If you’ve been refreshing the IRCC website waiting for the next Express Entry draw, you’re not alone — and you’ve probably noticed something has changed. The Express Entry draws in June 2026 are following a very different rhythm than the one candidates got used to earlier this year, and understanding the new pattern could make the difference between getting your invitation and watching the cutoff climb past your score.
Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and the practical steps you can take this month to stay competitive.
What Changed With Express Entry Draws in 2026?
For the first four months of 2026, IRCC ran a fairly predictable cycle: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws roughly every two weeks, usually followed within days by a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw and a category-based draw (most often French-language proficiency).
Then May happened. IRCC held only four draws the entire month:
- May 11 – PNP: 380 invitations at CRS 798
- May 25 – PNP: 334 invitations at CRS 805
- May 27 – CEC: 3,000 invitations at CRS 518
- May 28 – French-language proficiency: 4,500 invitations at CRS 409
The gap between CEC draws stretched to 29 days — the longest pause of the year — and French-language draws followed the same four-week spacing. Only PNP rounds kept their reliable biweekly schedule.
As of mid-June, candidates are still waiting to see whether IRCC returns to the faster pace or locks in the slower one. The first full week of June passed without a CEC or category-based round, which suggests the four-week cadence may be the new normal.
Why CEC Cutoff Scores Keep Climbing
Here’s the part that affects your strategy directly. When CEC draws ran every two weeks, cutoffs stayed in a tight band between 507 and 515. The moment the gap stretched to 29 days, the May 27 cutoff jumped to 518 — even though IRCC issued 3,000 invitations, more than the 2,000 issued in each April round.
The reason is simple math: a longer gap gives more candidates time to enter the pool or improve their scores, so more people stack up at the top. With over 234,000 candidates in the Express Entry pool, even a few extra weeks of accumulation pushes the cutoff higher.
If the four-week rhythm holds, analysts expect the next CEC cutoff to land somewhere between 516 and 525, depending on draw size.
The Bigger Picture: Invitations Are Slowing Down
IRCC issued 79,841 invitations to apply (ITAs) between January and May 2026 — already approaching the 98,903 issued in all of 2024. May’s total of just 8,214 ITAs was less than half of any month from January through April. With a permanent residence processing inventory that has exceeded one million applications, IRCC has clear operational reasons to pump the brakes. More pauses in the second half of 2026 are likely.
What Each Draw Type Looks Like This Month
PNP draws are expected to continue biweekly, but they’re getting tighter — invitation counts fell from 473 in late April to 334 on May 25, while the cutoff climbed to a 2026 high of 805. A provincial nomination still adds 600 CRS points, making it one of the most powerful tools available.
CEC draws will likely land once this month, possibly in the week of June 22–25 if the four-week pattern continues. Expect 2,000–3,500 invitations with a cutoff in the high 510s to low 520s.
French-language draws remain the most accessible path in the entire system. IRCC has issued 30,500 French-language ITAs across six draws in 2026 — the largest single category — with cutoffs ranging from 393 to 419. The May 28 round landed at 409. With IRCC committed to a 9% francophone immigration target, at least one French draw per cycle is close to a sure thing.
Healthcare and trades draws are possible alternatives, with expected cutoffs of roughly 460–480 and 470–490 respectively. STEM candidates, unfortunately, are still waiting — there has been no dedicated STEM draw in over two years, despite a revised occupation list for 2026.
Your Action Plan, Based on Your CRS Score
Above 520: You’re well-positioned for CEC even at the new higher cutoffs. Keep your documents current and your language test valid — your invitation may simply arrive monthly instead of biweekly.
510–520: You’re in the squeeze zone. If draws stay on a four-week cycle, the cutoff could edge past you. Look hard at category-based eligibility and provincial nominations, and consider retaking your language test — even a small IELTS or CELPIP improvement can add meaningful points.
450–510: CEC is currently out of reach, so category-based draws are your best Express Entry route. If you work in healthcare or skilled trades, confirm your NOC code is on the eligible list. And seriously consider booking a TEF or TCF French test — reaching NCLC 7 in all four skills opens the door to cutoffs as low as 393.
Below 450: Focus on provincial nominee programs in provinces like Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, the Atlantic Immigration Program, or French-language proficiency. Improving core CRS factors — language scores, education credentials, Canadian work experience — should be your priority this summer.
Key Takeaways
- IRCC appears to have shifted CEC and category-based draws from biweekly to roughly every four weeks; PNP draws remain biweekly.
- The May 27 CEC cutoff rose to 518, and June’s round could reach 516–525.
- French-language draws are the most accessible category, with 2026 cutoffs as low as 393.
- Nearly 80,000 ITAs have already been issued in 2026, so expect slower months ahead.
- Keep your profile updated at all times — IRCC gives no advance notice, and draws can cluster within days of each other.
Don’t Wait for the Perfect Draw — Prepare for the Next One
The candidates who succeed in this slower, less predictable environment are the ones ready to act the moment an invitation lands. Update your Express Entry profile today, verify your language test hasn’t expired, and explore every category and provincial pathway you might qualify for. If your CRS score is borderline, this is the month to invest in improving it — because when the next draw cluster arrives, you’ll want to be on the right side of the cutoff. Check your eligibility and get your documents in order now.