The Ontario government has announced it will again host its Level Up! career fairs this fall.

Now into the fifth year of programming, the fairs aim to introduce students, educators and jobseekers to in-demand careers in the skilled trades.

Through multi‑day events planned in 12 communities across the province this upcoming year, the 2026 fairs are expected to reach more than 60,000 people and will include open house sessions and interactive exhibitions that will inspire the next generation of workers to build the homes, highways, hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure that the province needs.

“To deliver on our government’s historic $236 billion infrastructure plan, Ontario will need an additional 400,000 workers in the skilled trades over the next decade,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We will continue to invest in innovative programs that introduce students and young people to the skills they need to land in-demand careers and bigger paycheques.”

The Level Up! career fairs will showcase Ontario’s 144 skilled trades through interactive exhibits, hands‑on demonstrations and conversations with employers, unions and training providers. Designed primarily for students in Grades 7 to 12, the fairs will also welcome parents, guardians, educators and jobseekers interested in learning more about local apprenticeship and training opportunities.

The Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fairs will take place across 12 communities over 29 days between September 23 and December 10:

Cobourg — September 23–24

Kingston — September 29–30

Barrie — October 6–7

Timmins — October 14–15

Thunder Bay — October 21–22

Sudbury — October 28–29

Hamilton — November 3–5

Windsor — November 11–12

London — November 17–19

Ottawa — November 24–26

Oshawa — December 1–3

Mississauga — December 8–10

Each fair includes daytime sessions for students attending with their schools, followed by a free community open house open to the public, aimed at providing an opportunity for parents and guardians to learn more about the skilled trades.

Last year, more than 58,000 people attended Level Up! career fairs across Ontario.

As Ontario continues to grow, so does the demand for skilled trades workers, with roughly one in three tradespeople nearing retirement and hundreds of thousands of additional workers needed over the next decade. To meet this demand, Ontario is aiming to engage 500,000 youth in the skilled trades by 2030 through initiatives like Level Up! and the Trade and Tech Trucks program.

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