About Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is a ten-day rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, and billed as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth." It traces its roots to 1912, when American promoter Guy Weadick staged his first Stampede, and it became an annual fixture in 1923. Today it draws well over a million visitors each year — the all-time record of nearly 1.48 million was set in 2024 — making it one of the largest events in Canada.
The Stampede blends world-class professional rodeo and heart-stopping chuckwagon races with a sprawling midway, concerts, agricultural showcases, a downtown parade and nightly fireworks. The whole city joins in: Calgarians and visitors don cowboy hats and boots, free pancake breakfasts pop up across town, and offices and bars lean into the Western theme for the duration. It is equal parts sporting competition, county fair and citywide street party.
The festival always kicks off on the first Friday of July and runs for ten days, so the exact dates shift slightly each year — in 2026 it runs July 3–12. The countdown above tracks the days, hours and minutes until opening day, recalculated in your own timezone. Bookmark it or add the Stampede to your own countdown page so you know exactly when to dust off your hat.
Upcoming dates
| 2026 | Friday, July 3, 2026next |
| 2027 | Friday, July 2, 2027 |
| 2028 | Friday, July 7, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, July 6, 2029 |
| 2030 | Friday, July 5, 2030 |
FAQ
When is the Calgary Stampede?
The Stampede opens on the first Friday of July each year and runs for ten days. In 2026 that means July 3–12; the countdown above shows the time remaining.
Why is the Calgary Stampede important?
It celebrates the ranching and Western heritage of Alberta, has run since 1912, and is one of Canada's biggest annual events, drawing over a million visitors.
What happens at the Calgary Stampede?
Professional rodeo, chuckwagon racing, a parade, concerts, a midway, agricultural shows and nightly fireworks, plus citywide pancake breakfasts and Western festivities.
How many people attend the Calgary Stampede?
It regularly tops one million visitors over ten days, with a record attendance of about 1,477,953 set in 2024.