Stampede officials said 2026 attendance numbers are only one measure they use to determine the success of any given Calgary Stampede.

Senior leadership with the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth met with media on Sunday morning, ahead of the final day, and they said that it’s the quality of experience guests have when they are there.

To that end, Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley said that in a mid-run survey of guests, 91 per cent said the Calgary Stampede met or exceeded expectations. Further, 86 per cent said they would return in the future, and 94 per cent said that they would recommend the Calgary Stampede to someone else.

Cowley said that if they finished with an average day on the Stampede grounds on Sunday, they would surpass 1.4 million guests. That would make it the third most attended Calgary Stampede in history. Day 10 of the Calgary Stampede saw 122,559 come through the gates, putting the total attendance at 1,411,954.

“We’re coming off two record years in 2024 and 2025, and so surpassing 1.4 million guests in 2026 is quite the achievement,” he said.

“Given the ongoing economic uncertainty, the affordability concerns of Canadians that have persisted for quite some time, we are absolutely honoured that 1.4 million guests chose to come to Calgary Stampede and enjoy our tremendous hospitality and our offering here, and that shows that they feel that we provide great value.”

Cowley did say that they heard from guests that on the free entry days, the lineups were long and the crowds were big.

“You will get complaints with regard to lineups and with regard to crowding. That comes with free admission, unfortunately,” he said.

Much of the delay is with regard to screening for security at the front. People have also reported that lines for rides and some of the other attractions were lengthy.

Lands expansion will help growth

Cowley said that once the Scotiabank Saddledome comes down upon completion of Scotia Place and the land transfers back to the Calgary Stampede, they’ll have 11 additional acres to work with.

“It’s 11 acres that we get to add to our park. When we talk about 1.4 million people over 10 days, it would be much more manageable if 140,000 people would come each day, that’s not the way it works. That is not the way it works,” he said.

“There are preferred days, particularly those that are free admission, and so we have to be able to flex and accommodate a larger crowd on certain days, and the incorporation of those 11 acres will allow us to do that.”

That expansion is part of the Calgary Stampede’s 20-year master plan, which was unveiled earlier this year.

Stuart O’Connor, Calgary Stampede president and chair of the board, said that every year, a special energy builds for the 10-day event.

“You can feel the excitement from community gatherings and pancake breakfasts to concerts and celebrations that have touched every single corner of this city,” he said.

“Stampede is our World Cup that brings Calgary together for a massive citywide event each and every year.”

While Cowley said he understands that not everyone can make it down to Stampede Park during the 10-days in July, he noted that celebrations are happening all across Calgary so people can still participate in the Stampede spirit.

“We actually take great pride in that because those celebrations, those gatherings where people come together in fellowship, they wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for the Calgary Stampede,” he said.

“We’ve operated on these lands since 1889. The city has grown up around us, and I would submit to you that that’s why this event permeates the city, unlike any event that I’ve seen anywhere. The closest thing I’ve ever seen to it is Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where the entire city absolutely embraces the event, and they celebrate in their own way.”

Next year’s Calgary Stampede will go from July 9 to 18, 2027.

Day 10 rodeo and chuckwagon results

It was a big day at the Calgary Stampede rodeo and at the Rangeland Derby, with the big cheques being handed out in one of the biggest paydays on the circuit.

In bareback, Bradlee Miller from Huntsville, Texas, rode OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks to a 92.5 to collect his $50,000 cheque, while Wyatt Casper from Miami, Texas, squeezed out a half-point win (90.5) over fellow Texan Gus Gaillard. On the bulls, Noah Lee from Mineral Wells, Texas, was the only rider who hung on in the final round, scoring a 77 aboard Whiskey at Noon.

Hailey Kinsel from Cotulla, Texas, edged out Hayle Gibson-Stillwell by less than two-tenths with a 16.802 in ladies barrel racing to capture $50,000. In tie-down roping, Zach Jongbloed from Iowa, Louisiana, locked in a 7.2 to take home the $50,000. In steer wrestling, Riley Duvall from Checotah, Oklahoma, locked up a 3.9 to capture the day’s top money. Finally, in breakaway roping, Cheyanne McCartney from Kingston, Oklahoma, locked up her $50,000 payday with a run of 2.7 seconds.

On the GMC Stadium track, Jamie Laboucane was steady all week long, and then fast when it counted, as he logged the fastest time of the night at 1:10.12 to capture the $50,000 in chuckwagons. Jason Glass worked his way into second place, and Chanse Vigen was third.

Photos by Sean Libin / For LiveWire Calgary