Bearfest is returning to Cochrane, Ontario this year with a new look, adding mega truck racing and country music to the lineup. The event runs Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30, 2026 at the Chalmers Street Snow Dump.
This marks a change from previous years when Bearfest was held in early summer. The festival began in 2024 as a celebration of the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat’s 20th anniversary. Now in its third year, organizers are bringing in motorsport for the first time.
The 2026 edition is headlined by Sudbury-based country artist Larry Berrio. He is known for mixing powersports themes into his music. Opening the show is Invocate, a heavy metal band from Timmins that won last year’s Battle of the Bands competition.
Racing fans can expect drag racing, bounty hole, and freestyle competitions. The events feature mega trucks, ATVs, and side-by-side vehicles. Several Ontario racing organizations are taking part, including Ontario Offroad Racing, OMR Mud Racing, Carlow Off-Road Racing, Can X Racing Ontario, and Off Road Ontario.
Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite. A weekend VIP pass costs $50 for ages 13 and up. Single-day passes are $30. Children aged 6 to 12 get in for $10, and kids 5 and under are free. All tickets include both the racing and the concert. The deadline to buy advance tickets is midnight on August 27, 2026. Gate prices, if tickets remain, will be $40 for a day pass (ages 13+) and $15 for children 6–12.
The event is hosted by Tourism Cochrane and the Town of Cochrane. Key organizers include Chantal Joanis, the town’s recreation supervisor, and Renee Vezeau Beaulieu, executive director of Tourism Cochrane.
More details on the full weekend schedule are expected closer to the event date.
