If you live anywhere near Toronto along Lake Ontario in Canada, you’ve likely got the jingle ‘Let’s go to The Ex,” ringing in your ears starting mid-August every year. That’s the promo I’ve been hearing for years, and many say the opening of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto marks the summer coming to a close.
The Canadian National Exhibition – known colloquially as the Ex – is sort of a big midway-driven last hurrah of the summer, and it’s an annual trek for those looking for an afternoon of eating weird, deep-fried concoctions (often on a stick). For example, in 2026, Booster Juice unveiled a KD flavoured smoothie. People make it a tradition to attend every year.
I do not. In fact, I haven’t been to the CNE in decades. But this year, I went back for the dogs. SuperDogs, specifically. I’ve been attending every SuperDogs show I can (including at the Royal Winter Fair, held in the same location every November). And guess what? This year, 2026, the SuperDogs are debuting for Ontario a new show called ‘Fairy Tails’ (Tails, not tales, get it?) at the CNE.
So, let’s go to The Ex and meet the SuperDogs. Note that we can not bring our own pet dogs – ironically, then, I went to the CNE to meet other people’s pooches.
History of the CNE
The Canadian National Exhibition is almost as old as Canada. Its roots date to 1879, when the first Toronto Industrial Exhibition opened on the grounds now known as Exhibition Place. Renamed in 1904, it’s evolved into a giant midway and county fair food festival merged with concerts, crowd-pleasing entertainment (like dog shows, trampolines, and high divers) and vendors – so many vendors. But not as many pet vendors as I would have thought. but I found one.
In 2026, The CNE runs the last two weeks of the summer, closing after Labour Day. In 2026, adult admission is $30. Once inside, you can spend considerably more on the food: $27 for deep-fried lobster on a stick, $10 for spicy dill pickle cotton candy and $13 for a Root Beer Bacon Smash Burger. Good thing the entertainment, including SuperDogs, is included with the price of admission, but you’ll need to line up early. It’s a popular show.
What is SuperDogs?
The SuperDogs show was created by Canadian Herb Williams and debuted at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver in 1976. The point was to showcase dogs running, jumping, and retrieving in a kind of high-energy circus-style performance.
The big difference is this isn’t a circus. While it is a travelling show, both human and dog performers live across North America and participate in shows closer to where they live. While the design and theme of each show remain consistent, the performers change depending on the date and location of shows. Why? All the dogs are family pets trained by the person who handles them in the show.
Dogs of all breeds, mixes, and sizes compete in high-energy flyball-style races (encouraging the crowds to cheer), demonstrate disc catching and freestyle dance routines, and scramble through simple agility courses. SuperDogs is as much a dog sport showcase as it is a talent show. And yes, it’s possible to teach your dog similar skills for both enrichment and bonding benefits.
Who are SuperDogs?
Today, the SuperDogs organization is made up of one hundred cast members – people and their dogs – living throughout North America. Cast members don’t usually travel but perform close to their homes, so the lineup at each show will be different depending on where you see it.
Shows also happen year-round. I’ve seen SuperDogs in large arenas presented as ticketed performances, at other exhibitions including The Royal Winter Fair, and at smaller venues such as small-town fall fairs where the audience gathers around the perimeter of a small field.
No breed dominates in the SuperDogs show – actually, some smaller dogs are the biggest crowd pleasers. According to the SuperDogs website, about 40 per cent of the cast members are rescue dogs. And yes, you can apply to be a cast member if your dog is great with crowds, attention-seeking, and already participates in dog sports such as flyball or agility.
New Show: Fairy Tails
What does the new SuperDogs show – Fairy Tails – look like? It looks like other SuperDogs shows with a theme overhaul and pumped-up light show. I’ve seen many SuperDogs shows in different venues, and Fairy Tails at the CNE is my number one favourite (so far).
Fairy Tails starts, lights low, with props glowing like neon. The audience is reminded of the ‘once upon a time’ theme with short vignettes involving dogs and books (such as Jack and Jill) played out for audiences as they are entering Hall D at the Enercare Centre.
Our narrator and MC, Hounds Christian Andersen, provides a segue between acts. The fairy tale theme is cleverly connected to what SuperDogs do best: racing through an agility course, relay races inspired by flyball between two teams of three dogs, disc catching and pole weaving. Border collies rocked the poles, but the Rottweiler’s slow and steady determination was a crowd pleaser.
It’s all very charming. And impressive. Even better, fans are permitted to meet SuperDogs stars after the show, sit beside them for photos, or admire them from a surprisingly close proximity. Is there a merch table? You bet.
After decades of avoiding The Ex, I finally went back. Not for the midway, and definitely not for the deep-fried butter. I went for the dogs, specifically the SuperDogs, and the new show, Fairy Tails, gave me a good reason.
If you go …
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) runs the last two weeks of every summer, ending on Labour Day in September. The site is Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario. In 2026, The Ex runs from August 21 to September 7, 2026. 10 am to midnight. Parking is limited (and expensive). Driving to a Go Train station along the Lakeshore Line and taking the Go Train directly to Exhibition Station is recommended.
NOTE: The Canadian National Exhibition is NOT pet dog friendly. Only certified service dogs are permitted.
SuperDogs shows run three to four times a day at the annual exhibition. In 2026, shows run Monday to Thursday, at 2 pm, 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm. Friday to Sunday, at noon, 2 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:30 pm. Go early. Line up at least 30 minutes before the show starts.
Other SuperDogs Performances – If you missed the CNE, you’ve got other options to see the SuperDogs. In September 2026, the team is performing at the Lake District Fall Fair in Burns Lake, BC (Sept. 12-13); New “barket,” NewMarket, Ontario (Sept. 12-13); Uxbridge Fall Fair, Uxbridge, ON (Sept. 13); and Rock Creek Fall Fair, Rock Creek, BC. See here for a complete list of SuperDogs shows across North America throughout the year.
Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria.Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!
