Toronto Air Show CIAS 2026

High flying planes have returned to the skies of Toronto's waterfront, minus the Good Old(?) U.S. Air Force's F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, as part of the CNE's annual entertainment options. The Canadian International Air Show (CIAS) runs September 5-7, 2026 from noon till 3:40pm alongside Exhibition Place during the Labour Day holiday weekend.

From the CIAS website, "Celebrate North America's longest running air show. The Canadian International Air Show will hold its 77th edition in 2026." And with the end of the Snowbirds "we prepare for their final performance in Toronto, before the operational pause, we stand in gratitude for more than five decades of excellence and dedication. This is your last opportunity to look up to the sky and honour the extraordinary team that has defined Canadian aviation history with the red and white CT-114 Tutor jets!"

See more photos after the jump.

Snowbirds fly into the Canadian Warplane Museum

It was a special day in Hamilton as the Canadian military acrobatic jet team met up with a B-25 Mitchell Bomber and did a number of flyovers before landing at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum for a meet and greet. The weather on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 was a little suspect but it remained clear enough for the B-25 to take off and meet the jet team after their recent appearance at the Barrie Air Show. The heritage flight did a pass over the museum before heading to Niagara Falls and later over Toronto for the flyovers, returning to land at the airport. 

The clouds were angry around the museum

The grounded Lancaster

The Snowbird's old CT-114 Tutor aircraft are being retired from the team in 2026. The last scheduled performances will be in October will be in the States, otherwise there are a number of events in September - including over Toronto during the Canadian International Air Show. It is anticipated that the new planes will be propeller driven, Swiss-made CT-157 Sisken II aircraft which may take until the 2030's to be used by the team. These aircraft are also to be used for early pilot training in the Canadian military. This is season 55 for Canada's jet team.

Snowbirds rolling in towards the museum

The B-25 and Snowbird heritage flight

B-25 bomber heading taxiing out to meet the Snowbirds

Firing up the twin-engine bomber

Lancaster out with the Snowbird jets during a pilot meeting

Snowbird team meeting around one of the jets wing

During initial planning the Avro Lancaster was proposed for the heritage flight, however a brake problem grounded the historic bomber and a B-25 Mitchell bomber was fired up as the Lancaster's replacement. The Snowbird team was anticipated in Hamilton around 2:30pm but first a single Snowbird did some maneuvers over the airport before landing to setup the landing area. As the balance of the Snowbirds flew south, the B-25 took off to meet up with the other eight jets to begin the heritage flyovers.

See more photos from the museum after the jump.

Canadian International Air Show 2025

The 76th annual Toronto Air Show, or Canadian International Air Show (CIAS), is now on for the Labour Day weekend running Aug 30 to Sept 1 and with an initial practice on Friday, August 29. All shows will fall between noon and 3:40pm so keep your eyes on the skies over Toronto and Lake Ontario near Exhibition Place to see the planes take centre stage as an important part of the Canadian National Exhibition.

F-35

Some cool aircraft are participating in 2025 such as the P51 Mustang, the CF-18 and F-35 along with the long range patrol plane the Aurora, of course the Canadian Snowbird air demonstration team will be closing out the show.

Canadian Snowbirds

I find Hanlan's Point Beach near the Island Airport to be one of the best places to watch the aerial show, you can see the CN Tower and the City's skyline while the sun is behind you. It's less busy on the island and you can relax in the water waiting for the show to begin. Keep in mind that the beach is clothing optional so it might not be the place to watch for some.

CF-18

Northern Stars Pitts Team

The Snowbirds with the P-51 Mustang

See more plane pics after the jump.

Canadian International Air Show 2025 coming to Toronto Labour Day weekend

The EX is on and coming to a close soon, but not before the Canadian International Air Show helps to end the upcoming Labour Day holiday weekend with a fantastic show in the skies over Toronto. With three shows taking place Saturday to Monday, August 30 to September 1, 2025 and with a bonus practice show on Friday, August 29, all from noon till 3:40pm. UPDATE: See my post with the 2025 air show here.

This is North America's longest running air show and this year will mark the 76th year of the CIAS and you can find this year's performers listed below.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds
F-35 Demonstration Team
Dan Fortin – Nanchang CJ6
Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation – Fleet Cornell
Luke Penner – Extra 330SC
Marco Rusconi & The P-51 Mustang
Mike & Samantha Tryggvason – AirShow Cat Wingwalker
Northern Stars – Pitts team
RCAF – CP-140 Aurora
CF 18 Demonstration
RCAF CH-146 Griffon
Trevor Rafferty & the Christen Eagle

Note the Ministry of Natural Resources CL-415 Water Bomber has been cancelled. A statement about the water bomber released by the show, "We are disappointed to announce that The Ministry of Natural Resources Water Bomber has withdrawn from the CIAS 2025. In understandable circumstances, this asset is needed for critical firefighting operations across Canada right now. Our thoughts are with all those affected by wildfires this summer."

Canadian International Air Show 2024

Toronto has been prepping for the end of summer Canadian National Exhibition and the associated Air Show beginning on Thursday when some of the aircraft were touching down at Pearson Airport. Friday was the practice and the big show in the sky starts Saturday, August 31 and continues until Monday, Sept 2, 2024 (daily from noon till 3:40pm).

This year the Canadian International Air Show, held in Toronto along the shoreline of  Lake Ontario as part of the CNE, hits a 75 year anniversary, just slightly under the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The easiest way to see the show is stick to the Lake Shore, including the CIAS special event area in Marilyn Bell Park (tickets required) or along the parks lining the lake. Another great place to watch is from the Toronto Islands, specifically along the Hanlan Beach area (please note the whole beach is now clothing optional, so be prepared). Take a water taxi if the ferry boats are full.

