The CNE is back at Exhibition Place from August 21 to September 7, 2026.
It can be a great day. It can also turn into a very expensive day with long lines and tired feet.
This guide will help you pick the right ticket, find the best free shows, spend less on food, avoid bad travel choices and build a day that actually feels fun.
Information was checked on August 16, 2026. The CNE has not released every food deal, ride price or parking price yet. Those parts are marked clearly below.
CNE 2026 quick facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 21 to September 7, 2026 |
| Location | Exhibition Place, Toronto |
| Regular gate hours | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Regular grounds hours | 10 a.m. to midnight |
| Advance admission | $25.11 plus HST |
| Advance Ride All Day pass | $51.66 plus HST |
| Working corporate code prices | $22.46 admission or $47.24 Ride All Day, plus HST. Eligibility rules apply |
| Kids age 4 and under | Free |
| Free school kids pass | Age 5 to 13, download by August 20 |
| Air Show | September 5 to 7, noon to 3:40 p.m. |
Advance prices include the processing fee. HST is added at checkout. The advance sale ends at 11:59 p.m. on August 20.
Which CNE ticket should you buy?
Buy regular admission if shows, food and walking are your main plans
Regular admission includes the grounds, buildings, exhibits and free entertainment. It does not include midway rides.
This is the best value for many adults. You can watch the SuperDogs, Big Dip High Dive, Urban Edge ice show and a Bandshell concert without paying for a ride pass.
Buy Ride All Day only if rides are the main event
The advance Ride All Day pass is $51.66 plus HST. It includes admission and unlimited midway rides.
Check the ride height rules before buying one for a child. A pass feels much less useful when a child cannot ride the things they were excited about.
It is also not a great deal for someone who only wants two or three rides. Single ride ticket prices for 2026 were not posted when this guide was checked.
Check your PRESTO discount before paying
PRESTO cardholders can save up to 39% on Ride All Day and up to 22% on admission on or before August 20. Starting August 21, the discounts are up to 31% and 12%.
The exact price appears after you enter a PRESTO card number. Compare that total with the regular CNE checkout total before you buy.
Try the public corporate code, but read the eligibility note
The code 2026WH9P4KXX was working when checked on August 16. It opened the CNE corporate ticket portal with admission for $22.46 plus HST and Ride All Day for $47.24 plus HST.
Both displayed prices include a $2.99 processing fee. The portal says corporate registration and approval are required. Use the code only if you meet its rules, and check the final total before paying. A public code can change or stop working without notice.
Get the free kids pass before August 20
Children age 5 to 13 can get a free school kids admission pass. One person can download up to 10 passes. The deadline is August 20.
The pass covers admission only. It does not include rides. Children age 4 and under already enter free.
A BMO Field or RBC Amphitheatre ticket can include CNE entry
A ticket to an event at BMO Field or RBC Amphitheatre during the fair includes access to the CNE grounds that day.
This can create an odd little deal. A cheap concert or sports ticket may cost less than CNE admission. Check the date, entry rules and ticket fees carefully before using this trick.
Do not count on an opening-day deal
Some visitors remember paying $10 for opening-day admission in past years. A former midway ticket worker also remembers an opening-day offer of eight ride tickets for $22.
Neither offer was confirmed for 2026 when this guide was checked. The advance sale ends the night before opening day, so waiting for a rumoured deal is a gamble.
The best time to go
Go on a weekday near 10 a.m. if you want shorter lines, cooler weather and an easier day with children.
Go in the late afternoon if you want food, lights, rides and a concert. The midway looks much better after sunset, but the grounds get busier and louder.
Opening weekend has excitement, but it can feel packed. Labour Day weekend is also busy because of the Air Show.
My honest pick for most people is a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Arrive near opening, do indoor attractions during the hot part of the day, eat early and stay for the lights if you still have energy.
CNE 2026 hours
| Area | Regular hours |
|---|---|
| Gates | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Grounds | 10 a.m. to midnight |
| Buildings | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Adult Midway, weekdays | 11 a.m. to midnight |
| Adult Midway, weekends | 10 a.m. to midnight |
| Kiddie Midway, weekdays | 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Kiddie Midway, weekends | 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Kids World | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
Labour Day hours are different. Gates close at 5 p.m. and the grounds close at 9 p.m. There is no entry or re-entry after 5 p.m. Re-entry stamps stop at 3 p.m.
What is actually worth seeing at CNE 2026?
The new CNE Space Experience
This is one of the big new indoor attractions for 2026. It is in Enercare Centre Hall B North and runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
It includes Canadian Artemis II displays, hands-on exhibits, a 20-foot glowing moon and an aerial performance every hour. It is a smart midday stop when it is hot or raining.
