The CNE (Canadian National Exhibition)
Friday, August 21, 2026 – Monday, September 7, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Exhibition Place
The Ex is back, and its arrival means the same thing it always has: summer is almost over, and it's time for one last blowout. The Canadian National Exhibition runs 18 days, from August 21 through Labour Day on September 7, sprawling across Exhibition Place with the midway, the food building, the shows, and the crowds.
What to Do
The midway is the obvious draw — rides ranging from gentle to genuinely alarming, plus carnival games that will happily take your money. The Food Building is the other pillar: this is where Toronto goes to eat things it would never otherwise consider, from the infamous deep-fried butter to whatever absurd mashup debuts this year. Don't skip the CNE Air Show over the waterfront on the closing weekend, or the SuperDogs, the casino, and the international marketplace.
Tips
Go on a weekday if you can — weekends are shoulder-to-shoulder. Buy ride passes and admission online in advance to skip the gate lines and save a few dollars. Wear comfortable shoes; you will walk far more than you expect.
Getting There
Exhibition GO and the 509/511 streetcars drop you right at the gates. Transit is the only sane option — parking fills and costs a fortune.
