Boots On: It’s Stampede Time
Stampede Week is back at the Grounds, and this year's lineup might be the best one yet. From July 22 to 25, 2026, the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede brings rodeo, big-name concerts, a full Midway, and a week of entertainment for all ages.
Rodeo Royalty Week Kicks Things Off
Before Stampede Week even starts, there's a full slate of Rodeo Royalty events worth putting on your calendar. It's a nice reminder that Stampede is more than just one week and about a lot more than just corndogs and rides!
July 9 — Horsemanship, 7pm at the Grandstand (free entry with a Food Bank donation)
July 10 — Speech Night at Higdon Hall, doors at 5:30pm, dinner at 6pm, speeches at 7pm. Tickets: $35
July 11 — Fashion Show at Higdon Hall, doors at 12:30pm, show at 1pm (free with a donation to the royalty fund)
July 24 — Crowning at the Summer Pro Rodeo. Tickets: $40
All Breed Horse Show
July 17–19 brings the All Breed Horse Show to the grounds, with indoor stabling available. It's a full three days:
Friday: Dressage and Western Dressage at 8am, English at 5pm
Saturday: Hunter at 8am, Reining at 2pm, Ranch Horse at 5pm
Sunday: Western at 8am, Trail at 9am, Speed at 3pm
If you know your way around a saddle, or just love watching people who do, this one's worth the trip out before Stampede Week even starts.
Summer Jam
This is the night showcasing the best music Southern Alberta has to offer.
Date: July 20
Preshow: 6:00pm from the Derek Hintz Trio
Concert: 7:00pm
Lineup: Mahoney Phoenix; Dueling Pianos with Jared Brake and Tyler Casat; Heartset; Troublemakin' Troubadours; Snakes & The Riot; Rhine Stone (rising star)
Stampede Week: July 22–25
2026 Gate Admission
Adult: $12 • Child: $6
$4 Days :Wednesday and Friday from 12-3 p.m.
Night Shows
The 2026 Summer Night Shows lineup is stacked. Tom Cochrane and Barney Bentall open Stampede Week on Wednesday, July 22, and Johnny Reid closes it out with Morgan Klaiber on Saturday, July 25. Two Canadian icons, one Stampede Week, grab your tickets early for these ones.
Ticket packages, which include one ticket to both shows, are $145, while individual tickets are $80 per concert.
The Summer Pro Rodeo
The rodeo runs July 23–25 as part of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Tour, which pulls in some of the biggest names in the sport for a stretch of high-profile stops across the country. If you've never sat in the Grandstand for a rodeo before, this is the one to start with.
Events: Bucking broncs, bull riding, barrel racing, and more
Schedule: Thursday & Friday performances start at 8:00pm; Saturday finale starts at 1:30pm
The CF Stampede Parade
Rolls into Medicine Hat early morning on July 23. Watch floats, horses, marching bands, and community entries, or register now to participate. Arrive early and bring a chair! Folks arrive as early as 6am on the day, and there’s limited seating just a few hours after!
Want to join in? Register for the parade here.
Servus Kiddies Day
Bring your little cowboys and cowgirls out for a day full of fun in Co-op Pioneer Village on Friday, July 24.
Date: Friday July 24
Time: 12:00–3:00pm
Activities: Bouncy castles, face painting, photo booth, games, and scavenger hunts
Extras: Prize opportunities throughout the event
Admission: Kids free; adults $4
The Cowboy Clash
Date: Friday, July 24
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Grandstand
Details: Historic local ranches will compete in cattle sorting, trailer loading, roping, branding, and other events.
Admission: Free with gate admission to the Fair on Friday, July 24
Entertainment for the Whole Family
Not everything at Stampede costs a ticket. Celebrity Hypnotist Terrance B and the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs are both part of the free entertainment lineup this year, and they're exactly the kind of shows that make Stampede Week feel like a family event rather than just a concert series. Head over to pioneer village and end off feeding the goats before you take a break in the shade.
The Midway
West Coast Amusements is back running the rides, food, and games again this year. A couple of things worth knowing before you head out: Stampede-goers must be at least 2 years old and 36 inches tall to ride anything, and wristbands go on pre-sale at all Co-op locations and Co-op gas bars. Grabbing your wristband ahead of time is the easy way to skip a line once you're on the grounds.
For more information about the Midway, visit West Coast Amusements' website.
Good to Know Before You Go
It's July in the Hat, which means it could easily hit +30 or +40°C on the Grounds. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are non-negotiable.
Wristbands are available ahead of time at Co-op locations and gas bars… worth grabbing before the gates open.
Everything happens at the Stampede Grounds, and if you're new to the Hat or just haven't been in a few years, this is genuinely one of the best ways to spend a week in this city. It's loud, it's a little dusty, and it's exactly what summer here is supposed to feel like.