Mississauga is once again inviting people to take a trip around the world — all within the city’s borders — as the largest multicultural festival in Canada hits town this weekend.

Described by organizers as the biggest such festival on Canadian soil, the Carassauga Festival of Cultures takes place at various venues across Mississauga on Saturday and Sunday.

The 41st edition of the festival features pavilions representing some two dozen countries, Carassauga 2026 organizers say.

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

Nations outside Canada represented at this year’s 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.”

Carassauga organizers add those who attend the big event 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 Saturday, from noon till 11 p.m., and again on 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.

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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