Calgary's Culture Days

Discover. Experience. Celebrate. Calgary Culture Days

Calgary Culture Days takes place every September 1 – 30 and is a celebration of local arts, culture and community.

About Calgary Culture Days

Every September, Calgary Culture Days invites people across the city to experience arts and culture in new ways. From attending events to hosting your own, it’s a city‑wide opportunity to celebrate creativity, connection and community — while also making space for reflection and remembrance on Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Arts and culture play an important role in Calgary by bringing people together, supporting local talent and creating spaces where everyone belongs. This adds vibrancy to Calgary and contributes to our local economy.

2026 Cultural Ambassadors

Kristy North Peigan, a Blackfoot artist from Peigan First Nation, shares how arts and culture strengthen connections to Indigenous identity, community and place.
Marc Stevens, President and CEO of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, talks about the essential role of arts and culture in creating a vibrant city that people want to call home.
Evelyne Kemajou, Executive Director of Portail de l'Immigrant Association and organizer of Franco Festival Calgary, shares how language is an important part of arts and culture, helping people connect, celebrate their stories and build community.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas shares why arts and culture are essential to building connection, belonging and a vibrant Calgary.

Event calendar

Planning an event in September that celebrate local arts, culture and community spirit?
 
Submit your Calgary Culture Days event
 

New events added weekly.

For more events around Calgary, visit Tourism Calgary's events calendar.

Unity in Diversity: Colours of Healing Group Exhibition

This exhibition celebrates the many ways creativity can foster healing, belonging and resilience.

Public Art Tour - River is Life by curator Tiffany Wollman & Calgary Arts Development

A walking public art tour exploring Indigenous connections, kinship and history where Calgary’s rivers meet.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations 2026

Celebrate Mid-Autumn with sweet rice balls, snowy mooncakes & a tea seminar! Registration required.

Bookends, solo exhibition by Elaine Cameron-Weir

The solo exhibition reflects artistic evolution and entanglement of technology, belief systems and materials.

A Culture Days Mural Experience

Step inside the story of Robert Oldrich's painted mural and discover what it takes to care for public art over time.

Kitchen Kompanions

Share recipes, stories and healthy cooking tips with the community through food, conversation and creative art.

Past events

Sept. 1 to 6 events

  • Alberta Day Celebration in Calgary (Aug. 30): Event will feature a kids zone, marketplace vendors, performances on two stages, headliner Kyle McKearney and a drone show.
  • Calgary Pride 2026 (Aug. 31 to Sept. 6): Celebrate Pride Week 2026 with a week of events, community gatherings, performances and opportunities to connect across Calgary.
  • Contemporary Calgary: Free First Thursday (Sept. 3): Join us for Free First Thursday! Enjoy free admission to the gallery and all-ages art activities from 5-9 p.m.
  • Reading with Royalty with Ella Va Nuff & Jeanine Williams (Sept. 3): Join Ella Va Nuff & Jeanine Williams for Reading with Royalty, featuring live readings followed by performances from the queens.
  • Fiesta Filipino (Sept. 4 to 7): A vibrant celebration of Filipino culture, diversity and unity through music, food, art, performances and storytelling.
  • How To Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert (Sept. 4 and 5): How To Train Your Dragon 2 In Concert features John Powell’s thrilling score performed live to picture by your Calgary Phil.
  • Radiance: Queer Joy Screening & Performances (Sept. 4 and 5): EMMEDIA will present short films and performances that highlight the creativity and resilience of our local queer community.
  • THE JOCHI'S EXPERIENCE: A LATINX LGBTQ+ CULTURAL EVENT: with Colores Del Alma (Sept. 4): Join Colores del Alma for The Jochi's Experience, a celebration of Latinx LGBTQ+ culture, community and Pride!
  • Afro Caribbean Festival (Sept. 5 and 6): Celebrate African & Caribbean culture with music, dance, art, food and more. Unity and diversity in Calgary’s inclusive festival!
  • Calgary VegFest (Sept. 5): There will be educational speakers, interactive booths, live music, family-friendly fun and plant-based vendors!
  • DRAG ME TO RIVER HALL AGAIN! Hosted by Ofelia Vidal & Crystal Guyser (Sept. 5): We're bringing drag back to the Bow for another night of Pride celebrations + a DJ set from Beyonix!
  • Utsav Cultural Fest (Sept. 5): Join the Indian Society of Calgary for one of Calgary’s biggest celebrations — a vibrant afternoon filled with art, culture, music, food and more.
  • Wilddogs International Screendance Festival (Sept. 5 and 6): The 7th edition of Wilddogs is celebration of cinema and dance with works from 12 countries.
  • Black Pride Festival (Sept. 6): Black Pride Festival celebrates Black queer culture, creativity and community with family fun and an evening celebration.
  • Night of Icons hosted by Outcasts Showcase (Sept. 6): All welcome Pride Celebration featuring drag performances, live music, dance and free workshops, plus Easy Days Market!
  • Young Hearts, Old Souls: The Vibrant Heart (Sept. 6): Enjoy an open-air Tai Chi workshop designed to promote mental and physical wellness, this session welcomes Calgarians of all ages and mobility levels.

