As part of its partnership with NXNE and a renewed focus on live music, CNE will also welcome a special soon-to-be revealed global headliner presented by Billboard Canada on Aug. 28.
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is embracing its musical roots with a high-profile lineup for 2026.
The beloved long-running fair, baptized The Ex by Torontonians, has unveiled the full list of artists who will be headlining the newly-named Bell SOUNDSTAGE at the Bandshell to celebrate the event's 147th edition. Canadian stars like Charlotte Day Wilson and Finger Eleven as well as international pop star JoJo have been added to this year's programming, which reflects a diverse mix of renowned names and rising stars across a multitude of genres including pop, hip-hop, Punjabi music and soca, among others. They join previously announced acts like Lights, Lupe Fiasco, Shaggy and more.
This year, the exhibition is partnering with Toronto music festival NXNE, to modernize its musical programming with chart-topping artists and newer acts, and revamping the Bandshell as the Bell SOUNDSTAGE. “Music is such a massive part of who we are,” Mark Holland, CEO of the CNE, told Billboard Canada in April during his Executive of the Week interview. "Connecting everybody to that is a democratic mission that we are really invested in."
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The decorated musical roster reflects that commitment to bringing back an era when music was just as pivotal to the CNE as the food, rides and attractions, drawing massive headliners like The Who, Bruce Springsteen and Rush.
"We want to return to that. That’s the journey here. We want to return to a place where not just major music happens, but really on the landscape internationally as a music festival," Holland adds.
Also a CNE partner, Billboard Canada will bring the global superstar touch to this year's CNE by presenting a special international headliner who will grace the Bell SOUNDSTAGE on Aug. 28, who will be revealed at a later date. Rolling Stone Canada will also present a major co-headliner for the Aug. 31 show alongside Canadian country and rock star Dallas Smith.
Those artists will join the likes of Billboard Canada Women In Music 2025 honourees Lights and Charlotte Day Wilson, Chicago rapper and wordsmith Lupe Fiasco, Billboard Hot 100-topping hip-hop and reggae hitmaker Shaggy, Canadian pop and R&B singer JoJo and British-Punjabi rising star Raf-Saperra, who are just some of the big names headlining the Ex this year.
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This year, CNE is extending NXNE's commitment to spotlighting new homegrown talent. NXNE notably ran the 'X Marks the Ex' campaign this year, where concertgoers voted for their favourite bands, with the winners earning a spot to perform at the fair. Noise Hotel, the Toronto-based "living room indie" band who emerged victorious as the winners of NXNE's 2026 Amazon Prime People's Choice contest, also won a performance slot.
The CNE received a huge spotlight this year when Exhibition Place was the centre of activity during Toronto's stint hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and . In revitalizing the music aspect this year, the CNE is taking its first major step towards its ambitious goal of turning its site into an entire entertainment complex.
CNE 2026 runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 7. Check out the full list of Bell SOUNDSTAGE at the Bandshell performers below:
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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. 28: Surprise international headliner presented by Billboard Canada
Aug. 29: JoJo
Aug. 30: Matthew Good and His Band
Aug. 31: Dallas Smith with Surprise co-headliner presented by Rolling Stone Canada
Sept. 1: Charlotte Day Wilson
Sept. 2: Finger Eleven
Sept. 3: Silverstein
Sept. 4: Raf-Saperra
Sept. 5: Tom Cochrane
Sept. 6: Dr. Jay’s Soca Night – Alison Hinds, Edwin Yearwood, Rupee, DJ Puffy
Sept. 7: No concert; CNE Gates close at 5pm on Labour Day
