The CNE is getting an orchestra literally made of garbage for 2026

The 2026 CNE already promises some exciting new attractions, but another is giving a new meaning to garbage — er, garage — band.

The Canadian National Exhibition is known for a lot of things: midway rides that give you Final Destination flashbacks, draining your wallet trying to win a stuffed Minion the size of a fully grown adult, dastardly (but occasionally surprisingly good) flavour combinations on festival foods.

This year, the Ex is getting a new attraction that has nothing to do with any of those things, but may just get people talking, or at the very least, singing, nonetheless.

With its new CNE installation, The Junkestra Music Garden, Rockstar Music is turning one man's trash into another man's tunes with a 10-piece orchestra created completely from recycled materials.

Think a xylophone made from 40 old hockey sticks, a bass from a cedar 2x4, and a wall of paint cans tuned to play every note of the scale when struck.

You don't even need any preexisting musical training to carry a tune. Burgeoning musicians can scan a code on each instrument, and your phone will cue you with coloured notes coinciding with notes on the instrument, helping you to play a repertoire of 20 songs.

There's a role for everyone, whether on the 30-drum line or live microphones.

The best part of all? If your buddy tells you you're "garbage at playing" while you attempt your concerto, you have full license to correct them: "No, I'm playing garbage."

You'll be able to find the Junkestra Music Garden at the CNE Kids' World daily throughout the exhibition from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.