Sept. 7 to 13 events

  • Run for Life 2026 (Sept. 6 to 13): Raise awareness for suicide prevention and join us in a journey from darkness into light.
  • FascinAsian Film Festival (Sept. 9): Celebrate Culture Days with FascinAsian Film Festival and join us for a screening of The Wedding Banquet, a fresh and heartfelt reimagining of Ang Lee’s beloved classic.
  • Chinatown Lantern Festival (Sept. 11): Stroll beneath hundreds of beautiful lanterns hanging throughout the neighbourhood and experience Chinatown transformed into a vibrant celebration of light!
  • Cinema on 17th (Sept. 11 to 13): Cinema on 17th returns with 11 free outdoor movies, live entertainment & NEW Saturday Morning Cartoons!
  • Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony (Sept. 11): Features Dolly on screen. Celebrate Dolly's greatest hits with your Calgary Phil joined by guest vocalists and musicians.
  • Franco Festival Calgary (Sept. 11 and 12): Come celebrate Francophone culture with an open air movie night, music, food, art and more!
  • Indonesian X Moonlight Cultural Festival (Sept. 11): A free cultural celebration in Calgary Chinatown featuring Mid-Autumn traditions, food, arts and community experiences.
  • 5K Bark-A-Thon 2026 (Sept. 12): 5K run or walk and festival to support Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation!
  • Believe in the Gold — Run for Childhood Cancer (Sept. 12): Join the Run for Childhood Cancer with 1K, 5K and 10K options. Enjoy family fun with bouncy castles, face painting, craftsand more as we come together to support kids fighting cancer.
  • East Meets the West: A Unique Fusion of Indigenous and Tribal Art (Sept. 12 and 13): Join the Hindu Heritage Society and enjoy hands-on cultural workshops where you will step into the role of the artist to create your own dream catcher and Warli tribal painting.
  • Hong Kong Culture Day 2026 (Sept. 12): Indulge authentic Hong Kong eats and hands-on activities. Bring friends and family for a day by the Bow and Elbow.
  • Skyview Ranch Multicultural Summer Festival 2026 (Sept. 12): A vibrant community celebration showcasing the rich cultural diversity.
  • Stop Motion Animation Showcase (Sept. 12): A selection of international stop motion shorts, presented by Quickdraw Animation and Eternal Family.
  • Zen Garden Festival (Sept. 12): An end-of-summer celebration of music and arts. Join us as we we transform Waterfront Park into 3 lush garden dance floors.
  • Art Walk (Sept. 13): An outdoor art gallery and open learning opportunity for artists to share with the community and explore new art skills.
  • Cultural Senses of Calgary 2026 (Sept. 13): Free family-friendly multicultural festival filled with educational cultural booths, music, dance, arts, food and performances.
  • METIS DOT ART WORKSHOP with Jamie Rozema-Stinson of Michifous Creations (Sept. 13): Get ready to dive into some cool dot art techniques and create your own Metis-inspired masterpiece!
  • Phil in the Park (Sept. 13): The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra is pleased to present a free outdoor concert for audiences of all ages and backgrounds!
  • Taste of Italy Calgary (Sept. 13): Celebrate Italian culture with authentic food, live music, family fun, contests, local vendors and more at Taste of Italy!
  • Young Hearts, Old Souls: The Artistic Soul (Sept. 13): Experience a co-curated exhibition where senior "Old Souls" partner with youth "Young Hearts" to share visual storytelling, traditional artistic techniques and collaborative artwork.

