Jessica Smith gets a preview of what the 2026 Canadian National Exhibition will be offering before opening day.
The CNE offers something for everyone, but can you do it on a budget?
Here is a closer look at how you can stretch out $50 as the 147th annual CNE gets underway.
Admission
The cost of getting into the fair varies.
Depending on your age and whether you purchase your ticket in advance or at the park, a single pass can cost between $22.12 and $26.55.
Unlimited access to rides included in your ticket entry, however, costs a bit more, ranging from $51.66 and $75.22, which automatically would put one over budget.
CNE-1.4208835 An aerial view of the CNE can be seen in this undated photograph.
A family of four can save a little bit in purchasing the family pass—which covers either two adults and two children or one adult and three children—costing $84.07. Children four years old and under can head to the park for free.
Some days are also cheaper to go than others.
Opening day costs $15 for all ages, and there are $13 nights from Aug. 24 to Aug. 27, as well as Aug. 31 to Sept. 3. Children 13 years old and younger can also get in for a toonie on Aug. 24 and Aug. 31.
Rides
Rides also cost coupons, ranging between eight and 22 ride tickets. For $30, you can get 58 coupons, which would yield, at most, about seven rides. There’s also an option to buy 14 coupons for $10, and on Kid’s Toonie Mondays, 75 coupons can be purchased for $30.
Otherwise, 136 coupons cost $60, and a Ride All Day Pass, which excludes admission, costs $55.
Food
Then comes food. A tried and true, budget-friendly option can be found in the $1.99 Primo Spaghetti inside of the food building.
Those who are visiting the CNE for the purpose of trying out some of the wild new food items off the menu this year have a variety of options too.
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There are some wild new eats at the CNE this year Each and every year an array of intriguing (or zany) carnival food hits the menus at the CNE, and this year is no exception. From KD Smoothies to cotton candy jerk chicken waffle dogs to pickle-infused coffee, here's a look at some of the wild eats at the CNE in 2026.
Korean Fried Chicken Ramen Taco at Los Vietnamita Taqueria Buldak lovers can sink their teeth into this taco. There's juicy fried chicken slathered in CNE's Sweet Heat sauce, which is topped with cotton candy aioli and kimchi, stuffed inside of a Buldak ramen taco shell. These cost around $18.
Korean Fried Chicken Ramen Taco at Los Vietnamita Taqueria The Korean Fried Chicken Ramen Taco can be found at Los Vietnamita at the Food Truck Frenzy section of the CNE.
Sweet Heat Cloud Fries at Bacon Nation This bucket of fries is topped with bacon, maple drizzle and a cloud-like foam of cheese made with the CNE's Sweet Heat Hot Sauce. It'll cost around $14.82.
Sweet Heat Cloud Fries at Bacon Nation These fluffy, yet spicy bucket of fries are up for sale at Bacon Nation, which is located inside of the Food Building.
Bacon Cheeseburger and Root Beer Candy Bacon Meat lovers can fill their stomachs with a classic cheesy bacon burger, or opt for a bucket of thick-cut bacon that is coated in Root Beer BBQ sauce. The burger costs $18.35 and the bacon $10.84.
Gotta Be a KD Smoothie at Booster Juice Add to this list of yet another unassuming food item that tastes like mac and cheese. This smoothie, though made with mango, pineapple juice, vanilla frozen yogurt and skim milk, is infused with KD's original cheese flavour. A snack size costs $6.69 while a regular goes for $10.39.
KD Smoothie at Booster Juice Those who want to sip on a KD Smoothie can head over to the Booster Juice inside of the food building. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keito Newman)
Sm'Oreo ice cream sandwich at Los Vietnamita Taqueria This might look like it's just a sweet treat, but there's fried chicken inside. This sandwich comes with crispy fried chicken, vanilla ice cream, golden oreos, marshmallows, and a chocolate drizzle. It costs $20.
Sm'Oreo ice cream sandwich at Los Vietnamita Taqueria Anyone who wants to take a bite out of this sweet and savoury sandwich can head over to the Food Truck Frenzy area of the CNE.
