Short-Term Renting During the 2026 World Cup in Toronto: The Rules Before You Cash In
June 12 to July 2, six matches in Toronto — and a compliance line you can’t cross
Can I short-term rent my Toronto home during the 2026 World Cup, and what are the rules?
Yes — but there are hard compliance lines. Per the City of Toronto, a short-term rental (under 28 consecutive days) must be in your principal residence, you must register with the City ($390 for 2026) and display the registration number on every listing, entire-home rentals are capped at 180 nights per year, and you must collect the 8.5% Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) (a temporary rate increase in effect from June 1, 2025, covering the whole tournament). Toronto hosts 6 matches from June 12 to July 2, 2026.
Source: City of Toronto (Short-Term Rentals, 2026); torontofwc26.ca (schedule).
The World Cup is coming to Toronto — Canada’s opener on June 12 straight through to a Round of 32 match on July 2, six games in all. Big tournaments send short-term rental demand and prices soaring, and suddenly everyone’s a would-be Airbnb host. But Toronto has a full set of registration and tax rules for short-term rentals, and getting it wrong means fines and possible legal trouble. Here’s the compliance line for both hosts and tenants.
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First, the Toronto match schedule
Per torontofwc26.ca, Toronto (BMO Field, branded ‘Toronto Stadium’) hosts 6 matches: 5 group-stage games plus 1 Round of 32, spanning June 12 to July 2, 2026. June 12 is Canada’s home opener and the first-ever men’s World Cup match in Toronto. Accommodation demand peaks tightly around match days.
Line 1: only your principal residence qualifies
⚠️Use the City’s official $390 (2026) registration fee. The $53.22 / $375 figures floating around online are outdated — don’t budget from them.
Line 2: you must register and show the number
Line 3: entire-home rentals cap at 180 nights/year
💡 The most overlooked line item: you must collect and remit the 8.5% Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT). This rate is a temporary increase (from 6%) effective June 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026 — covering the entire World Cup period. Price it in from the start so you’re not caught short at tax time.
If you’re a tenant (not the owner)
Thinking of subletting your rental short-term to cash in on the World Cup? Pause. Under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act (2006), subletting requires your landlord’s written consent, and you cannot charge a subtenant more than your own rent. More importantly, many leases and condo by-laws flatly prohibit short-term/Airbnb rentals — even where the City’s bylaw would allow it, your building’s rules may not, and violating them can invite legal action.
🚨Tenants, take note: it’s very common for condo by-laws or leases to ban short-term rentals. The City allowing it does NOT mean your building does. Check the condo declaration and your lease first — an unauthorized STR can get you sued or evicted.
Be realistic about ‘World Cup pricing’
Frequently Asked Questions
I have an empty investment property — can I short-term rent it for the World Cup?
No. Per the City of Toronto, short-term rentals are allowed only in your principal residence — the home you actually live in. Running a dedicated STR out of an investment property or second home is a violation.
How much is the STR registration fee?
Per the City of Toronto’s official page, the 2026 fee is $390. Some blogs cite an older $53.22 or $375 — use the official figure, and remember to display your registration number on every listing.
I’m a tenant — can I sublet my rental short-term during the World Cup?
It’s risky. You’d need your landlord’s written consent, you can’t overcharge, and many leases and condo by-laws ban short-term rentals outright. The City allowing it doesn’t mean your building does — check the by-laws and your lease, or you could be sued or evicted.
Is the 8.5% accommodation tax paid by the host or the guest?
The operator (host) collects and remits it to the City, usually built into the total the guest pays. This temporary 8.5% rate is in effect through July 31, 2026, covering the entire World Cup period.
Arthur Zhao
Real Estate Broker · FRI · ABR · SRS · PSA · MCNE · E-PRO · GUILD Elite
VP & Branch Manager, Bay Street Group Inc.
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