Big Dip High Dive
The Big Dip is beside the Princes’ Gates. Divers jump from as high as 80 feet into a small pool. The evening show ends with a flaming dive.
Weekday shows are at 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Weekend and Labour Day shows add a 1:30 p.m. performance.
This is one of the easiest wins at the CNE. It is short, exciting and included with admission.
SuperDogs: Fairy Tails
The SuperDogs are in Enercare Centre Hall D.
Shows run Monday to Thursday at 2, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday shows are at noon, 2, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Arrive about 30 minutes early. Seats are first come, first served. Strollers, food and drinks are not allowed in the show area. There is no re-entry once you leave.
Urban Edge ice and acrobatic show
The CNE says the ice skating and acrobatic show will return to Coca-Cola Coliseum in 2026. The final cast, dates and show times were still TBC when this guide was checked.
This should be another good indoor break. Check the official schedule before you go. It can be a much better use of your time than standing in a hot ride line at 3 p.m.
The Farm
The Farm is in the Better Living Centre. It has animals, a corn maze, wool workshops, line dancing and a huge sand sculpture.
There is also goat yoga. Registration opens 30 minutes before each session and space is first come, first served. New sulky rides are for children age 8 to 14 and need an adult and a waiver.
Gaming Garage
Gaming Garage is in Enercare Centre Hall B South from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
It has co-op games, indie games, astronaut fitness challenges and new Canadian projects. This is a useful indoor stop for teens, gamers and anyone who needs a break from the midway.
CNE Casino
The CNE Casino is in the northeast corner of the Better Living Centre. It runs from August 2 to September 30, from noon to 6 a.m. each day. You still need CNE grounds admission to enter during fair hours.
Games include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, several poker table games and a Texas Hold’Em poker room. Call 416-263-3251 for poker registration or 416-263-3588 for general questions.
Poker wait lists can get long, especially later in the day. Reported limits and game types change, so do not plan your night around an old list. Call first, arrive early and decide your gambling budget before you sit down.
Rides and games without burning your whole budget
The midway is fun, but it is where a casual visit can become expensive very fast.
If rides are your main reason for going, buy Ride All Day in advance. Arrive when the midway opens and ride the most popular things first.
If rides are not your main reason, set a fixed amount before you arrive. Pick two or three rides that look special. Then stop.
Treat carnival games as paid entertainment, not as a good way to win a prize. Decide how much you are happy to lose. If the game stops being fun, walk away.
People who dislike big coasters can read our guide to Canada’s Wonderland rides for adults who are afraid of roller coasters. The same idea works here. Start small and do not let friends push you onto something you hate.
CNE food in 2026
The full 2026 featured food list and $13 value meal list had not been released when this guide was checked.
The interactive CNE map already has featured food built into it. There is also a separate Food Building map. Save both before you go because it is easy to lose time walking in the wrong direction.
That matters because many wild food photos shared before opening day are guesses, old menu items or one-off ideas. Check the official CNE food page before making a trip for one dish.
What is confirmed
Food Truck Frenzy and the Craft Beer Festival run from August 22 to September 7, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. They are on Princes’ Boulevard near the Princes’ Gates.
Confirmed trucks include Ricks Good Eats, Cheeseheadz, Tuts, Craig’s Cookies, FeasTO Dumplings, Rebozos, Los Vietnamita, Greek Goat, Potato Bar and Jerk Brothers. A vendor may change its menu, so a truck name is not a promise that one exact dish will be there.
Bandshell BBQ Fest runs for the whole fair. Drip is a new coffee stop in Music Building Pod 1.
CNE food predictions and things to watch for
The items below are not confirmed CNE 2026 dishes. They come from vendor menus, social posts and foods sold at past CNE events. Use this as a watch list, not a promise.
