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The CNE
festival · Toronto
The CNE
August 14 – September 7, 2026
About

The Canadian National Exhibition — locals just call it "The Ex" — has run every August since 1879. It's the second-largest annual fair in North America. Think state fair, but scaled up: 18 days, 1.5M+ attendees.

It's where the deep-fried-everything tradition started. The Food Building is famously a $200-disappearance-into-weird-food. Then there's the midway, the casino tent, agricultural exhibits, the SuperDogs show, and the Canadian International Air Show on the Labour Day weekend.

When

Opens Aug 14 (Opening Day Parade), runs through Labour Day Sept 7. Air Show is Sept 5-7 over the lake (peak times: 12pm and 3pm). Closing fireworks Sept 7 at 10pm.

Where
Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Blvd, Toronto
Exhibition Place · Lakeshore
What to expect
  • ●Every Toronto family has been here at least once — it's a rite of passage
  • ●The Food Building = the main attraction; line up early
  • ●Midway lights after dark = best photos all year
  • ●Air Show = entire downtown looks up at the sky for 2 hours
Insider tips
  1. 01Buy tickets online — gate prices are 30% more
  2. 02Tuesday is Senior Day, Wednesday is Kids' Day — half price + smaller crowds
  3. 03Hit the Food Building between 1pm and 3pm — early lunch is over, dinner rush hasn't started
  4. 04Watch the Air Show from Coronation Park (free, west end) instead of inside the CNE — you skip the gate fee and get a better angle
  5. 05Stay until 10pm any weekend night for the fireworks

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