Stampede Parade draws downtown crowds as Calgary kicks off 10‑day celebration
Posted Jul 3, 2026 2:59 pm.
Last Updated Jul 3, 2026 3:02 pm.
Calgary’s downtown streets filled up with hundreds of thousands of spectators early Friday morning as the annual Stampede Parade marked the official start of the 10-day event.
The parade began on 9 Avenue and 3 Street SE, moving west through the core before turning back toward 6 Avenue and 3rd Street SE.
Organizers estimating as many as 350,000 people along the route. Crowds gathered before sunrise to secure viewing spots, with some arriving as early as 5:30 a.m.
Some spectators told CityNews it was a long‑standing family tradition for them; others described a first‑time experience after travelling from out of country.
Olympians Courtney Sarault and Mikaël Kingsbury helped lead the celebration and officially open the Stampede as parade marshals.
“I don’t think there’s a better way to do my first Calgary Stampede than being a parade marshal,” says Kingsbury.
“We know how to control things within ourselves, now we’ve got to figure out how to control this horse,” said Sarault. “Once we figured that out the pressure kind of faded.”
Actor and comedian Andrew Phung took on float‑judging duties, saying he relied on instinct and emotion when choosing his favourites.
“I’m not good at judging people, but I know what I like,” says Phung. “When I see a float I love and I feel something, I want to react to it.”
“As a Calgary kid, born and raised in northeast Calgary. I get to come home for the Stampede so I’ve got to do it right.”
Other parade dignitaries this year included Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
The parade signals the start of 10 days of midway rides, chuckwagon racing, and pancake breakfasts. A roundup of what’s going on at the 2026 Calgary Stampede can be found here.
The Stampede runs until July 12.