Pickle Cheesecake Pop at Mr. Pickle There are a variety of cheesecakes on a stick fairgoers can sink their teeth into (including one dipped in Dunkaroos). This year though, a savoury option has entered the chat: its dipped in chocolate and coated in dill pickle potato chips It costs $18.
Strawberry Toast Crunch Chicken and Funnel Cake at Twisted Gourmet This funnel cake is an overload on your tastebuds with both sweet and spicy flavours. It's drizzled in the CNE's signature hot sauce, topped with Cinnamon Toast-crusted chicken and a dollop of vanilla ice cream with cotton candy.
Strawberry Toast Crunch Chicken and Funnel Cake at Twisted Gourmet Another look at the stacked, spicy and sweet funnel cake, which is going for around $31 at the CNE. It can be found at the Food Truck Frenzy area of the grounds.
Blue Heat Taki Tenders at Lucky Chicken These juicy chicken tenders bring on the heat as not only are they lathered in hot honey, they are coated in Takis Blue Heat. Three tenders costs $14.25.
Cotton Candy Wafflelicious at Jerk Dogs This waffle dog is packed with sweet and spicy flavours. A jerk chicken hot dog is waffle-battered and lathered in mango mustard, pineapple relish, CNE sweet Heat hot sauce and honey jerk BBQ sauce. Oh, and it's also topped with cotton candy. This costs $17.
Jamaican Beef Patty Mini Pierogies at Supreme Pierogi Foodies can find these bite-sized eats at Supreme Pierogi inside of the food building.
Sushi Pops at HK Station Who says sushi rolls need to be eaten with chopsticks? There are four different kinds of sushi pops you can try at the CNE this year: salmon, tuna, shrimp tempura or California roll. Each costs $8, or you can mix-and-match three for $20.
Dirty Sodas at Dirty Sodas Dirty Sodas are making a comeback at the CNE. One 32-ounce pop costs around $14.80.
Edible Dirty Soda Spheres at Dirty Sodas Looking to add something extra to your Dirty Soda? These will burst in your mouth, filling your tastebuds with Citrus Ice Blue Raspberry flavour, for an additional $5.75.
Space Rocks at Yeti Puff Nitro Snacks This sweet treat will have you breathing out cold air, as if you are a dragon. It's comes with nitrogen-infused Oreo, freeze-dried Nerd Clusters, and ice cream sandwich bites.
Space Rocks at Yeti Puff Nitro Snacks This literally cool treat can be found inside of the Heritage Court Enercare Centre.
S'more Deep Fried Slice at Pizza Pizza This is the truest definition of sweet and savoury. Take a slice of cheese pizza, batter it, deep fry it, and then coat it in graham cracker crumbs. Top it with marshmallow hip and some chocolate drizzle, and you get this slice of pie for $13.11.
Pickle Creamy Garlic Flamin' Hot Cheetos Deep Fried Slice at Pizza Pizza Those who can't steer clear from pickles might want to sink their teeth into this deep-fried slice of cheese pizza, which is covered in sliced pickles and Flamin' Hot Cheetos, and drizzled in the signature creamy garlic sauce. It costs $13.11.
Classic Flamin' Hot Cheetos Deep-Fried Slice at Pizza Pizza The most pared-down deep-fried slices Pizza Pizza is offering, this piece of cheesy pie is coated in Flamin' Hot Cheetos. This will cost around $11.11.
Pepperoni Cup Creamy Garlic Flamin' Hot Cheetos Slice at Pizza Pizza Meat lovers can opt for this deep-fried slice since it's covered in pepperoni slices. It's also crusted in Flamin' Hot Cheetos and drizzled in creamy garlic sauce, and it will set you back $13.11.
S'more Deep Fried Slice at Pizza Pizza Another look at the S'more deep-fried slice of pizza.
Deep-fried slices of pizza at Pizza Pizza There are four kinds of deep-fried slices of pizza to try at Pizza Pizza at the CNE this year. Festivalgoers can head over to the food building to try a bite.
Sweetcorn Wasabi Lemonade at Alijandro's Kitchen There are two summer staples here: sweet corn and lemonade. While refreshing, this drink packs a punch with a kick of wasabi and a Tajin rim.