Sept. 14 to 20 events

  • Circular City: Gathering Ground (Sept. 5, 12 and 19): Circular City: Gathering Ground is a series highlighting community street art groups, Indigenous teaching and local vendors.
  • 99 Chongyang Festival (Double Nine Festival) (Sept. 16 and 20): Chongyang Festival is a cherished traditional holiday. Join us for two events filled with performances, handmade treats and a symbolic "climb high".
  • Brightness Shining Forward: Indigenous Futurisms (Sept. 17): Celebrate the opening of Brightness Shining Forward: Indigenous Futurisms.
  • Opening Reception: Bookends exhibition by Elaine Cameron-Weir (Sept. 17): Opening reception for the solo-exhibition.
  • Limber Hollow Open Mic (Sept. 17): Join us for open mic! We have an acoustic guitar for anyone to use, an upright piano and a PA system you can plug in to.
  • Opening Reception - Held. Together. (Sept. 17): Features the artwork of Glenna Cardinal, seth cardinal dodginghorse, Dwayne Martineau, Amanda McCavour, and Holly Anghel.
  • Nickle at Noon - Amanda McCavour: From Line to Thread (Sept. 17): Amanda McCavour is a Toronto-based artist who works with stitch to create large-scale embroidered installations.
  • Contemporary Connections: Punjabi Tour (Sept. 18): Contemporary Connections is a guided tour series designed to make art accessible and engaging for diverse communities.
  • Elaine Cameron-Weir, Artist Talk (Sept. 18): Please join us for an artist talk with Elaine Cameron-Weir in conjunction with her solo exhibition.
  • Nordic Nights (Sept. 18 and 19): Spend an awe-inspiring evening with your Calgary Phil, Naomi Woo, and Stewart Goodyear.
  • Opening Night of the Latin American Film Festival (LAFF) (Sept. 18): Celebrate LAFF's ppening night at Ramada Plaza. Free admission for all; limited capacity. Reserve before tickets are gone!
  • 1st Latin American Film Festival (LAFF) (Sept. 18 and 19): Celebrate LAFF’s inaugural edition at Globe Cinema with Latin American films, culture and community in Calgary.
  • Calgary Police Classic (Sept. 19): The Calgary Police Classic is a road race that includes a half-marathon course, an 8km race and a kids race for ages 2-12.
  • Change Makers Collective Harvest Market (Sept. 19): Calgary's first eco-conscious market featuring local, handmade or bespoke vintage goods.
  • WaveFest 2026 - Canton Pop Crossroads (Sept. 19): Enjoy a free outdoor multicultural music party with food, beer and a market.
  • Curatorial Tour with Tak Pham, Bookends exhibition (Sept. 19): An exhibitions tour of Bookends, by Elaine Cameron-Weir, led by curator Tak Pham.
  • StoodisFest (Sept. 19): Enjoy a full day listening to Indigenous artists from Treaty 7. Experience music from all genres.
  • The New Hoeng Nong: Chinese Scented Sachet Workshop with an Upcycled Twist (Sept. 19): Learn how to make hoeng nong (香囊) or traditional Chinese scented sachets from scratch using everyday materials!
  • Alcove Fest (Sept. 20): Local artists performing, a public dance session, local vendors, food trucks and a public pop-up graffiti wall.
  • Arias & Ales (Sept. 20): Our opera pub nights are all about easygoing vibes and live performances from Calgary’s best local artists.
  • Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Sept. 20): Young listeners are introduced to the music and history of Beethoven in this blend of symphonic music and drama.
  • Sri Anagha Datta Society of Calgary's Ganesh Utsav Procession 2026 (Sept. 20): Join us in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with cultural traditions, community gathering and recognition of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
  • Young Hearts, Old Souls:The Grand Harmony (Sept. 20): Enjoy the grand finale that merges traditional golden wedding celebrations with the Mid-Autumn and Double Ninth festivals, featuring dynamic joint performances by the youth of YHOS and community seniors.
  • Young Talents Showcase 2026 (Sept. 20): Young Calgary artists showcase original paintings and drawings in a professionally curated public exhibition by Alagir.

Discover public art in Calgary

Exhibitions, conservation projects and self-guided tours that showcase public art in Calgary.

Calgary Culture Days funding

The Calgary Culture Days Microgrant supports initiatives that activate Calgary’s greater downtown through arts and culture programming during Calgary Culture Days. With $100,000 available, the microgrant supports new small-scale initiatives or helps existing ones grow and add value, offering up to $5,000 per initiative.

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

If you received a microgrant, please submit your final report by Oct. 8, 2026.

Marketing toolkit

Whether you’re a microgrant recipient or hosting an arts and culture event in September, using the Calgary Culture Days logo and promotional tools below helps connect you to the larger celebration and marketing campaign.

Explore how to use these tools: Download the partner promotion guide