The City of Cambridge has announced the return of its Seasonal Road Closure Program for 2026, bringing expanded outdoor dining and community event spaces back to downtown areas in Ontario. The program will kick off in Downtown Cambridge on May 25 and in Hespeler Village on June 5.
Starting Monday, May 25, a portion of Main Street in Downtown Cambridge, between Ainslie Street and Water Street, will be closed to vehicle traffic seven days a week. This closure is set to remain in place through Monday, October 5. In Hespeler Village, Queen Street East will be closed between Guelph Avenue and Tannery Street on weekends only, beginning Friday, June 5, and ending Sunday, August 30. These weekend closures will run from 4 p.m. on Fridays until 6 p.m. on Sundays.
The city is running the program in partnership with the Downtown Cambridge Business Improvement Area, also known as Galt on the Grand, and the Hespeler Village Business Improvement Area. First introduced in 2020 as a way to help local businesses operate during the pandemic, the initiative has grown into an annual tradition. A December 2023 survey indicated that more than 75 per cent of respondents supported continuing the closures, leading both business groups to pass resolutions requesting that the program become a permanent feature.
The streets will be used for expanded restaurant patios, pop-up markets, and live entertainment. Business owners interested in creating or expanding their outdoor spaces during these times can submit an application through the city’s online portal.
The return of the program comes during a busy political season for the city. Brian Kennedy, the former Executive Director of the Downtown Cambridge Business Improvement Area, recently resigned from his position to run for mayor against incumbent Mayor Jan Liggett in the October 2026 municipal election. Both Liggett and Kennedy have publicly supported the program for its role in boosting tourism and creating space for residents to connect.
