Canada's 159th Birthday Goes Coast to Coast
Canada Day 2026 is here, and CBC has you covered from sunrise to fireworks with a full day of live national coverage celebrating the country's 159th birthday.
The day kicks off on the Halifax Waterfront, where anchors David Common and Carolyn Ray will host morning celebrations — a fitting start given Halifax's deep roots in Confederation history. From there, the coverage shifts to Ottawa, with Adrienne Arsenault and Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco broadcasting live from LeBreton Flats Park, right in the heart of the capital.
Ottawa Takes Centre Stage
LeBreton Flats has become one of Canada Day's signature gathering spots, drawing hundreds of thousands of people each year for concerts, family programming, and the iconic Parliament Hill fireworks. If you're heading down, expect a full afternoon and evening of performances, food vendors, and the kind of electric crowd energy that only July 1st in the capital can deliver.
CBC's Ottawa coverage returns later in the evening — at 7 p.m. ET — with Arsenault joined by Elamin Abdelmahmoud for what's sure to be the day's most-watched broadcast block.
From Toronto to Banff
In between, Saroja Coelho hosts a live call-in show from CBC's Toronto studio, giving Canadians from across the country a chance to share what the holiday means to them. The afternoon then heads west in a big way: Ian Hanomansing and Gloria Macarenko broadcast live from Banff's Bear Street, surrounded by the Rockies — a stunning backdrop for a national birthday.
How to Watch
All coverage streams live on CBC Gem and broadcasts on CBC Television throughout the day. Whether you're at the festival in LeBreton Flats or watching from your backyard with a cold one, CBC's lineup means you won't miss a moment.
Here's a quick rundown of the day's schedule (all times ET):
- Morning: Halifax Waterfront — David Common & Carolyn Ray
- Midday: Ottawa LeBreton Flats — Adrienne Arsenault & Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco
- Afternoon: Toronto call-in — Saroja Coelho
- Afternoon: Banff Bear Street — Ian Hanomansing & Gloria Macarenko
- 7 p.m.: Ottawa LeBreton Flats — Adrienne Arsenault & Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Happy Canada Day, Ottawa
Whether you're a flag-waving regular on Parliament Hill or catching the coverage from the couch, today is a great reminder of what makes this country — and this city — worth celebrating. Ottawa sits at the centre of it all, and the LeBreton Flats coverage tonight is going to be must-watch TV.
Happy 159th, Canada. 🍁
Source: CBC Top Stories — Watch our Canada Day special, with celebrations from coast to coast
