Express Entry draws have already set a pace in 2026 that no recent year has matched, and the draws are not done yet.
Through October 1, the 2026 total had already exceeded the highest full-year total from the past three years by more than 21,000 invitations.
That total already exceeds the full-year invitation counts from 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The first Express Entry draw of October landed on October 1 with a trades-occupation round issuing 3,500 invitations at a CRS cutoff of 476.
With the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan expected around early November and Prime Minister Carney’s recent remarks about Canada eventually resuming controlled population growth, October’s draws will be closely watched for signals about IRCC’s direction heading into 2027.
Table of Contents
When Is The Next Express Entry Draw Expected?
IRCC has been running Express Entry draws in biweekly clusters throughout the second half of 2026.
Each cluster typically opens with a Provincial Nominee Program round, followed by a Canadian Experience Class draw and one or more category-based rounds on consecutive or near-consecutive days.
The most recent cluster ran from September 28 through October 1, with a PNP draw on September 28, a CEC draw on September 29, and a trades-occupation draw on October 1.
Based on that biweekly pattern, the next cluster of Express Entry draws could reasonably be expected around the week of October 12.
A PNP round would likely open the cluster, followed by a CEC draw and a category-based round.
Among the category-based options, a French-language proficiency draw appears to carry a higher probability for the next cluster, given that the most recent French draw was on August 19 and IRCC has consistently prioritized this category to support its Francophone immigration targets.
That said, the possibility of a healthcare, trades, or other category-based round in October cannot be ruled out, as IRCC has rotated categories throughout 2026.
Three other 2026 categories remain wildcards for October.
IRCC has designated STEM occupations, education occupations and researchers with Canadian work experience as current Express Entry categories, but none had received a draw through October 1.
A first round in any of these categories therefore remains possible, although there is no 2026 CRS history available to project a cutoff.
Expected CRS Cutoff Ranges For October 2026 Draws
The following table summarizes the CRS cutoff ranges observed across 2026 for each draw category, along with the most likely October range based on recent trends.
| Draw Category | October Projection | Recent Trend | 2026 Low | 2026 High |
| CEC | 515-520 | 518-521 | 507 | 523 |
| PNP | 710-750 | 725-734 | 697 | 805 |
| French-Language | 385-410 | 382-391 | 382 | 420 |
| Healthcare | 465-480 | 475 | 467 | 475 |
| Trades | 470-480 | 476 | 476 | 477 |
| Senior Managers | 385-420 | 389 | 389 | 429 |
| Physicians | 170-225 | 198 | 169 | 223 |
Canadian Experience Class cutoffs have operated within a narrow 507 to 523 band throughout 2026, with the three most recent rounds at 521, 519, and 518, showing a gradual decline from the August peak of 523.
If IRCC continues the 2,000-invitation size used in each of the three September CEC rounds, CRS cutoffs in October could hold between 515 and 520.
Provincial Nominee Program cutoffs have varied widely in 2026, ranging from 697 to 805 depending on how many provincial nominees have accumulated in the pool between rounds.
French-language proficiency draws have delivered the lowest CRS cutoffs among the high-volume Express Entry draw categories, ranging from 382 to 420 across ten rounds and 50,500 total invitations in 2026.
How 2026 Express Entry Invitation Volumes Compare To Recent Years
The scale of 2026’s Express Entry activity becomes clear when placed alongside the previous three years.
| Period | Draws | Total ITAs | Status |
| 2026 to Oct 1 | 59 | 135,215 | Ongoing |
| 2025 Full Year | 58 | 113,998 | Complete |
| 2024 Full Year | 52 | 98,903 | Complete |
| 2023 Full Year | 42 | 110,266 | Complete |
As of October 1, 2026, Express Entry draws have already exceeded the highest full-year total from the past three years by more than 21,000 invitations.
By the same date in 2025, IRCC had issued only 66,838 invitations across 40 draws, meaning 2026’s pace through October 1 is roughly double what it was a year ago.
The 2024 pace through the same date was 84,874 invitations across 37 draws, while 2023 had recorded 86,048 across 31 draws.
Who Got The 135,215 Express Entry Draw Invitations In 2026?
