The Calgary Stampede 2026 runs from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 12, 2026 — ten days of rodeo, chuckwagon racing, concerts and midway thrills in Calgary, Alberta. Watch the time tick down on our live Calgary Stampede countdown.
When is the Calgary Stampede 2026?
The Stampede always opens on the first Friday of July and runs for ten days. In 2026 that means July 3 through July 12. Because the rule is fixed to the first Friday, the dates shift slightly each year, but the festival reliably lands in early-to-mid July, right around Canada Day weekend.
What is the Calgary Stampede?
Billed as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," the Stampede dates back to 1912, when American promoter Guy Weadick staged his first rodeo and Wild West show. It became an annual fixture in 1923 and now draws well over a million visitors a year — a record of roughly 1,477,953 was set in 2024 — making it one of the largest events in all of Canada.
What happens at the Stampede?
- Professional rodeo — bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling and more.
- Chuckwagon races — the heart-stopping "Rangeland Derby" each evening.
- The Stampede Parade — a downtown spectacle that kicks off opening day.
- Midway, concerts and the Grandstand Show, capped by nightly fireworks.
- Free pancake breakfasts across the city, with Calgarians in cowboy hats and boots.
Count down to the Stampede
Open the live Calgary Stampede countdown for the exact days, hours and minutes until opening day, explore more countdown tools, or create your own countdown for your trip to Calgary.