RAF Red Arrows

Here is a list of the aircraft taking part in the show, note some planes are only making an appearance on specific days so check their schedule on the website. You can also find a link to the live audio of the air show commentary on the website (also here at this link: https://cias.org/2024-cias-commentary/ ).

CF18 Demo

USAF F22 Raptor

Aerial performers for 2024

Canadian Forces Snowbirds

Royal Air Force Red Arrows

P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight

U.S.A.F F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team

CF-18 Demonstration Team

Douglas C-47 Dakota (Aug. 31 only)

Avro Lancaster Mk. X with the B-25 Mitchell Mk III (Sept. 1 & 2 only)

Kyle Fowler & The Long EZ

Trevor Rafferty Pitts 12

Redline Airshow’s Van’s RV-8

CL-415 Waterbomber

RCAF Chinook helicopter

Harvard MK II

The Waterbomber takes a shot

Canadian Forces Snowbirds

CIAS Toronto Air Show coming Labour Day weekend 2024

The Canadian National Exhibition has opened, so that means that Toronto's 75th annual Canadian International Air Show will be coming soon to the skies of the city on the lake across from Exhibition Place. In just over a week the high flying 2024 show will take place Saturday, August 31 to Labour Day Monday, September 2, appearing daily from noon till 3:40pm. And don't forget about Friday's practice session.

The F22 Raptor taking part in a previous CIAS

This year's show will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and there will be two jet demonstration teams taking part in 2024 - the venerable Canadian Forces Snowbirds along with the Royal Air Force Acrobatic team the Red Arrows.

2024 CIAS performers

Canadian Forces Snowbirds
Royal Air Force Red Arrows
P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight
U.S.A.F F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team
CF-18 Demonstration Team
Douglas C-47 Dakota (Aug. 31 only)
Avro Lancaster Mk. X with the B-25 Mitchell Mk III (Sept. 1 & 2 only)
Kyle Fowler & The Long EZ
Trevor Rafferty Pitts 12
Redline Airshow’s Van’s RV-8
CL-415 Waterbomber

RCAF100 at Hamilton Warplane Museum

Several active military aviation planes were on display at the Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum July 6-7, 2024 to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The museum's usual roster of static and flying aircraft were temporarily buoyed by the influx of Canadian warbirds.

The anniversary of the RCAF occurred on April 1, 2024 and recognizes the inception of the separate and distinct part of the Canadian Armed Forces. To showcase the anniversary the RCAF is participating in a number of airshows and displays around the country including the fly in to the Hamilton museum for the weekend event.

Included in the centennial display were several fighters like the CF18 Demo Team, a helicopter, a search and rescue plane, a couple of transports and a helicopter. You could also meet the crews and take tours of the aircraft.

See more of the warplanes after the jump.

Toronto Air Show 2023 @CIASToronto

The Canadian International Air Show (CIAS) signifies the closing weekend of the annual Canadian 

National Exhibition, so it's your last chance to go to the EX and also to watch the airs show for another year. Friday, September 1 was practice day, the balance of the weekend from Saturday to Monday, September 2 to 4, 2023 mark the show days with the aircraft taking to centre stage (the fireboat shooting out large quantities of lake water) from noon till 3:45pm. Photo at top from the 2022 Air Show.

Blue Angels - Fat Albert (US Marines)

Part of the Blue Angels acrobatic team

It is estimated that over 1.4 million people watch the show in Toronto every year and I think a few hundred thousand extra only hear the show or catch a peek of the planes through the office towers and condos. The show started in 1948, over what would become Pearson Airport but what was known as the Malton Airport, moving the next year to Exhibition Park. The CIAS name was adopted in 1955 and in 1956 the single day event became a two day airshow on the last two days of the CNE. In 1969 the two day show became the four day air show, then back down to three days in 1989 (not counting the practice day). You know which Canadian plane didn't end up in the show? It was the very famous Avro Arrow which was going to perform in 1958 but was cancelled due to weather.

Heritage Flight - F16 and Mustang

Search and Rescue (SAR) demonstration with the Griffon

2023 performers include the United States Navy Blue Angels, Canadian Forces Snowbirds, Blue Angels Fat Albert C-130T, CF-18 Demonstration Team, Gord Price & the Yak-50, Mike Tryggvason Extra 330, P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight, T-33, Trevor Rafferty Pitts 12, United States Air Force – F-16 Demo Team and the new addition to the show - Royal Canadian Air Force CH-147F Chinook. It's great to see two military jet teams - our Snowbirds and the US Blue Angels which first came to Toronto in 1956 flying Grumman F-9F's. The Snowbirds joined Toronto's show in 1972 and have been back every year since.

Here is the 2023 CIAS Air Show schedule.

Blue Angels – Fat Albert	12:00
Blue Angels Team 1 – 6	12:10
Capt Aimee Fiedler – F-16 Demo	12:50
Capt Fiedler / Jim Beasley-Heritage Flight	13:08
Gordon Price – Yak 50	13:20
Mike Tryggvason – Extra 300	13:31
SAR Demo	13:41
Trevor Rafferty – Pitts 12	13:56
Ken Rieder – RV 8	14:05
Major Steve Pellerin CH-147 Chinook	14:12
Capt Jesse Haggart-Smith – CF-18 Hornet	14:25
CF-18/Heritage Flight	14:43
Robert Mitchell – T-33	14:47
Snowbirds	14:55

Weather was perfect at the beginning of the show, then the clouds moved in and at around 3pm it started raining during the first performance of the weekend. I think the ceiling was reduced and some of the maneuvers might have been changed to accommodate the weather.

See more of the show after the jump.