'The Weeknd Weekend': Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow Honours Global Superstar

We’re heading into The Weeknd weekend.

Today (July 25), the city of Toronto is celebrating one of its homegrown talents, The Weeknd, declaring July 26 and 27 “The Weeknd weekend.”

The Scarborough-born pop and R&B artist, born Abel Tesfaye, is bringing his After Hours Til Dawn tour to the Rogers Centre on July 27 and 28. Tesfaye will return to the city for two more shows on August 7 and 8.

The celebrations will honour Tesfaye's contributions to the city. Raised in Scarborough, he launched his music career in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto. His classic first mixtape, 2012’s House of Balloons, is named after his home during that era. Now, he's one of music's biggest and most popular stars.

“What began as a whisper in the Toronto music scene became a global phenomenon. Today, The Weeknd stands among the world’s greatest performers, his unmistakable voice and artistry redefining music while never losing sight of where it all began,” said Mayor Olivia Chow in a press release, which was later shared to social media.

“The City of Toronto gratefully acknowledges The Weeknd’s embodiment of the diversity and creativity in our city,” she continued. “To celebrate the kickoff of his Toronto concert series, and in recognition of his cultural impact both at home and globally, we thank The Weeknd for his continued contributions to Toronto’s artistic and cultural identity.”

This isn't the first time the artist has received an honour of this nature. Last month, The Weeknd performed two shows at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium, where the Mayor of Inglewood, California, declared June 25-29, “The Weeknd Week.”