The distribution of invitations across draw categories in 2026 reveals IRCC’s priorities.
| Category | Draws | ITAs | Share |
| Canadian Experience Class | 17 | 55,250 | 40.9% |
| French-Language Proficiency | 10 | 50,500 | 37.3% |
| Healthcare & Social Services | 3 | 11,500 | 8.5% |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 19 | 9,270 | 6.9% |
| Trades Occupations | 2 | 6,500 | 4.8% |
| Other Categories* | 8 | 2,195 | 1.6% |
| Total | 59 | 135,215 | 100% |
CEC and French-language proficiency draws together account for approximately 78% of all invitations issued in 2026.
This concentration reflects IRCC’s dual emphasis on candidates with Canadian work experience and on meeting federal Francophone immigration targets outside Quebec.
Could IRCC Skip A Biweekly Round In October?
With 135,215 invitations already issued through October 1, 2026, it has surpassed the full-year totals from each of the past three years, with three months still remaining.
That volume raises a reasonable question about whether IRCC might slow the draw pace in the final quarter.
It would not be surprising if IRCC skips a biweekly cluster or extends the gap between rounds at some point in October or November.
However, there is an important nuance that makes a complete stop unlikely.
The annual Federal High Skilled economic immigration target is not directly comparable to the number of Express Entry invitations issued in a calendar year.
The Federal High Skilled target is 109,000 permanent resident admissions for 2026 and currently 111,000 for 2027.
However, the 135,215 Express Entry invitations issued through October 1 also include 9,270 invitations from Provincial Nominee Program rounds, which are supported by a separate PNP admissions allocation.
There is another important distinction: an Express Entry ITA is issued to an individual candidate, while the Immigration Levels Plan targets count permanent resident admissions, including principal applicants and their accompanying family members.
IRCC must also account for invited candidates who do not submit an application, applications that are refused, and processing that crosses calendar years.
With Express Entry candidates having up to 60 days to submit an application and federal high-skilled applications operating under a six-month service standard, many invitations issued late in 2026 will feed the 2027 admissions pipeline rather than 2026 admissions.
That distinction gives IRCC room to continue issuing invitations even though the raw ITA count has already exceeded recent full-year totals.
What Carney’s Signal Means For The New Levels Plan
Two developments are worth watching alongside the October draw schedule.
In a New York Times interview reported on September 29, Prime Minister Mark Carney said that with Canada’s immigration system back under control, the question is now when Canada resumes a “controlled increase” in population.
Those remarks, while not specific to Express Entry, suggest the government is beginning to consider moving beyond its current period of immigration restraint.
The 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan is expected around early November and will set the first official 2029 targets for permanent resident admissions and new temporary resident arrivals.
If the new plan maintains the current Federal High Skilled target of 111,000 for 2027 or increases it, that would support continued federal Express Entry draw activity through the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
If the plan signals restraint, the draw pace could adjust accordingly.
Either way, IRCC is likely to continue draws through October given the government’s emphasis on economic immigration and the need to maintain a pipeline of approved applicants for 2027.
September-October 2026 Express Entry Draw Clusters
The most recent draw clusters illustrate the pattern that October is likely to follow.
| Date | Category | ITAs | CRS |
| Oct 1 | Trades Occupations | 3,500 | 476 |
| Sep 29 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 518 |
| Sep 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 725 |
| Sep 16 | Senior Managers | 250 | 389 |
| Sep 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 519 |
| Sep 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 576 | 734 |
| Sep 4 | Healthcare & Social Services | 3,500 | 475 |
| Sep 3 | Physicians | 229 | 198 |
| Sep 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 521 |
| Aug 31 | Provincial Nominee Program | 562 | 697 |
The pattern is consistent: each cluster opens with PNP, adds CEC the next day, and closes with a category-based draw.
The gap between the early-September cluster and the mid-September cluster was approximately two weeks, and the gap between mid-September and the late-September/October cluster was also approximately two weeks.
What October Could Mean For Different Candidates
Candidates with CRS scores above 518 remain well positioned for CEC draws at current volumes.
The three consecutive CRS decreases since the August peak of 523 suggest that competitive pressure in the CEC pool is easing gradually, though the cutoff is unlikely to drop below 510 at 2,000-invitation volumes.
