Calgary officially kicked off the countdown to the 113th Grey Cup on Tuesday, unveiling a nine-day celebration expected to draw 350,000 people to Stampede Park, including 30,000 visitors traveling from across the country. The Synovus Energy 2026 Grey Cup Festival runs November 11-15, and tickets are now on sale at greycupfestival.ca.
The announcement, delivered from what will become the festival's Street Festival grounds, brought together the Calgary Stampeders, Tourism Calgary, the Government of Alberta, and title sponsor Synovus Energy to lay out a week built around music, football tradition, and what organizers repeatedly called Canada's biggest party.
A Historic Leadership Team
Festival Executive Director Karen Dommett used the moment to highlight a milestone 113 years in the making. She, along with two colleagues in the room, represent the first female-led leadership team in Grey Cup Festival history.
"The 3 of us represent the first ever female-led leadership team of a Gray Cup Festival in our 113-year history," Dommett said, thanking colleagues Jenna Crapeau and Christina Bullock for the achievement.
Deborah Yedlin, co-chair of the Grey Cup committee, spoke personally about football's role in her own life and why the moment carries extra weight this year. "It's part of our Canadian identity. It's part of my identity from coast to coast," she said. "And as we know, that Canadian identity, the unity represented by the Gray Cup Festival, is more important today than it ever has been."
Street Festival, Family Zone and Accessibility
The Street Festival, presented by Suncor, will stretch across Lot 3 to the BMO Center and run daily from Thursday, November 12 through Saturday, November 14, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a kickoff party the Wednesday night before. Expect daily live music, a licensed beer garden, Atco Energy warming stations, a large-scale interactive art installation called the Beacon XL, plus a Northern Lights experience and nightly drone shows.
Inside the BMO Center, the Family Zone presented by Telus takes over two full halls with a children's stage, bouncy castles, autograph sessions with CFL Alumni Association members, and turf space for programming led by Football Alberta. Organizers also built out accessibility features including a Little Fan Zone with a private infant feeding room, and a sensory-friendly space developed with AdaptAbility featuring supportive lighting, sound management, and sign-out sensory kits.
"We want this to be a festival where everyone can take part and feel like they belong," Dommett said.
Girls in Sports Summit and Cheer Extravaganza
One of the initiatives Dommett said she's proudest of is the Girls in Sports Summit, presented by William Huff and Interpipeline, happening November 14 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. In partnership with the Girls Forward Foundation, 300 girls ages 8 to 14 will get the chance to try football or cheer with no experience required. The Cheer Extravaganza follows immediately after, bringing CFL cheerleading and dance teams from across the league together on the Saddledome floor.
Team Parties, Legends Luncheon and Tailgating
Stampeders President spoke to the traditions that make Grey Cup week what it is, starting with the CFLAA Legends Luncheon on Friday, November 13, co-presented by Surge Energy and Enzyne Energy, which will bring more than 100 CFL legends together at the Big Four Roadhouse. Starting Thursday, November 12, each CFL team gets its own party space at the BMO Center for the CFL Team Parties presented by FanDuel.
"Whether you're wearing red and white, or white and red, or any of those other colors, this is where fans from across the league come together, celebrate their teams, connect with old friends, and in all likelihood, make some new friends," the Stampeders' President said.
Gray Cup Sunday itself brings a free tailgate in the East parking lot from 1 to 5 p.m., with a FanDuel VIP Tailgate option offering elevated food and beverage and front-stage access. The president called Calgary's tailgate scene the best in the country, adding with a grin, "I guess arguably, I will argue in favor."
Government Support and a Snowbirds Send-Off
Minister of Tourism and Sport Andrew Boychenko emphasized the economic weight of the week for Alberta. "It supports tourism, creates opportunities for local businesses, and helps strengthen our local economy," he said, congratulating the festival leadership team and the nearly 950 volunteers signed up to help run the event.
One of the week's most unique moments won't happen on the field at all. Thanks to a partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces, the Grey Cup will arrive at Eau Claire Plaza on November 8 ahead of the festival's official opening, and the Snowbirds are planning their final flight to coincide with the 113th Grey Cup.
With tickets now live and the festival footprint taking shape at Stampede Park, Calgary has nine weeks to finish building what organizers keep calling the heart of the city for Grey Cup week. Full schedule and ticket details are available at greycupfestival.ca.