Calgary continues to set itself apart as a world-class destination.
The latest feather in the city’s cap is that it won its bid to host the 113th Gray Cup at McMahon Stadium on November 15, 2026.
“We’re beyond thrilled to bring the Grey Cup back to Calgary in 2026,” CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie told the press. “We were blown away by the Stampeders’ bid, and we look forward to seeing their incredible vision transformed into reality.”
Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds was equally thrilled about the news. “This event will not only deliver upwards of $50 million economic impact driving big business for our hotels, restaurants and retailers, it will also bring together our love for Canadian football and showcase our Blue Sky City hospitality,” she said in a statement.
This will be Calgary’s sixth time hosting the CFL finals, the last time being in 2019. The Stampede grounds, where the festivities will be held, have seen significant upgrades since the last Grey Cup.
The Grey Cup hosts a variety of events worth checking out. The Calgary 2026 schedule has yet to be released, but this week’s Grey Cup in Vancouver gives us an idea of what Calgary will serve. It’s a five-day nonstop party packed with street festivals, drone shows, and an Indigenous marketplace.
The Grey Cup is a family-friendly event that offers many opportunities for kids to cut loose and play. Your kids can expect sports zones, prizes, and a pancake breakfast, all for free or at a low cost.
Calgary Tourism Boom
The Grey Cup bid is part of the City of Calgary’s larger goal to expand tourism—the city bid to host the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic games. Attendance at Stampede also broke records, with a whopping 1.5 million guests.
The city is expanding the BMO Center, which means that even more exciting events will be held there. This will be the case even in the winter months when it’s cold and hard to find interesting activities to do.
This is good news for Albertans. With more events happening on home turf, it’s easier not to have to worry about flying somewhere to have a memorable time. We’ll be able to enjoy more time in our own communities and have more opportunities to rub shoulders with our fellow Albertans.