Sweetcorn Wasabi Lemonade at Alijandro's Kitchen To sip on this spicy lemonade, head over to the Food Truck Frenzy area of the CNE. A regular size costs about $7.50 and a large is around $10.
Cool Nitro at Caf-eh TO Think of a traditional ice cream float, but served with smooth nitro coffee. A straight cold brew will cost around $7, a nitro float $10 and a float with Coca Cola added is $13.
'The Szechuan Sizzle' Spice Cream at Caf-eh TO Caf-eh TO once made Wasabi Ice Cream, but now they are cranking up the spice with this year's tongue-numbing ice cream. Packed with Szechuan peppercorns and peanuts, and drizzled with savoury chili oil, foodies can spend $11 to $20.
Butter Chicken Loaded Fries at Rick's Good Eats Crispy bites of tandoori chicken top a bed of fries, and are drizzled with a tandoori aioli and cilantro.
Nacho Affairs by Marry Me Mochi A savoury donut has entered the chat. This mochi donut is topped with nacho cheese, crispy bacon, tortilla chips and fresh green onion. It also comes with your choice of a sour cream dip or the CNE Sweet Heat hot sauce. This costs $6.
Mango Tango at Marry Me Mochi This mochi donut is packs a punch with its sweet and spicy mango glaze marbled with the CNE's hot sauce. It's topped with candied mango pieces and white chocolate, and costs around $6.
Funnel Cake Fire at Marry Me Mochi Those looking for a different kind of funnel cake might want to sink their teeth into this mochi donut, which has a strawberry filling infused with the CNE's new hot sauce. Topped with a fresh strawberry and some whipped cream, this donut will set you back $6.
Japanese Sandos at Marry Me Mochi These sandwiches are filled to the brim with sweet cream, and are topped with some extra goodness. Butter Than Your Ex (left) is filled with Biscoff, Mango Cloud (centre) is topped with sweet mango, and Brulee My Heart (right) is a unique take on creme brulee. Each sandwich costs $12.
Brulee My Heart at Marry Me Mochi Foodies can watch the cream caramelize right before their eyes when they order Brulee My Heart, which can be found inside of the food building.
Lobster on a Stick at Lobster on a Stick Festivalgoers seeking decadence can head to the food building to try tempura-fried Canadian lobster tail on a stick. It's topped with Old Bay seasoning, house-made creamy dill sauce and kettle chips on the side. It costs around $23.90.
Lobster on a Stick at Lobster on a Stick Those who want to feast on this indulgent, tempura-fried eat can head on over to the food building.
Footlong Butter Chicken Taquito at Rick's Good Eats This golden taquito is stuffed with tender butter chicken, basmati rice, butter chicken sauce, and is served with a creamy butter chicken aoili. Oh, and it's a footlong.
Butter Chicken Birria-Style Tacos at Rick's Good Eats This jus-soaked taco is filled to the brim with juicy, slow-cooked tandoori chicken and topped with white onion and cilantro.
Dill Pickle Pegrolls at Pegrolls Take a pierogi and a springroll, fill it with some pickles and you've got the Pegroll. This golden springroll is served with either plain or spicy sour cream on the side. An order of six costs $11, while 12 costs $22.
The Carnival Cone at Beach Hill Smokehouse Calling all mac and cheese lovers! This waffle cone is filled with candied yams before it's topped with a Mac N' Meat Ball, which is then drizzled in a cheesy sauce. It costs around $13.
The Carnival Cone at Beach Hill Smokehouse Another look at the cheesy goodness that's the Carnival Cone. Foodies who want to sink their teeth into this waffle cone can look for Beach Hill Smokehouse at Bandshell Park.
Popcorn Falafel Poutine at Donia's Donair Crispy, bite-sized bites of falafel sprinkle this poutine, which is loaded with pickled turnips, sweet dates and pickles. It is also drizzled in a vegetarian gravy and tahini sauce, costing around $22.
Popcorn Falafel Poutine at Donia's Donair This colourful (and gluten-free) poutine can be found at Donia's Donair, which is located in the outdoor concession area of the CNE.