| Confirmed vendor | Possible item | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Ricks Good Eats | Butter chicken birria tacos or Butter Chicken Explosion Sandwich | Medium |
| Tuts Egyptian Street Food | Zalabya, a fried dough bite, or a fried cauliflower sandwich | Medium |
| Cheeseheadz | Pierogi mac and cheese or buffalo chicken poutine | Medium |
| Get Your Own Taters | Tot Silog or crispy honey butter tater tots | Medium |
| 6 Spice Rack | Chicken 88 or Korean fried chicken with mango slaw | Medium |
| Alijandro’s Kitchen | The Fawaffle, falafel served in a waffle-cone shape | High |
| Potato Bar | Potato Dog or the cheese-heavy Take It Cheezy | Medium |
| Rebozos | Birria tacos with consommé or cochinita pibil tacos | High |
| FeasTO Dumplings | Coconut shrimp, peanut satay chicken or chilli sesame shrimp dumplings | Low to medium because flavours rotate |
| Los Vietnamita | Biscoff fried chicken ice cream sandwich or Saigon fried chicken taco | Low to medium |
| Craig’s Cookies | Chicken nugget cookie | Low |
| Twelve | Blue Heat Korean hot dog | Low to medium |
| La Fiesta Catering | Salchipapas, llapingachos or seafood paella | Medium |
| Jerk Brothers | Jerk chicken poutine, burrito or Irie Burger | Medium |
| Temptations | Filled butter tarts | High |
| I Love Churros | Churros, with the special 2026 version still unknown | High for plain churros |
People are also watching for pickle lemonade and pickle cotton candy to return. There was no 2026 confirmation when checked.
Do not travel across Toronto for one predicted dish. Check the official food map and the vendor’s current social page first.
How to eat well without feeling robbed
Do not buy the first thing you see at the gate. Walk through the Food Building or truck area once, then choose.
Split one strange stunt food with a friend. It is usually more fun for the photo than for a full meal.
Outside food and coolers are allowed. Coolers can be searched, and outside alcohol is not allowed. Bringing water, fruit and a simple snack can save a family a surprising amount of money.
Eat lunch before noon or after 2 p.m. Dinner is easier before 5 p.m. The popular counters get rough during normal meal times.
Free concerts at the Bandshell
Bandshell concerts are included with CNE admission. Open seating and the general area near the stage are first come, first served.
Paid VIP is an add-on. It does not include CNE gate admission. For most people, VIP is a luxury, not a need.
There is open seating at the Bandshell. The front-of-stage standing area on the east side is also open to general admission. Both are first come, first served, so you do not need VIP to get close.
| Date | Artist |
|---|---|
| Aug. 21 | Lupe Fiasco |
| Aug. 22 | Lights |
| Aug. 23 | Shaggy |
| Aug. 24 | Virginia to Vegas |
| Aug. 25 | Glass Tiger |
| Aug. 26 | Bif Naked and Bran Van 3000 |
| Aug. 27 | The Trews |
| Aug. 29 | JoJo |
| Aug. 30 | Matthew Good |
| Aug. 31 | Dallas Smith |
| Sept. 1 | Charlotte Day Wilson |
| Sept. 2 | Finger Eleven |
| Sept. 3 | Silverstein |
| Sept. 4 | Raf-Saperra |
| Sept. 5 | Tom Cochrane |
| Sept. 6 | Alison Hinds, DJ Puffy, Edwin Yearwood and Rupee |
As of August 16, no headliner was listed for August 28 or September 7. The CNE says two more headliners are still coming.
Performance times were not posted when this guide was checked. Look at the official CNE schedule on the morning of your visit.
For a popular artist, aim to enter the Bandshell area about 90 minutes before the show. A busy weekend headliner may need two hours or more. A quieter weekday can be easier. These are planning targets, not a guarantee.
Eat early, use the washroom and get into the area before the crowd builds. Past crowds have sometimes reached the first few rows with a two-hour head start, but the artist, weather and day of the week can change everything.
If live music is your favourite part of a night out, see our list of great live music venues in Toronto.
CNE Air Show 2026
The Canadian International Air Show runs September 5 to 7 from noon to 3:40 p.m.
The 2026 lineup includes the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, a CF-18 demonstration, a United States Air Force F-16 demonstration and several aerobatic teams.
This weekend is exciting, but it is not calm. It can be very loud and very crowded. Bring proper hearing protection for children and anyone who is sensitive to noise.
Transit can be slower around the show. Give yourself extra time and do not plan a tight connection right after it ends.
A useful CNE plan for families
Arrive near 10 a.m. Do Kids World or The Farm first. Kids World is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and has an Enchanted Forest, a kids stage, birds of prey and Little Top activities.
Eat an early lunch. Then use the hottest part of the day for SuperDogs, the Space Experience, Gaming Garage or the ice show.
The CNE does not rent strollers. Wagons are available at the Princes’ Gate, GO and TTC Gate, and Princess Margaret Fountain, but the 2026 price had not been posted.
Baby care spaces are in Enercare Centre Hall A Salon 101 and the northwest corner of the Better Living Centre.
Put a phone number in your child’s pocket or on a wristband. Take a quick photo of their clothes when you arrive. It feels fussy until the minute you need it.
