Why Didn’t IRCC Hold an Express Entry Draw Today?

There is still the possibility a draw could take place later today (or tomorrow) – and don’t worry, we’ll update this post if that happens – Express Entry draws rarely happen this late in the day. If no draw takes place, this will mark yet another break in IRCC’s recent pattern of holding a CEC-specific draw every second Tuesday.

Throughout 2026, almost every second Tuesday, IRCC has conducted an Express Entry draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. That pattern has been fairly consistent, with only two skipped CEC draws in February and April. The last draw was one day later than usual, taking place on a Wednesday, rather than the usual Tuesday which suggests that maybe a CEC draw will take place tomorrow.

Adding to the uncertainty, there also was no Express Entry draw for PNP candidates yesterday, June 8. That’s the first time in 2026 that IRCC has failed to conduct a PNP-targeted Express Entry draw every second Monday.

So – with no draws taking place so far this week, Express Entry candidates have taken note.

At this point, IRCC has not publicly explained why a draw has not yet occurred and they likely won’t offer an explanation. IRCC rarely makes public statements about the inner workings of Express Entry draw schedules. Deviating from a recent draw pattern does not necessarily mean a major policy change is coming. IRCC has skipped expected draws before. And – there’s always the possibility that a CEC or PNP draw will take place later today, later this week, or next week.

Still, today’s lack of draw is notable for one important reason: the number of candidates in the Express Entry pool – particularly at the CEC-draw range of 501-600 – is growing.

Key Takeaways:

• As of 5:00pm EST on June 9, 2026, IRCC has not held a CEC Express Entry draw. If no draw takes place later today, this would be another break in IRCC’s recent pattern of conducting a CEC draw every second Tuesday.
• The number of high-scoring Express Entry candidates continues to grow. The latest pool update (May 24) showed 17,945 candidates with CRS scores between 501 and 600, up from 15,659 just two weeks earlier.
• Recent CEC cut-offs have remained relatively stable between 507 and 518 points. But the most recent CEC draw on May 27 did push the CRS score cut-off to its highest point for the year at 518.
• Despite today’s missing draw, 2026 has still been a major year for CEC invitations. IRCC has already issued 37,250 CEC ITAs this year, far more than the 12,850 issued by mid-June 2025.

The Number of High-Scoring Candidates is Increasing

The latest Express Entry pool update, published on May 24, showed 17,945 candidates with CRS scores between 501 and 600. That’s a noticeable increase from the 15,659 candidates in this range on May 10. IRCC has yet to post a pool composition update for June.

This matters because recent CEC cut-offs have remained relatively stable partly due to regular invitations removing candidates from the top of the pool. Throughout 2026, CEC draws have had CRS score cut-offs between 507 and 518 points.

If high-scoring candidates continue accumulating while CEC draws remain paused, smaller, or less frequent, future CRS score cut-offs could face upward pressure. That doesn’t automatically mean scores will spike dramatically. But – it does make the next few draws especially important to watch.

IRCC has Already Issued a Large Number of Invitations This Year

2026 has already been a huge year for CEC invitations. IRCC issued 8,000 ITAs in the first CEC draw of January alone, and thousands more throughout the year. There have already been eight CEC draws in 2026, with a total number of 37,250 CEC ITAs issued so far. For context, in 2025, only 12,850 CEC ITAs were issued by mid-June.

But in recent weeks, draw sizes have become smaller. The last three CEC draws issued only 7,000 invitations each – less than the 8,000 ITAs issued in a single draw back in January. At the same time, category-based draws continue competing for space within Canada’s federal high-skilled immigration targets.

The recent decrease in CEC draw size and frequency is understandable, considering the number of invitations already issued this year. There are currently 60,900 CEC applications waiting to be processed, with an average processing time of about seven months.

For 2026, Canada’s federal high skilled admissions target is 109,000. This includes not just CEC, but other high-skilled immigration pathways such as category-based selection. So far, IRCC has already issued more than 72,000 ITAs, surpassing more than 66 percent of the annual admissions target.

What Does This Mean for CEC Candidates?

If your CRS score is close to or above the recent cut-off range of 507 to 518, you have good reason to feel cautiously optimistic. Although draws have recently been slowing down, Canada is remaining committed to welcoming high numbers of skilled worker immigrants with a priority for those with Canadian work experience.

It’s possible CEC draws could pick up at any time as Canada needs to begin processing applications to meet its 2027 target of 110,000 high skilled admissions. Based on current processing times, a CEC invitation received today likely wouldn’t be processed and counted as an admission until next year.

If your score is below the recent cut-offs, don’t panic. There may could be ways to improve your CRS score. Many candidates increase their score by retaking a language test, adding second-language results, or gaining more skilled work experience.

You should also explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). A provincial nomination adds 600 additional CRS points, which almost guarantees an ITA through Express Entry.

If you have an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, their profile may also help improve your score. Language test results, education, and Canadian work experience from your partner can all contribute additional CRS points.

Want more tips on improving your CRS score? Check out our guide.

What’s Next for CEC?

At this point, one missed draw does not necessarily signal a major shift in Express Entry strategy. But – candidates should pay close attention to three things:

1. Does a CEC draw take place later this week?
2. Does the next draw return to a higher number of ITAs?
3. In the meantime, how quickly does the number of candidates in the 501-600 CRS continue to grow?

It’s also possible that Express Entry draws could be slowing down for the next few months. The next few weeks will give a much clearer sense of where CEC cut-offs are heading for the summer.

If you’re getting ready to enter the Express Entry pool, keep in mind that IRCC recently announced plans for a massive overhaul of the Express Entry system. If it goes through, this overhaul will replace CEC, FSW, and FST with a single federal high skilled immigration program.

IRCC just ended the consultation process for their proposed changes. They haven’t yet confirmed that these reforms are taking place for certain, nor have they announced when the changes will take effect. This is an important story for CEC-hopefuls to track, as it could impact your immigration plans.

Based on what we know about the reforms, skilled workers with Canadian work experience may still be competitive under the new program, but we won’t know for sure until more details are released.

The Moving2Canada team is closely monitoring the proposed reforms and will publish any new information as soon as it becomes available.

Further Resources for CEC Candidates

• Use our  Canadian Experience Class score calculator to see where you stand and how to improve your score.
• Learn more about the latest Express Entry draws. 
• Check the state of the Express Entry pool.