CN Tower tickets for Doors Open Toronto vanish in seconds and people are furious

People hoping to score a coveted behind-the-scenes look inside the CN Tower during Doors Open Toronto 2026 were disappointed when tickets seemed to have vanished almost instantly.

Registration for the free experience, part of a broader Doors Open Ontario that gives locals a chance to learn more about the cities they live in through heritage infrastructure, opened on May 19 at exactly 10 a.m.

Residents rushed online to try and secure one of the "limited spots" for the CN Tower's first-ever participation in Doors Open Toronto, with the iconic landmark among several attractions added to this year's lineup. 

The 1,815-foot tower, which underwent a $21 million renovation earlier this year, is promising access to normally restricted operational and architectural areas to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. 

"We were anticipating this would be a hot ticket as this is the first time in the CN Tower's history that the public has been invited to visit these areas," a CN Tower representative told blogTO, adding that the team is incredibly excited to share this unique experience with those lucky enough to get a ticket.

And those who weren't so lucky expressed their frustration on social media. 

Reddit users described watching every available time slot disappear in real time, writing, "It was sold out in less than a minute. Some people didn't even get past the waiting screen." Another user said, "I went in right at 10 a.m., like seriously the second it changed to 10 a.m. When I got in, it already said all the times were sold out."

The representative said that because the tour includes "narrow passageways and tight spaces," capacity is limited in order to "ensure safety for all guests." 

The overwhelming response isn't entirely surprising given the rarity of this type of experience. Lucky ticket holders will get to see operational spaces and behind-the-scenes areas that the general public wouldn't be able to access with a regular paid ticket.

By the sounds of it, the initial tickets were sold directly through CN Tower, but later users were redirected to Eventbrite to complete their registration. Allegedly, the Eventbrite listing was password-protected, with word spreading that the password to access the registration portal was "cntower." 

"The Eventbrite ticket page was password-protected prior to the ticket release at 10 a.m. so that registration opened at the same time for all members of the public," the representative confirmed. 

So, will there be more tickets available to register? Unless there are cancellations ahead of the event, the short answer is no. There won't be any rush lines or on-site tickets available the day of the event.

"For guests that were not able to get a ticket, we invite you to take a peek at the inner workings and structural spaces that support this iconic landmark on our social channels," the representative said.

The tours are scheduled for May 23 and 24, with sessions running in 30 minutes intervals. Participants also need to meet specific physical requirements, including being comfortable with stairs, ladders, heights, and narrow passageways.

The CN Tower is located at 290 Bremner Blvd.