Toronto Surpasses Vancouver and More Destinations as the US and Mexico Fuel Canada Tourism with a Surge in Tourist Arrivals in 2026

Written By: Jishnoo Banerjee

Jishnoo Banerjee

A published author with over 9 years of experience in writing, poetry, and novel creation. Starting out on social media, Jishnoo gained recognition for engaging content in both English and Bengali. With a strong background as a news content writer, Jishnoo now contributes to a prestigious global travel magazine. Known for blending creative writing with journalism, the work seamlessly combines artistic expression with insightful reporting across different platforms.

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September 3, 2026 18:09 GMT+5:30

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Toronto surpasses Vancouver and more destinations as the US and Mexico fuel Canada tourism with a surge in tourist arrivals in 2026, highlighting the growing importance of North American inbound travel to major Canadian gateways. Based on the January–July data supplied, Toronto recorded about 1.16 million combined US and Mexican tourist arrivals, ahead of Vancouver at roughly 866,856, Montreal at 508,422 and Calgary at 418,075. The growth is being supported by two distinct trends: the US continues to provide enormous visitor volumes, while Mexico is delivering faster percentage growth at several gateways. Toronto recorded approximately 4.59% cumulative growth in US arrivals and 17.02% growth from Mexico, demonstrating how simultaneous gains from both markets are strengthening Canada’s tourism performance in 2026.

Toronto: Canada’s Biggest Air Gateway Gains from Both US and Mexican Tourism

Toronto is emerging as the strongest gateway by volume in the supplied data, with Toronto Pearson and Billy Bishop together receiving 1,096,275 US arrivals and 68,047 Mexican arrivals between January and July 2026. US traffic increased approximately 4.59% cumulatively year on year, while Mexican arrivals grew a much stronger 17.02%. The summer acceleration is particularly notable: combined US arrivals reached about 229,815 in June and 249,553 in July, while Mexican arrivals climbed to 14,514 in July. Toronto benefits from extensive North American air connectivity, a large accommodation base and strong urban tourism appeal. The figures suggest that growth is not dependent on a single source market, with both the much larger US market and the faster-growing Mexican segment contributing to inbound momentum.

Vancouver: Mexican Arrivals Outpace Toronto as US Traffic Adds Scale

Vancouver presents one of the most balanced North American inbound tourism stories. The city received 782,687 US arrivals between January and July 2026, approximately 4.14% higher year on year, alongside 84,169 Mexican arrivals, up around 8.41%. Significantly, Vancouver attracted more Mexican arrivals than any other Canadian gateway in the supplied dataset, exceeding Toronto’s 68,047. July delivered a powerful summer peak, with 208,780 US arrivals and 14,444 Mexican arrivals. Vancouver’s Pacific location gives it a distinctive position within Canadian tourism, combining major international aviation connections with city, cruise, nature and western Canada itineraries. Growth from both countries indicates that Vancouver is attracting additional visitors from two very different North American source markets rather than relying solely on its traditionally substantial US traffic.

Montreal: US and Mexican Arrivals Rise Together Despite Uneven Monthly Performance

Montreal’s tourism growth is more measured, but its scale makes the gains important. Between January and July 2026, the city received 463,080 US arrivals, approximately 1.97% above the comparable 2025 level, while Mexican arrivals reached 45,342, representing roughly 3.19% cumulative growth. The monthly trajectory was not uniformly positive: US arrivals fell year on year in June, while Mexican traffic declined in April and June. Yet the cumulative picture remained positive for both markets. July delivered a stronger finish, with 111,243 US arrivals, up 4%, and 6,936 Mexican arrivals, up 8.9%. Montreal’s distinctive French-speaking culture, festivals, gastronomy and connections with Quebec’s wider tourism economy give US and Mexican visitors opportunities to combine an urban break with a broader Canadian itinerary.

Calgary: Mexican Tourism Surges More Than 31% as US Market Holds Steady

Calgary produces the sharpest contrast between the two major source markets. US arrivals totalled 403,776 between January and July 2026 and were essentially flat at approximately +0.07% cumulatively, while Mexican arrivals surged about 31.14% to 14,299. Mexican growth was exceptionally strong early in the year, including 69% in January, 66.1% in February and 102.5% in March, before moderating but remaining positive through July. US traffic, meanwhile, weakened in May and June before returning to marginal growth in July, when arrivals reached 123,276. Calgary’s role as an aviation gateway to Alberta and the Canadian Rockies gives the city tourism importance beyond its urban boundaries. The Mexican surge therefore potentially supports not only Calgary stays but wider leisure itineraries into western Canada.

January–July 2026 Snapshot

Toronto surpasses Vancouver and more destinations as the US and Mexico fuel Canada tourism with a surge in tourist arrivals in 2026, driven by rising cross-border demand and stronger air travel from both markets.

In conclusion, Toronto surpasses Vancouver and more destinations as the US and Mexico fuel Canada tourism with a surge in tourist arrivals in 2026, reflecting the strength of Canada’s two major North American source markets. Toronto’s higher overall visitor volume gives it the lead, while Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary also benefit from simultaneous US and Mexican demand. The US continues to deliver the largest arrival volumes, while stronger percentage growth from Mexico adds another layer of momentum. Together, these trends show how expanding regional air travel and sustained visitor demand are supporting Canada tourism and strengthening major Canadian gateways throughout 2026.