Getting to the CNE
The easiest choice for most people is GO Transit or the TTC. The CNE has a useful official travel page for service updates.
Exhibition GO is beside the grounds. GO is especially simple if you are coming from the Lakeshore East or Lakeshore West lines. Children age 12 and under ride GO free.
TTC options include the 509 Harbourfront streetcar, the 511 Bathurst replacement bus, the 504B King streetcar to Dufferin Gate and the 29 Dufferin bus.
There is bike parking near Saskatchewan Road and Dufferin Street, and near the Princes’ Gates. Bikes, inline skates and two-wheel scooters are not allowed inside the grounds.
Parking exists, but the official 2026 parking prices were not posted when this guide was checked. Unless a mobility need or family situation makes driving much easier, transit will usually cause less stress.
Accessibility at the CNE
The CNE has a detailed accessibility guide. Accessible washrooms are available in all buildings and in outdoor washroom trailers.
The free EXpress train moves around the grounds about every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. It can pause for parades or the Air Show. On Labour Day, it ends around 4 p.m.
Wheelchairs and scooters can be rented through Scouts Canada. The CNE recommends reserving one by calling 416-649-2296 during the fair.
The Bandshell has a raised accessible viewing platform in 2026. It is first come, first served and allows one support person.
Service animals are allowed. Pets are not.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
- Sunscreen and a hat
- A refillable water bottle
- A portable phone battery
- A light layer for the evening
- A small umbrella or rain jacket if needed
- Ear protection for children during the Air Show
- A payment card, a little cash and a $2 coin for a locker
- A screenshot of your ticket and the day’s schedule
Free Wi-Fi is available, but a busy fairground is not the place to depend on one web page loading at the perfect moment.
Three simple CNE itineraries
Family morning and afternoon
Arrive at 10 a.m. Start at Kids World or The Farm. Eat at 11:30. See SuperDogs at 2 p.m. Then visit the Space Experience or Gaming Garage before deciding if anyone still has energy for rides.
Adult date night
Arrive around 4 p.m. Watch the 5:30 Big Dip show. Share one weird food, then eat something you truly want. Walk the midway at sunset and finish at the Bandshell.
This also fits nicely into our list of summer date ideas in Toronto.
Serious ride day
Buy Ride All Day before the advance sale ends. Arrive before the midway opens. Do the biggest rides first, eat before the rush, take an indoor break in the afternoon and return to rides after dark.
My honest CNE advice
You do not need to do everything. The CNE is too big for that, and trying usually makes the day worse.
Choose one show, one indoor attraction, one good meal and one thing you are excited about. Everything after that is a bonus.
Do not pay for VIP just because you think regular concert access is bad. General access still exists.
Do not buy a ride pass for a person who is not sure they want rides.
Do not spend a full meal price on every food trend. Share one, laugh about it and move on.
Most of all, leave some empty time. The best part might be a show you did not know about, a ridiculous game or ten quiet minutes on the Sky Ride while Toronto lights up below you.
CNE 2026 FAQ
The CNE runs from Friday, August 21 to Monday, September 7, 2026, at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
On most days, gates are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the grounds stay open until midnight. Buildings close at 10 p.m. Labour Day has earlier closing times.
Advance admission is $25.11 plus HST. An advance Ride All Day pass is $51.66 plus HST. These prices include the processing fee and end at 11:59 p.m. on August 20.
The code 2026WH9P4KXX worked on August 16 and showed $22.46 admission and $47.24 Ride All Day before HST. The portal says corporate registration and approval are required, so check your eligibility and the final total before paying.
No. Regular admission includes the grounds, buildings, exhibits and free shows. You need ride tickets or a Ride All Day pass for midway rides.
Children age 4 and under enter free. Children age 5 to 13 can get a free school kids admission pass if it is downloaded by August 20. The pass does not include rides.
GO Transit and the TTC are the easiest choices for most people. Exhibition GO is beside the grounds. The 509, 511 replacement bus, 504B and 29 also serve the area.
Yes. Outside food and coolers are allowed, but coolers can be searched. Outside alcohol is not allowed.
Yes. Bandshell concerts are included with admission. Open seating and the general stage area are first come, first served. Paid VIP is optional and does not include gate admission.
Yes, you can get a hand stamp for same-day re-entry. On Labour Day, re-entry stamps stop at 3 p.m. and there is no entry or re-entry after 5 p.m.
The Air Show runs from September 5 to 7, from noon to 3:40 p.m. each day.
One last tip: Check the official schedule and food page again on the morning you go. The CNE often adds details close to opening day.