Neighbourhood Secrets: 'Let's Go to the Ex' - CNE Starts Friday

Toronto’s end-of-summer tradition returns August 21–September 7, 2026.

Welcome to Neighbourhood Secrets, a Mystery Day Trips series that uncovers the hidden gems tucked into Toronto, the GTA and across Ontario. These are the places that don’t always top the guidebooks but live in the stories locals tell; quiet museums, unexpected corners and spots with a personality all their own. Each post is an invitation to explore a little more deeply, wander a little further and discover the stories hiding just around the bend.

There are certain Toronto traditions that announce the end of summer before the calendar does. The first cool evening. The last outdoor swim. The return of school supplies to store windows. And, of course, the opening of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).

Known affectionately as “The Ex”, the CNE returns to Exhibition Place from August 21 to September 7, 2026, bringing 18 days of rides, food, music, competitions, shopping, performances and wonderfully unexpected discoveries to Toronto’s waterfront. It is Canada’s biggest annual fair, and with more than 1.5 million visitors in a typical year, it remains one of the city’s most anticipated annual pilgrimages.

For our Neighbourhood Secrets series, the CNE is a natural choice. It may not be hidden in the traditional sense, but its size and history mean that even lifelong visitors can find something new every time they go.

A tradition almost 150 years old

The CNE began in 1879 as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, created to showcase agriculture, manufacturing, technology and the arts. Its first fair welcomed approximately 100,000 visitors, an impressive number for an event that was still in its early days. Over time, the exhibition grew from a regional showcase into a national celebration of Canadian achievement.

The fair became officially known as the Canadian National Exhibition in 1912. Throughout its history, it has introduced visitors to new products, inventions, entertainment and ideas. The grounds have hosted demonstrations of electric railway transportation, early audio technology, radio, television, plastics and even virtual reality.

That history is one reason the CNE feels different from an ordinary midway or summer festival. It has always been part fair, part showcase, part cultural gathering and part glimpse into the future. While the rides and food may be the most immediately recognizable attractions today, the event still carries that original spirit of discovery.

What’s new and notable in 2026

The 2026 CNE promises plenty of familiar favourites alongside new experiences. The official lineup includes The CNE Space EXperience, an immersive attraction that adds a cosmic dimension to the fair and The Big Dip High Dive Show bringing high-energy aquatic stunts to the grounds.

Families can also explore Kids’ World, while animal lovers should make time for The Farm where the CNE’s agricultural roots remain visible. The fair also features its much-loved midway, live entertainment, shopping, food vendors, exhibits, competitions and family programming.

Music is a major focus this year through the new North by Northeast (NXNE) and CNE partnership bringing two Canadian entertainment institutions together. Check out the music line-up at the NXNE Stage.

The Bell Soundstage at the Bandshell offers some big name performances including: Lupe Fiasco on opening night (August 21), Lights on August 22, Shaggy on August 23, Glass Tiger on August 25, Bif Naked on August 26, The Trews on August 27, Silverstein on September 3 and Tom Cochrane on September 5. Concerts are included with CNE admission, while a Front Row VIP add-on is available separately for selected Bandshell performances. See the full line-up.

The CNE’s returning highlights include the Canadian International Air Show over Labour Day weekend, midway rides and games, SuperDogs, the annual Warrior’s Day Parade, food trucks, craft beer, market and the exhibition halls. There is also an aerial and acrobatic ice-skating show, adding another dose of spectacle to an already packed day.

The food is part of the adventure

No visit to the CNE is complete without eating something that would be difficult to justify anywhere else. The Food Building and outdoor vendors are part of the annual ritual, with classic fair favourites sharing space with elaborate deep-fried creations, oversized desserts, international flavours and novelty dishes designed to be photographed before they are devoured.

For many visitors, deciding what to eat is nearly as important as choosing which ride to try. One person may be searching for a favourite from childhood, while another is determined to find the most outrageous new item of the year. The fun is in making a meal out of small indulgences: share something savoury, split a dessert, grab a drink and leave room for one more discovery.

The rides, shows and traditions

The Midway remains the beating heart of the CNE for many guests. There are rides for young children, classic attractions for families and bigger thrills for visitors looking for a view of the grounds from high above. The Ride All Day Pass includes grounds admission, access to shows and exhibits and unlimited midway rides on the selected day. An Admission Pass includes the grounds, shows and exhibits without unlimited rides.

The best strategy is not to rush. Choose a few must-dos, then leave room to wander. Watch the SuperDogs, listen to a concert, browse a market, take in a competition and pause to appreciate the grand Exhibition Place buildings around you. The CNE is at its best when the schedule is flexible enough to allow for the unexpected.

Exploring the neighbourhood

The CNE is also an excellent starting point for discovering the wider Exhibition Place and waterfront neighbourhood. The 192-acre site is a destination in its own right, home to heritage buildings, Bandshell Park, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum, the Enercare Centre, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and other year-round venues.

Before or after the fair, walk east toward Fort York National Historic Site where Toronto’s military history stretches back to the War of 1812. Continue toward The Bentway, the linear public space beneath the Gardiner Expressway, for art, programming and a very different perspective on the city.

Heading west and south, Coronation Park offers open green space and a lakeside walking route. From there continue toward Trillium Park and Ontario Place for skyline views, gardens and a chance to slow down after the bustle of the fair. Exhibition Place sits between Liberty Village, Fort York, South Niagara, Parkdale and Ontario Place, making it easy to extend a CNE outing into a broader neighbourhood day.

Getting there by transit

Transit is the easiest way to reach the CNE. Exhibition GO Station is located at the north end of the grounds and provides direct regional access for visitors coming from outside downtown. The station is wheelchair accessible and the GO/TTC entrance leads directly toward the fairgrounds.

From Union Station, take the 509 Harbourfront streetcar west to Exhibition Loop. The TTC adds extra service on this route during the CNE. From Bathurst Station, the 511 Bathurst route travels toward Exhibition Loop, while visitors arriving at Dufferin Station can use the 29 Dufferin, 929 Dufferin Express and dedicated CNE Express shuttle buses to reach the Dufferin Gate.

Plan extra time, especially on weekends and during the Air Show. Some stops and routes are temporarily changed during the fair, so check the TTC service update before leaving. Arriving by transit also means you can enjoy the midway and food offerings without worrying about parking or driving home tired.

Why we keep coming back

Why do millions of people make the CNE an annual pilgrimage? Because it offers something for almost everyone, often within the same visit. It can be a family tradition, a date night, a friends’ outing, a food adventure, a concert experience or a nostalgic return to childhood.

The CNE changes every year, but it also preserves the details people expect: the Princes’ Gates, the midway lights, the smell of fair food, the sound of live music, the rush of a ride, the Air Show overhead and the feeling that summer is not quite finished yet.

That combination of memory and discovery is what keeps the Ex firmly rooted in Toronto’s calendar. It is familiar without being predictable, historic without feeling stuck in the past, and big enough to offer something new every time. This August and September, make a day of it, explore the fairgrounds, wander the surrounding neighbourhoods and see which CNE tradition becomes your favourite.

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