Illustration of cyclist with a crossword flag and raccoon passenger in front of the Toronto skyline.

Pencils up!

Canada’s first crossword puzzle tournament is coming to Toronto, Spring 2027.

ATTN: Cruciverbalists 📣

Here’s the across and lowdown.

Canada is home to many wonderful crossword writers, speedy solvers, and passionate puzzlers. It’s time to bring everyone together.The Canadian Crossword Open is our nation’s inaugural competitive crossword tournament, taking place in vibrant Toronto, Ontario. Spend a blissful day solving original puzzles made just for us by world‑class constructors, meeting a diverse group of fellow crossword lovers, and enjoying human-made entertainment.We aim to provide a fun, thoughtful, and accessible event for word puzzle fans and creators from across the country and beyond. Participants of any experience level (and non‑Canadians) are welcome.Follow us to stay in the loop!

Illustration of a person wearing a "Canadian Tuxedo" with a crossword puzzle in their pocket.

Aloha! Ciao! Hola! 👋

Meet your puzzle-makers.

Coming soon.

Illustration of two hockey players facing off with giant pencils on a giant crossword rink.

Ready, Set, Solve 🏁

Get all the nitty-griddy.

We’re still filling things in! Check back for tournament format, scoring, schedule, and more details.

From “Eh?” to YYZ 🦝

Toronto, solved.

Stay tuned for travel information and local recommendations. Making a trip out of your CXO experience? We’ll share plenty of pro tips on enjoying any extra time in town.

Illustration of a passenger on the Toronto subway solving a puzzle on another rider's newspaper.
Illustration of a skateboarder performing an ollie while solving puzzles in a book.

It’s Hip To Be Square 🔲

Want to play?

Registration will open in January 2027.If you’re thinking about attending, please pre-register your interest using the form below. We’ll give you a heads-up before event registration goes live!

Make Your Mark ✍️

Support this independent event.

The Canadian Crossword Open is designed to celebrate and connect our cruciverbal community through a joyful in-person experience. We’re excited to build a new tradition for crossword enthusiasts from across the country (especially those who haven’t had the chance to attend U.S. tournaments) and also welcome friends from beyond.If you’re interested in providing sponsorship or in-kind donations, covering this event in the media, or volunteering at the event, please get in touch!

Need a clue? 🤔

FAQ + Policies

Coming soon.

Solvers, take note 📋

Code of Conduct

Coming soon.