Housing starts in Winnipeg increased by more than 40 per cent during the first six months of 2026, marking the strongest start to a year in the city’s history and putting Winnipeg on pace to set a new annual record.
According to new figures from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, construction began on 3,124 new homes in Winnipeg between January and June, compared with 2,221 during the same period in 2025.
Winnipeg’s growth significantly exceeded the national trend. Across Canada, housing starts were down 1 per cent during the first six months of 2026.
“At a time when housing starts are slowing nationally, Winnipeg is building more housing than ever before,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “That means more homes, more choice and more opportunity for people to build a future in our city. This is the progress we need to keep pace with growth and make housing more accessible for Winnipeggers.”
Housing completions have also remained strong. CMHC reports that 2,625 new homes were completed in Winnipeg between January and June, the second-highest total ever recorded through the first six months of a year (only trailing the first half of 2024).
“This is what happens when a city does the hard work of modernizing zoning, cutting red tape, streamlining approvals and investing in the infrastructure needed for growth,” said Councillor Evan Duncan, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development.
As part of its partnership with the federal government through the Housing Accelerator Fund, Winnipeg has modernized its zoning regulations to permit more housing citywide and increased density along transit corridors and mall sites. To accelerate construction, the City has also streamlined permitting, added a dedicated housing concierge service, offered grants to incentivize new builds, and made strategic infrastructure upgrades.