The 114th edition of the Calgary Stampede concluded on Sunday, with over 1.4 million attendees, according to event organizers. Although not reaching record attendance levels seen in 2024 and 2025, CEO Joel Cowley praised this year’s turnout as a significant success. Cowley highlighted the challenges of economic uncertainty and affordability concerns faced by Canadians, making the achievement of surpassing 1.4 million guests in 2026 noteworthy.
To address affordability issues, the Stampede introduced four free-admission days and various community events outside the park, such as pancake breakfasts and downtown activities. A significant portion of attendees, about 70%, were from Calgary and nearby regions, with 11% from other parts of Alberta, 12% from elsewhere in Canada, and 7% international visitors. Cowley emphasized the economic impact generated by outside visitors, citing last year’s Stampede contributing $389 million to Alberta’s economy.
Stampede president Stuart O’Connor described this year as outstanding, with highlights including the largest parade in recent memory, featuring 125 entries, and an impressive lineup of over 100 artists at the Stampede concerts. The event also featured popular attractions like the Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races and Indigenous relay racing, drawing enthusiastic audiences.
However, an incident during the chuckwagon races on Saturday raised concerns about animal welfare, with one horse sustaining a serious injury. The Vancouver Humane Society criticized the incident, calling it part of a troubling pattern of incidents and animal fatalities at the Stampede.
Despite these challenges, Cowley remains optimistic about the Stampede’s future, citing a new 20-year master plan for Stampede Park unveiled in March. The positive feedback from attendees, along with improvements in security, crowd management, and park facilities, signal a promising outlook. Additionally, upcoming plans to demolish the Scotiabank Saddledome will free up land for better crowd management, ensuring the Stampede is well-prepared for future success.