Fried S'moreo at Legend Dairy Two childhood classics are meeting in the middle of this deep-fried battered stick. It's coated in graham cracker crumbs and drizzled in chocolate sauce, costing around $15.
Dot Cake Push Pop at Legend Dairy The viral dot cake can be found in push pop form at the CNE with three different layers of colourful icing. This costs around $8.60.
Dot Cake Push Pops at Legend Dairy Another look at these push pops, where you can take your cake to go and without any utensils.
Brie Cheese Deep Fried Oreos at Sam's Grill Deep fried Oreos might be a carnival classic, but these bites take it to the next level by squishing brie cheese in the middle. Plus, it's topped with rosemary. Four of these Oreos go for $20.
Smash Burger Dumplings at Smash City These steamed dumplings are packed with everything you would find in a cheesy smash burger. They're filled with hamburger meat, cheese and dill pickles, and are topped with homemade burger sauce and sesame seeds. A container of four costs $9.95.
Avocado Fresco pizza at Pizza Nova No, the pizza is not burnt. It's made with charcoal-infused dough. This pizza is also made with pesto, sweet corn and mozzarella, and is topped with avocado slices and basil. One slice will cost around $8 while a whole pie goes for $38.
"Pig Me Up" coffee at Greekery Bakeshop This double-shot iced espresso drink is infused with smokey bacon flavour, and features Belgian white chocolate and creamy cold foam. This costs $13.
'The Big Dill' at Greekery Bakeshop This drink really just might be a big deal to pickle and coffee lovers. This iced Greek coffee is packed with dill pickle flavour and is topped with a whipped smooth foam. It'll cost around $12.
The coffees at Greekery Bakeshop To find your unique caffeine fix, head over to the Greekery Bakeshop. It can be found along the outdoor concessions at the CNE.
Pork Belly Bites at Steak Barrel These barrel-roasted pork belly bites are served with casava fries and some Sriracha. These will cost around $13.99.
Steak Bites at Steak Barrels This Colombian-style beef is roasted inside of a barrel, and served with a side of casava fries. This costs $15.99.
Garlic Parm Twisted Pickles at Twisted Pickles Instead of spiralized potatoes on a stick, there's spiralized pickles on a stick that's drizzled in a garlic parmesan aioli. This costs around $16.
Twisteroni at Coco's Corndogs A spiral of pepperoni is encased in batter before its deep-fried and lathered in garlic butter and marina sauce. This costs around $15.
Food CNE
For those looking to sink their teeth into something sweet, the Funnel Cake Fire and Mango Tango donuts at Marry Me Mochi cost around $6 each, and a dot cake push pop at Legend Dairy costs around $8.60, before tax. A Japanese sando at Marry Me Mochi costs around $12, a fried Sm’Oreo at Legend Dairy costs around $15, and a Dunkaroo-dipped or pickle cheesecake pops at Mr. Pickle costs around $18.
Those looking for something more savoury can opt for an $8 sushi pop at HK Station, a bucket of six Pegrolls (think pierogi meets spring roll with a pickle twist) for $11, an $11.11 to $13.11 deep-fried slice of pizza at Pizza Pizza, or Jamaican beef patty mini pierogis at Supreme Pierogi for $16.
Some of the CNE foods On the left is a salmon sushi pop from HK Station. In the middle there is a slice of deep fried pizza with pickles on top from Pizza Pizza. On the right is a bowl of Jamaican beef patty pierogis from Supreme Pierogi.
As for drinks, a snack size of the KD Smoothie at Booster Juice costs $6.69, a regular size of the sweetcorn wasabi lemonade at Alijandro’s Kitchen costs $7.50, and a Dirty Soda costs around $14.80. Those in need of a caffeine hit can also sip on one of the iced coffees at the Greekery Bakeshop, where the bacon-infused “Pig Me Up” costs $13 and the dill pickle-forward “The Big Dill” costs $12.
The popcorn falafel poutine at Donia’s Donair, the Lobster on a Stick, and the Strawberry Toast Crunch Funnel Cake might push solo festivalgoers over $50, as they cost $22, $23.90, and $31, respectively.
