and Noomi Rapace, among others.
What films are being promoted at TIFF 2026?
Major films include Evil Genius, The Housewife, Below, Being Heumann, Fjord, Girl Group, Wild Horse Nine, and Slow Horses, among many others.
When is TIFF 2026 taking place?
The 51st Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 to 20, 2026.
Did celebrities pose with puppies at TIFF 2026?
Yes. The portrait studio featured adoptable Shepherd Husky mix puppies from Project Paws Dog Rescue. Courteney Cox, Sebastian Stan, Luke Evans, Josh Hartnett, Zooey Deschanel, and Megan Rapinoe were among those who participated.
Where is the TIFF 2026 portrait studio located?
The studio is located inside the NKPR IT House, presented by Q Tower, in Toronto.
What is the Toronto International Film Festival known for?
TIFF is North America’s largest film festival, known for its audience awards, Oscar-season premieres, and its role in launching awards campaigns for major films. It draws hundreds of thousands of attendees annually.