2026 Just Set a Record as the Biggest Year in Express Entry History

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a Canadian Experience Class draw on August 18, 2026, bringing the total number of invitations issued in 2026 to 114,865.

That pushes 2026 past the previous record of 114,224 ITAs, set in 2021.

The new record comes after an exceptionally busy year for Express Entry. IRCC issued nearly 90,000 invitations during the first six months of 2026 alone, and draw activity remained strong through July and into August.

So, what does the new record actually tell us about Express Entry? And if IRCC has already issued more invitations than in any previous year, how many more draws should candidates expect before the end of 2026?

Express Entry Just Had Its Biggest Year Ever

Express Entry launched in 2015, and until 2020, IRCC had never issued more than 100,000 invitations in a single calendar year. That changed during the pandemic, when IRCC issued 107,350 invitations in 2020 and a record 114,224 in 2021.

Invitation levels have varied a lot since then:

The most remarkable part of the new record might be how quickly IRCC reached it. There are still more than four months remaining in 2026.

Does This Mean Express Entry Is Getting Easier?

If IRCC is issuing a record number of invitations, you might expect Express Entry to feel considerably less competitive. But – for many candidates, that hasn’t been the case.

There are still about 230,000 candidates in the Express Entry pool, and CRS cut-off scores remain high for many draw types. Express Entry has become an extremely popular pathway to Canadian permanent residence, so even record invitation levels leave tons of competitive candidates waiting in the pool.

The way IRCC selects candidates has also changed in recent years. Rather than regularly inviting the highest-ranking candidates across the entire Express Entry pool (the good ol’ General Draw), IRCC has increasingly relied on CEC and category-based draws.

That means candidates often have two hurdles to clear. First, they need to qualify for the program or category IRCC chooses to target. Then, they need a competitive CRS score compared with the other candidates eligible for that particular draw type.

We’ve seen this throughout 2026 with not a single general draw taking place. Meanwhile, Canadian Experience Class candidates and French-language candidates have received more than 90,000 ITAs total. Talk about absolutely dominating the invitations.

Other categories have had limited success, too, including healthcare, trades, physicians, transport, senior managers, and military recruits. But with limited invitations, simply qualifying for a category does not guarantee you’ll receive an invitation.

At the same time, candidates who are only eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker program and don’t meet the criteria for any of the categories targeted this year have not been considered for a single draw this year. This is regardless of how high their CRS score may be and despite taking all the necessary steps to enter the pool.

How Is Express Entry Setting Records When Canada Is Reducing Immigration?

Canada has made major cuts to its immigration targets over the past two years, so a record-breaking year for Express Entry may seem surprising. However, those reductions have not been spread evenly across Canada’s immigration programs.

Under the 2024 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada planned to admit 110,770 permanent residents through the Federal High Skilled category in 2024. Now, in 2026, the 2026 Immigration Levels Plan targets 109,000 Federal High Skilled admissions.

In other words, despite Canada’s broader immigration cuts, the target for Federal High Skilled immigration is almost identical to two years ago.

Of course, other economic immigration programs have faced much larger reductions. Provincial Nominee Programs, for example, had admissions targets of 110,000 in 2024. In 2026, those targets have fallen to 91,500.

The current Immigration Levels Plan continues to prioritize economic immigration, with the federal government saying it wants to attract skilled workers and address labour shortages. The record number of Express Entry invitations provides another indication that Federal High Skilled immigration remains a major part of that strategy.

Will Express Entry Draws Slow Down Now?

Moving2Canada expects Express Entry draws to slow down before the end of 2026.

To be clear, this is our prediction. IRCC hasn’t announced plans to reduce the frequency or size of Express Entry draws.

However, the department has now issued more invitations by August 18 than it has ever issued during an entire calendar year. At the same time, Canada’s Federal High Skilled admissions target remains broadly consistent with recent years.

So – something’s got to give!

Of course, an ITA does not immediately translate into a permanent resident admission. Candidates still need to submit their permanent residence applications and wait for IRCC to process them. Most people receiving invitations during the second half of 2026 will only become permanent residents in 2027.

IRCC might therefore be building an inventory of applications to support future admissions. But – there’s a limit to how many future applications the department needs.

If IRCC continued issuing invitations at the pace we saw during the first seven months of 2026, the annual total would climb well beyond anything seen in Express Entry’s history. With Federal High Skilled admissions targets set at 109,000 for 2026 and 111,000 for 2027, we think a slowdown before the end of the year is more likely than IRCC maintaining its current pace through December.

What Does the Record Mean for Express Entry Hopefuls?

The biggest takeaway from the new record is that Express Entry remains a major priority within Canada’s immigration system.

Canada may be reducing overall immigration levels, but the federal government is still planning to admit roughly as many Federal High Skilled immigrants as it did before those reductions began.

At the same time, record invitation levels shouldn’t be confused with an easy path to permanent residence.

Express Entry remains extremely competitive, and IRCC is becoming increasingly selective about which candidates receive invitations. Your CRS score still matters, but so does your eligibility for the programs and categories IRCC chooses to target.

Beyond this, IRCC has announced plans to implement reforms to the Express Entry system heading into 2027. This might mean some changes to how scores are calculated and which candidates are the most likely to receive ITAs. You can read all about the proposed reforms here.

IRCC has also indicate they’re considering adding and changing categories for 2027, hinting at some potential new focuses on categories targeting artificial intelligence occupations, H-1B visa holders, and more.

And while 2026 has officially become the biggest year for Express Entry invitations on record, candidates need to be prepared for the possibility that the pace of draws we’ve seen so far this year won’t continue all the way through December.