Snowbirds to take final flight over Toronto before being grounded until 2030s
Written by The Canadian Press on September 4, 2026
TORONTO — The Snowbirds are set to take their final flight over Toronto until at least the 2030s.
The nine-jet aerobatic team will perform high-flying stunts at the Canadian International Air Show this Labour Day weekend before being grounded at the end of the 2026 season.
Defence Minister David McGuinty announced in May that the team’s signature CT-114 Tutor jets will be replaced by the CT-157 Siskin II.
The Snowbirds have performed some 2,700 times in the Tutor jets since 1971, becoming staples of national events and celebrations.
The Snowbirds’ final show is set for Nov. 15 at the Grey Cup in Calgary.
The 77th Canadian International Air Show, hosted on Toronto’s lakeshore, will feature demonstrations by a Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 and an RCMP Black Hawk helicopter, but a last-minute schedule change saw the United States’ F-16 demonstration team drop out.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2026.
The Canadian Press