The 114th edition of the Calgary Stampede concluded on Sunday, with organizers reporting a turnout of over 1.4 million visitors during the 10-day festival. Although this year’s attendance figures did not surpass the record-breaking numbers of the 2024 and 2025 Stampedes, CEO Joel Cowley expressed satisfaction with the event’s success.
Cowley mentioned to the media that the 2026 Stampede is likely to rank as the third most-attended in history, emphasizing the achievement of exceeding 1.4 million guests despite economic uncertainties and ongoing affordability issues for Canadians. To address these concerns, the Stampede implemented strategies such as offering four free-admission days and organizing various off-park community activities like pancake breakfasts and downtown events.
Approximately 70% of attendees hailed from Calgary and the surrounding region, with 11% from other parts of Alberta, 12% from different Canadian provinces, and the remaining 7% coming from international locations. Cowley highlighted that the external visitors contribute significantly to the economic impact generated by the Stampede, citing last year’s event as having generated $389 million in economic activity across Alberta.
Stampede President Stuart O’Connor praised this year’s festivities, commending the record-breaking Stampede parade with 125 entries and the diverse lineup of over 100 artists performing at the Calgary Stampede concerts. He also mentioned the successful Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races and other rodeo competitions that captivated attendees.
Despite the overall success, an incident during the Saturday night chuckwagon races, where a horse was injured, reignited concerns about animal welfare at the event. Cowley assured that the injured horse was being cared for at a top veterinary clinic in Alberta, with hopes for its recovery.
The Vancouver Humane Society, a vocal critic of the rodeo and chuckwagon races, expressed disappointment over the incident, labeling it as part of a recurring pattern of accidents and animal fatalities. This incident adds to past controversies, including horse deaths in previous Stampede editions.
Cowley remains optimistic about the future of the Calgary Stampede, citing the recently unveiled 20-year master plan for Stampede Park as a foundation for a promising trajectory. With positive feedback from guests and ongoing enhancements in various aspects of the event, including security, crowd control, cleanliness, and overall presentation, Cowley believes the Stampede is well-positioned for continued success. Additionally, the forthcoming demolition of the Scotiabank Saddledome will free up land, enabling better crowd management and event capabilities.
