18 days of rides, air shows and deep-fried everything — and how to do The Ex without the traffic.

For Torontonians, the end of summer has a sound: the roar of the Midway, jets thundering over the lake, and someone insisting you try this year's strangest deep-fried creation. The Canadian National Exhibition — “The Ex” to everyone who grew up here — returns to the waterfront at Exhibition Place from Friday, August 21 through Labour Day Monday, September 7, 2026. It's Canada's largest annual fair, drawing more than 1.4 million people across 18 days. We host guests right on the waterfront a short walk from the gates every August, so this guide is built around what actually makes for a good day at The Ex — including the one detail most visitors get wrong: how they get there and back.

What's New and Featured at the 2026 CNE

Every year The Ex pairs its classic traditions with brand-new activations. The 2026 edition leans into space, spectacle and live music. Here are the headline additions worth planning your day around — confirm show times the week of your visit on the official CNE site.

The CNE Space EXperience & Artemis II Activation

PhotoCredit: NASA

SA's Artemis II lunar flyby. Expect three standout pieces: an Astronaut Fitness Challenge with obstacle courses modelled on real astronaut training; an Artemis II Photo Exhibition covering the crew, engineering and mission prep; and an indoor Illuminated Moon — a 20-foot lunar replica cycling through realistic moon phases, with hourly aerial acrobatic performances overhead.

The 77th Canadian International Air Show

PhotoCredit:Kimheng Mam

The centrepiece of Labour Day weekend is one of North America's longest-running air shows, staged over Lake Ontario directly south of the fairgrounds. It runs Saturday, September 5 through Monday, September 7, roughly 12:00–3:40 p.m., with military jets, aerobatic teams and vintage aircraft. Viewing is included with gate admission — and because it flies over open water, the waterfront is the whole grandstand. Staying lakeside means a skyline-and-jets show without fighting for a spot.

Live Music at the Bell SOUNDSTAGE

Photo Credit: Teddy Yang

Every mainstage set at the Bell SOUNDSTAGE is included with general admission — one of the best free-concert deals in the city. The 2026 lineup spans genres, with names including:

•     Aug 21 (Opening Night): Lupe Fiasco

•     Aug 22: LIGHTS

•     Aug 23: Shaggy

•     Aug 27: The Trews

•     Sep 3: Silverstein

•     Sep 5: Tom Cochrane

New for 2026, a partnership stage with the NXNE music festival spotlights emerging independent talent across the full 18-day run. Reserved Front Row VIP passes start from around $40 if you want a guaranteed spot up front.

Signature Stage Shows & Special Events

•     SuperDogs “Fairy Tails” — daily agility, stunt and trick routines at the Enercare Centre.

•     Urban Edge Ice Skating & Acrobatic Show — professional figure skating meets freestyle acrobatics daily at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.

•     CNE Gaming Garage — e-sports tournaments, VR showcases and tabletop zones inside the Enercare Centre.

•     Artisan, Craft & Vendor Marketplace — hundreds of Canadian crafters and small businesses over Labour Day weekend (Sept 4–6).

Classic Fair Traditions: Food, Midways & Heritage

PhotoCredit: Frederick Wallace

The new activations get the headlines, but the traditions are why generations keep coming back. Budget time for the three that define The Ex.

The Food Building

Inside the Enercare Centre, the Food Building is Toronto's largest temporary food hall: hundreds of vendors serving global street food alongside the CNE's famous experimental creations — the deep-fried, over-stacked, one-summer-only treats the fair is known for. There are outdoor beer gardens and local craft beer too. Come hungry and share, so you can try more.

Midways, Rides & the Sky Ride

The fairgrounds hold two distinct ride zones plus an aerial chairlift:

•     The Main Midway — west of the Enercare Centre, home to thrill rides, roller coasters, drop towers and classic games of skill.

•     The Kiddie Midway — in the northwest section, tailored to families and kids under 12.

•     The Sky Ride — an aerial chairlift from the Princes' Gates west toward BMO Field, with elevated views of the skyline and Lake Ontario.

If you plan to ride, the Ride All Day Pass is far better value than paying per ride. More on pricing below.

Agricultural Roots & Historic Landmarks

PhotoCredit: @coldbeer

True to its 1879 founding as an agricultural showcase, the CNE Farm hosts livestock displays, sheep-shearing demonstrations, crop competitions and hands-on educational exhibits. History buffs can also visit Scadding Cabin, built in 1794 — the oldest surviving residential structure in Toronto, right on the grounds.