Candidates holding valid provincial nominations continue to receive invitations in every PNP cluster round, with the 600-point CRS bonus placing them well above every cutoff recorded in 2026.
French-speaking candidates with TEF Canada or TCF Canada results at NCLC 7 or higher in all four language abilities should watch for the next French-language proficiency draw, which could offer a CRS cutoff roughly 100 to 130 points below the CEC threshold.
Candidates who meet the full eligibility requirements for healthcare, trades or transport category-based selection, including the required work experience in an eligible occupation, may find opportunities at CRS cutoffs in the 465 to 480 range, though these rounds are less predictable in timing.
For candidates who already have strong French or can realistically reach NCLC 7 in all four abilities, taking an approved TEF Canada or TCF Canada test can be one of the highest-impact strategies, because French-language draws have consistently delivered the lowest cutoffs among high-volume Express Entry categories in 2026.
Another important 2026 trend is the absence of general Express Entry rounds.
Through October 1, IRCC had not held a single general round this year, meaning candidates outside the CEC, PNP and targeted category pathways should not assume that a general draw will return in October.
October 2026 arrives with Express Entry at a crossroads.
IRCC has already issued more invitations through the first nine months of 2026 than in any complete year since at least 2023, and the draw machinery shows no sign of stopping entirely.
The next biweekly cluster is likely around mid-October, and a PNP round followed by a CEC draw and a category-based round remains the most probable sequence.
Whether IRCC extends the gap between clusters or skips a round entirely will depend on internal planning that candidates cannot see from outside.
The more consequential development is the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan expected in early November, which will set the framework for Express Entry invitation volumes in the years ahead.
Candidates should ensure their Express Entry profiles are up to date, their language test results are current, and their NOC codes are correctly mapped to the 2021 classification that IRCC continues to use.
The draws are still coming, and the next one could arrive within days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When is the next Express Entry draw expected in October 2026?
Based on the biweekly cluster pattern IRCC has maintained throughout the second half of 2026, the next Express Entry draw cluster could arrive around the week of October 12. The cluster would likely include a Provincial Nominee Program round, a Canadian Experience Class draw and at least one category-based round.
What CRS score do I need for an Express Entry invitation in October 2026?
CRS requirements vary by draw category as CEC draws have required scores between 515 and 523 in recent months, PNP draws between 697 and 805, and French-language proficiency draws between 382 and 420. Healthcare draws have ranged from 467 to 475 in 2026, while trades draws have ranged from 476 to 477. The single transport draw had a CRS cutoff of 470.
Has Canada already issued more Express Entry invitations in 2026 than in all of 2025?
Yes, through October 1, 2026, IRCC had issued approximately 135,215 Express Entry invitations across 59 rounds. The full-year 2025 total was 113,998 invitations across 58 draws, meaning 2026 had already exceeded that total with three months remaining.
Could IRCC stop Express Entry draws before the end of 2026?
A complete stop is unlikely because invitations issued in late 2026 will largely count toward 2027 permanent resident admissions rather than 2026 admissions. IRCC must account for candidates who never apply after receiving an ITA, application refusals and processing timelines that extend into the following year. However, IRCC could extend the gap between biweekly clusters or reduce invitation volumes per round.
Will the new 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan affect Express Entry draws in October?
The new plan is expected around early November, so it is unlikely to directly change October draws. However, the plan will set the Federal High Skilled admissions targets for 2027, 2028 and 2029, which will be a major factor in federal Express Entry invitation volumes. PNP-specific Express Entry draws will also be influenced by the separate Provincial Nominee Program allocations. Prime Minister Carney’s recent remarks about resuming controlled population growth suggest the government may be open to maintaining or increasing economic immigration targets.
Fact-Checked: All Express Entry draw dates, invitation counts, CRS cutoffs and draw categories cited in this article were verified against the official IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations page on Canada.ca as of October 5, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Draw predictions represent professional analysis based on observed patterns by Immigration News Canada team and may not reflect actual IRCC decisions. Readers should consult a qualified immigration professional or review the official IRCC Express Entry page for authoritative program information before making immigration decisions.
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