Rising Star

The 2026 CNE Rising Star Talent Competition is coming back for its 39th year of showcasing young artists. The competition will feature talented performers in a wide variety of genres, competing for prize money in front of a live audience of CNE fairgoers.

Applications for the 2026 Rising Star Competition are now open! Click here to apply or click the button below.

Rising Star Application

Details for this year:

The online application form is now available here. This competition is only open to legal residents of Ontario, Canada. Deadline for entering is June 1, 2026, at 4pm.
Contestants selected to advance to the preliminaries will be notified around the end of June.
There are two age divisions: Junior 6-12 and Youth 13-21 years old.
There are three levels: preliminaries, semi finals and finals.
View the Guidelines, Rules and Regulations here.
For details on how to apply and frequently asked questions about applying click here.
The full prize list for 2026 is outlined below!

Youth prizes for 2026

Youth Grand Champion

$3,000
A four-pack of private circus lessons, including both aerial and floor-based disciplines. Participants can explore skills such as aerial hoop, silks, etc. alongside ground elements like flexibility, balance, and acrobatics—all tailored to their level and goals.
The Underground Dance Centre – 5 Class Package.
Metalworks Institute – Full Day Studio + Participation in a group workshop for the contestant(s) & two friends.
Noble Street Studios/Trevor Anderson – Trevor and Noble will provide a finished song including studio time and staffing. The song will be produced, recorded, and mixed by Trevor. Recording, editing, and mixing time provided by Noble Street Studios.

Youth First Runner Up

$2,000
Metalworks Institute – Half Day Studio + Participation in a group workshop for the contestant(s) & two friends.
Noble Street Studios/Trevor Anderson – The runner-up will be awarded 2 hours of studio time each.

Youth Second Runner Up

$ 1,000
Metalworks Institute – Participation in a group workshop for the contestant(s) & two friends.
Noble Street Studios/Trevor Anderson – The runner-up will be awarded 2 hours of studio time each.

People’s Choice – Youth

$500

Junior prizes for 2026

Junior Grand Champion

$1,500
One week of circus summer camp, featuring a fun and supportive introduction to both aerial and floor work. Campers will experience activities like aerial hoop, silks, and more, as well as show prep, balance, and basic acrobatics—building confidence, creativity, and coordination along the way.
The Underground Dance Centre – 5 Class Package.
Metalworks Institute – Full Day Studio.
Rockstar Music – Full Recording Package (1 Song).
- Record with a producer, includes mixing and mastering.

Junior First Runner Up