Practical Guide: Planning Your Visit

Dates & Operating Hours

•     Overall dates: August 21 to September 7, 2026 (18 days, ending on Labour Day).

•     Grounds: 10:00 a.m. to midnight daily.

•     Exhibit buildings: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.

•     Labour Day (Sept 7): gates close early at 5:00 p.m. (no re-entry after 3:00 p.m.); grounds close at 9:00 p.m.

Tickets & Pricing

Advance tickets bought before opening day offer the biggest savings — the CNE says up to 35% versus gate prices. Everything below is included with gate admission unless noted:

•     Advance General Admission (≈$25): grounds, exhibit buildings, all free concerts and the Air Show. Midway rides not included.

•     Advance Ride All Day Pass (≈$52): grounds admission plus unlimited Midway rides.

•     Family & group options: discounted family passes and a free Kids' Pass are available via the official CNE portal.

What's included with your gate ticket: the Air Show, the Space EXperience and Illuminated Moon exhibit, all Bell SOUNDSTAGE concerts, the Urban Edge skating show and SuperDogs, and the Labour Day weekend Artisan Marketplace. VIP concert upgrades and Midway rides are the main paid add-ons. Prices can change, so confirm on the official CNE site.

Getting There: Transit, Parking & Where to Stay

Here's the single most useful planning fact for The Ex: on busy days, traffic around Lake Shore Boulevard and the Gardiner Expressway backs up badly, and on-site parking is limited — standard rates average around $18, but surge pricing on peak dates can hit $45 a day. The people who enjoy the fair most are the ones who never touch a car.

Public Transit

•     GO Transit: the Lakeshore West line runs straight to Exhibition GO Station, dropping you at the north entrance gates.

•     TTC: the 509 Harbourfront streetcar from Union Station and the 511 Bathurst streetcar from Bathurst Station both route directly into the Exhibition Loop.

Where to Stay: The Waterfront Advantage

PhotoCredit: Brett Sayles

After years of hosting CNE guests, the pattern is clear: because The Ex sits right on the waterfront at Exhibition Place, a waterfront apartment near the CN Tower turns the hardest part of the day into a non-issue. Here's why it beats a suburban hotel or a downtown room:

•     You walk to the gates. No Gardiner gridlock, no $45 parking, no surge-priced rideshare after the fireworks — just a short stroll to Exhibition Place and back.

•     Room for the whole family. Open-concept apartments with multiple bedrooms beat a cramped hotel room for a multi-day, all-ages trip — space to regroup between Midway runs.

•     A real kitchen. After a day of fair food, being able to make a proper breakfast, refill water bottles and pack snacks saves money and keeps the kids fuelled.

•     Front-row for the Air Show. Since the jets fly over Lake Ontario, a waterfront base can put the skyline-and-aircraft spectacle right outside your window.

•     The rest of Toronto on your doorstep. The CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, Harbourfront and the King West nightlife are all a short walk from the same base.

Plan-Ahead Checklist for the 2026 CNE

A little planning turns The Ex from an exhausting day into an easy one:

1.   Book your waterfront stay early. Rooms near Exhibition Place go fast for the late-August and Labour Day stretch; booking ahead locks in rates and walkability.

2.   Buy tickets in advance (before Aug 21). Advance admission and Ride All Day passes save meaningfully over gate prices, and grab the free Kids' Pass for ages 5–13.

3.   Take transit, not a car. The GO Lakeshore West line and the 509/511 streetcars drop you at the gates — skip the parking surge entirely.

4.   Pick your day with intent. Weeknights are quieter and sometimes discounted; Labour Day weekend has the Air Show but the biggest crowds; the final Monday closes early at 5:00 p.m.

5.   Pace the food and rides. Share dishes in the Food Building to sample more, and get a Ride All Day Pass if the Midway is your priority.

Make The Ex the Easy Part of Summer

PhotoCredit:Timo

The CNE is Toronto's great end-of-summer send-off — space exhibits and jets overhead, a Midway that glows after dark, free concerts, and food you'll only find for these 18 days. Get the plan right and it's effortless: buy your tickets ahead, take transit or simply walk in, and stay close enough to drop the kids' prizes at home and head back out. Do that, and you spend the day at the fair instead of stuck in traffic beside it.

Dates, hours, ticket prices, show times and transit details are set by the CNE and local authorities and can change. Confirm the latest information on the official CNE website (theex.com) before your visit.