With a sky full of sunshine, an estimated 315,000 Calgarians and visitors lined the streets of downtown Calgary to take in the 114th Calgary Stampede Parade presented by Suncor.

"One route. One morning. 125 unforgettable entries. When the streets of downtown Calgary come alive with the Calgary Stampede Parade, the city doesn’t just host a celebration, it becomes one," said Keith Marlowe, Chair of the Stampede Parade Committee.

"Today we hosted the largest Stampede Parade this city has ever seen and we are so grateful to all the volunteers, community partners and parade participants who helped make it happen."

From the very start, spectators lining the streets were cheering for Olympic duo Courtney Sarault and Mikael Kingsbury, the 2026 Parade Marshals, who earned Olympic medals representing Canada on the world’s largest sports stage. Other highlights that drew the crowd’s attention included the Murdoch Mysteries entry featuring actors Yannick Bisson and Thomas Craig, the Soul of Mexico’s award-winning float, the Calgary Stampede Queen’s Alumni celebrating their 80th anniversary, the iconic Grey Cup, spectacular marching bands, magnificent horse entries and dozens of cultural and community groups that reflected Calgary’s diversity and western spirit.

Andrew Phung provided colour commentary throughout the morning as the Parade’s 2026 Celebrity Judge. “I’ve got to vote with my heart, there was one group that was a party from beginning to end,” said Phung. “Dancers, music, vibes - you got me on my feet! Congratulations to the Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary!”

Downtown Calgary was filled with music, pageantry, culture and western tradition, creating an unforgettable start to the Calgary Stampede. From Olympic champions and television stars to award-winning cultural performances, community organizations, floats, horses and marching bands, the Parade once again demonstrated why it remains one of Canada's signature public celebrations and one of Calgary's most cherished traditions.

The Parade officially launches The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and marks the beginning of 10 days of celebration that will welcome more than one million guests from around the world. The excitement, community pride and western hospitality on display throughout Friday morning set the tone for another unforgettable Calgary Stampede.

Even as the final float made its way through downtown, planning was already beginning for next year. The 115th Calgary Stampede Parade presented by Suncor will take place on Friday, July 9, 2027, building on the momentum of this year's record-setting event. Organizers look forward to once again bringing together hundreds of thousands of spectators, thousands of volunteers, community partners and participants from across Alberta and beyond for another spectacular morning celebrating the people, traditions and community spirit that make the Calgary Stampede Parade one of the world's great public celebrations.