07
Jul
Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Calgary Stampede, one of Canada’s most celebrated cultural events, has entered the spotlight this year as early attendance numbers show a decline compared with 2025, raising questions about affordability, visitor experience and the future direction of the iconic festival. Stampede officials reported that 327,456 people attended during the first three days of the 2026 festival, compared with 338,971 visitors during the same period in 2025, marking a decrease of more than 11,000 attendees. The slowdown comes after a record-breaking period, with last year’s Stampede welcoming nearly 1.47 million visitors, close to the all-time attendance record set…
