Shop more than 150 outdoor and lifestyle brands and services; attend live talks from cottage real estate, gardening, DIY, and lifestyle experts; and get ready for summer outdoors
April 10–12 | EY Centre, Ottawa
The Cottage Life & Backyard Show returns April 10–12 to the EY Centre in Ottawa.
OTTAWA, ON – April 1, 2026 – Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Cottage Life & Backyard Show returns from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12 to Ottawa’s EY Centre to help visitors make the most of the great outdoors. Bringing together close to 200 exhibitors under one roof, visitors can shop pre-seasoned deals on the latest water toys, innovative building products, green solutions, Canadian art and decor, and more. The three-day event also features a wide breadth of experts delving into topics that impact life at the cottage, from growing your own vegetables and waterwise gardening to addressing common cottage challenges, including aging at the cottage, wildlife management. and succession planning. Tickets are on sale now at cottagelife.com/shows.
The recent popularity of hockey romance Heated Rivalry has spurred interest in cottage rentals in Ontario this summer,* while the real estate market remains steady for 2026. Cottages continue to attract interest from U.S. buyers, Canadians investing locally, and retirees seeking waterfront properties for full-time living, though many prospective buyers are taking a wait-and-see approach amid the state of global affairs.* To help prospective buyers and renters find their perfect getaway, the show’s Cottage Real Estate Centre offers expert advice on the recreational market and new listings to explore.
New this year, the Ask a Garden Expert booth offers free, unbiased advice from the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton, who will share science-based tips to support sustainable gardening and help gardens thrive. Also, kids of all-ages can enjoy the Paint Your Own Birdhouse workshop, where visitors can paint and take home a one-of-a-kind birdhouse for their backyard.
Cottage Life & Backyard Show Program Highlights
Main Stage
Find best-in-class expertise, advice and tips on gardening, real estate, DIY projects, and life-saving skills for summer at the cottage. This year’s Main Stage lineup includes:
- Waterwise Gardening (Friday, April 10 at 3 p.m.)
As climate change brings hotter temperatures and more frequent extreme precipitation events, including both droughts and flooding, gardeners are being challenged to rethink how they care for their landscapes. Rebecca Last, Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton explores practical strategies for adapting to a changing climate through water-wise gardening. Attendees will learn how to manage water more effectively while supporting healthy, resilient gardens. - The Must Ask Waterfront Questions (Friday, April 10 at 5 p.m.)
Michael Fyke and Jenna Rath of The Michael Fyke Real Estate Team will guide attendees through the must-ask questions when considering a waterfront property. With a focus on today’s evolving real estate market, the presentation will explore key considerations such as shoreline access and water quality, zoning and permitting, septic and well systems, and insurance and maintenance requirements.
- Growing Vegetables at the Cottage – Yes You Can (Saturday, April 11 at 3 p.m.)
Joanne McRae, Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton, teaches the basics of growing vegetables, along with practical strategies to address common challenges at remote properties. From managing deer eating crops to addressing inconsistent watering and soil acidity, attendees will learn how to manage conditions often found at the cottage with approaches tailored to these unique environments. - The 3 Life-Saving Skills for Summer (Saturday, April 11 at 4 p.m.)
James Richards, CD, First Aid Plus, will demonstrate three essential life-saving skills for the summer: how to respond in a bleeding emergency, how to assist someone who is choking, and how to perform CPR and use an AED. Designed to build confidence in real-life situations, this presentation will equip attendees with the knowledge and techniques needed to act quickly and effectively in an emergency. - 5 Common Cottage Problems and How to Solve Them (Daily: Friday, April 10 at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 11– Sunday, April 12 at 12 p.m.)
Alysha Vandertogt, Managing Editor of Cottage Life magazine, addresses some of the most common questions the editorial team gets in their Q&A column, offering expert tips on everything from wildlife management to aging at the cottage. - Cottage Coach: Clever DIY Tricks Every Cottager Should Know (Daily: Friday, April 10– Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m.)
Cottage Coach and DIY enthusiast Adam Holman shares tips and tricks that are helpful to new cottage owners and veterans alike.
See HERE for the full lineup of presentation speakers/topics.
