Described by organizers as the largest multicultural festival in Canada, the Carassauga Festival of Cultures will celebrate its 41st year in Mississauga later this month.

Featuring pavilions representing some two dozen countries, Carassauga 2026 runs Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 at various venues across Mississauga, as usual.

The signature Mississauga event unofficially kicks off the major festival season in the city, which continues into September.

Carassauga chair Marek Ruta is scheduled to address city councillors at the City of Mississauga’s general committee meeting on Wednesday with respect to this year’s festival.

A special preview event was held this past Friday at Frank McKechnie Community Centre in Mississauga, where those in attendance enjoyed live cultural performances and more, officials said.

Frank McKechnie Community Centre, the kick off location for the 41st year of Carasauga. Lots of excitement in anticipation of another amazing year for the biggest multicultural festival in Canada. The centre of activity will be the Paramount Centre May 23 weekend. pic.twitter.com/Rr3S6eXZtL

— Mayor Carolyn Parrish (@carolynhparrish) May 2, 2026

Looking ahead a few weeks to the festival itself, Carassauga organizers say those who attend each year have come “to love the music, dress and theatrics of artisans” who perform.

Festival officials once again expect tens of thousands of people to visit the many cultural pavilions on the Saturday, from noon till 11 p.m., and again on the Sunday, from noon till 7 p.m.

Carassauga admission/festival passport is $15 per person during the festival weekend ($10 in advance of the festival), with kids ages 12-under admitted free of charge.

Nations outside Canada represented at the upcoming festival include Egypt, China, the U.S., India, Ireland, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Ukraine and Poland, to name a few.

Cultural pavilions will be set up at various venues including the Paramount Fine Foods Centre (which will host the majority of pavilions), Burnhamthorpe Community Centre, Canadian Coptic Centre, Carmen Corbasson Community Centre, Mississauga Valley Community Centre, Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga, St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Frank McKechnie Community Centre.

“Carassauga Festival of Cultures has become an important annual event in Mississauga’s calendar and its popularity has steadily increased in recent years,” organizers said earlier on the festival website. “As the largest multicultural festival in Canada, taking place at the end of May each year, it celebrates the diversity of our city through entertainment, food and culture.”

Free transportation is available on MiWay buses and Carassauga shuttle buses connecting all the locations during festival hours to those with Carassauga passports.

Organizers noted the first Carassauga festival, held in 1986, featured 10 pavilions. The 2025 festival included 22 pavilions, 2,615 performers taking part in 462 performances, 55 artisans and 3,449 volunteers.

For more information, visit the Carassauga website.

(Cover photo: Carassauga Festival)


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