Calgary Stampede Parade kicks off 2026 season

The 2026 Calgary Stampede Parade officially got underway Friday as more than 120 parade entries rolled through downtown Calgary, opening this year's edition of the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth." More than 120 entries, including 35 floats, over 700 horses, nine marching bands, more than 30 horse entries and eight mounted colour parties, made their way along the five-kilometre route through the city's core. This year's parade was led by Canadian Olympic champions Courtney Sarault and Mikaël Kingsbury, who served as Parade Marshals following Canada's strong showing at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Calgary actor Andrew Phung returned home to serve as Celebrity Judge. Long before the midway opened or the rodeo began, hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the streets for one of North America's largest parades, reaffirming the Calgary Stampede's place as one of Alberta's defining annual traditions.