NEW: Paint Your Own Birdhouse
Paint, decorate, and personalize a birdhouse in this hands-on activity designed for the whole family. Visitors can create a one-of-a-kind birdhouse to take home, adding a personal touch to their outdoor space.
NEW: Ask A Garden Expert
Visitors can connect with the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton for free, unbiased advice and creative solutions to help bring their garden vision to life. Whether troubleshooting a struggling plant or planning a new garden project, attendees can stop by for friendly, expert guidance and discover how the right knowledge can help their garden flourish.
Cottage Real Estate Centre
Visitors can explore opportunities ranging from vacant land to turnkey properties and cottages ready for renovation, all while connecting with experienced realtors in one place. Attendees can ask questions, browse listings, and receive expert guidance on navigating today’s cottage real estate market and planning their next steps.
General Store
Discover a curated selection of handmade, artisanal, and niche Canadian products in the General Store, where artisans, makers, and small businesses showcase unique gifts, décor, and cottage-inspired finds. Visitors can explore items that add character to any cottage or make thoughtful gifts for fellow cottagers. Each piece reflects the creativity of local makers, offering a meaningful way to support small businesses while finding something truly one-of-a-kind to bring home.
Cottage Life Booth
Visitors can pin their vacation destination on the cottage country map, grab a free pin with their cottage region on it and shop for official Cottage Life merch at the booth. Plus, relax on Muskoka chairs in the Cottage Life viewing lounge and watch popular series airing on Cottage Life TV, BBC Earth, Makeful and Smithsonian Channel, all currently available in free preview nationwide.
Backyard Party
The show’s popular social hub offers a relaxed setting reminiscent of a backyard gathering, where visitors can enjoy refreshing beverages and take a break from exploring the show. Proudly serving beverages from Wild Lot Farm Distillery, the space provides an inviting spot to mix and mingle, unwind, and enjoy a drink.
For the latest show additions, list of exhibitors, and to purchase tickets, visit: cottagelife.com/shows.
-30-
MEDIA NOTE: For high-res images click here.
Notes to Editor: For media accreditation or interview requests, please contact Ally Medeiros.
*Sources:
Cottage Life Magazine: Is Heated Rivalry—and its iconic cottage episode—upping an interest in cottage rentals this summer?
Royal LePage Real Estate Services
Show Hours:
Friday, April 10: 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, April 11: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 12: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location:
EY Centre
4899 Uplands Drive
Ottawa, ON K1V 2N6
Enter at Hall 2
Admission:
General Admission (18+): $13.50
Seniors (65+): $11
Youth (12-17): $9
Child (4-11): $6
Children (3 & under): Free
Specials:
Family Pass: 2 General Admission (18+) plus up to 4 Youth/Child any one day of the show: $40
Friday after 5 pm – 2 for 1: 2 General Admission (18+) can enter for the price of 1 after 5 p.m.: $6.75
*All admission tickets include HST.
Social Media:
Instagram: @cottagelifeshows / @cottagelife
Facebook: @cottagelife
Media Contact:
Ally Medeiros, Communications Assistant
Blue Ant Media
ally.medeiros@blueantmedia.com
Blue Ant Media produces consumer show events across Canada, bringing together thousands of attendees each year at some of the country’s leading home, cottage and lifestyle events. Collectively, Blue Ant Media’s consumer show portfolio welcomes more than 200,000 visitors annually at the National Home Show, Fall Home Show, Home + Backyard Show, Spring Cottage Life Show and Fall Cottage Life Show in Toronto; Cottage Life & Backyard Show; Spring Baby Show Toronto; Fall Baby Show Toronto; Fall Baby Show Vancouver; and Seasons Christmas Show in Toronto.
About Blue Ant Media Corporation:
Blue Ant Media (TSX: BAMI) is an international streamer, production studio, advertising sales, and rights-management business. The company operates a diverse portfolio of free streaming and pay TV channels internationally, including Love Nature, Cottage Life, Smithsonian Channel Canada, BBC Earth Canada, HauntTV, Homeful, and Love Pets, as well as the subscription streaming service MagellanTV. Its studio business produces and distributes a wide range of premium content across key genres for streaming and broadcast platforms worldwide. Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto, with a presence in London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, Singapore, Sydney, Halifax, Ottawa and Vancouver. blueantmedia.com⼁Instagram⼁LinkedIn