The Grey Cup is back in Calgary for the first time since 2019, and you don’t need a ticket to be part of it.
The 113th Grey Cup kicks off at McMahon Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. Before that, the Cenovus Energy Grey Cup Festival takes over Stampede Park from Nov. 11 to 14, with free pancake breakfasts, live music, an indoor family zone and drone shows every night.
It’s the sixth time Calgary has hosted the CFL championship. Organizers expect about 300,000 visits to the festival over the week.
The Stampeders won’t be playing in it. They missed the playoffs. But for five days, the city will be full of football fans from across the country.
Here’s what’s on, what’s free and how to get around.
Grey Cup 2026 at a glance
| What | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Festival opens | Wed., Nov. 11, 4:30 p.m. | Stampede Park |
| Street festival and family zone | Nov. 12–14, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | Stampede Park |
| Free pancake breakfasts | Nov. 12–14, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | Stampede Park, Lot 3 |
| Free drone shows | Nov. 12–14, 8:45 p.m. | Stampede Park, Lot 3 |
| Free game-day tailgate | Sun., Nov. 15, 1–5 p.m. | McMahon Stadium east lot |
| Gates open | Sun., Nov. 15, 3 p.m. | McMahon Stadium |
| Kickoff | Sun., Nov. 15, 5 p.m. MT | McMahon Stadium |
The key thing to know: the festival and the game are at opposite ends of the city. Stampede Park is just southeast of downtown. McMahon Stadium is in the northwest, near the University of Calgary. Both are on the Red Line.
Who’s playing?
That gets settled Saturday, Nov. 7, with two division finals:
Eastern Final in Montreal, 2 p.m. MT
Western Final, 5:30 p.m. MT
The winners meet in Calgary eight days later.
The halftime show and the anthem
Halftime: Riley Green, the multi-platinum country star
National anthem: Sarah McLachlan
Kickoff show: James Barker Band
Pregame: Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo
If you’re not going, the game airs on CTV and TSN in English, on RDS in French, and streams on Crave, TSN+ and CFL+.
The best free events
Free pancake breakfasts
Nov. 12–14, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. · Lot 3, Stampede Park
It’s Calgary, so of course there are pancakes. Breakfast is free Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Suncor Street Festival.
Drone shows over Stampede Park
Nov. 12–14, 8:45 p.m. · Best view from Lot 3
Three nights of free drone shows, each one telling a different story in the sky. Get there a bit early to find a spot.
TELUS Family Zone
Nov. 12–14, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. · BMO Centre, Halls A1 and A2
This is your best bet if it’s cold or you have small kids. Indoors and free, it has inflatables and a bouncy castle, a toddler play area, indoor turf, CFL Hall of Fame displays and autograph sessions with football alumni.
There’s also stroller parking, a nursing trailer and a sensory-friendly space with calmer lighting and noise supports.
Suncor Street Festival and live music
Nov. 11, 4:30–9 p.m. · Nov. 12–14, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. · Lot 3
Free to get in, with interactive activities, public art and a licensed beer garden between the Big Four Roadhouse and the BMO Centre.
The free outdoor stage has music all week, including country, rock, DJs and local artists. The Trews play opening night, Nov. 11, from 5:15 to 5:55 p.m. Kylie Austin, K The Chosen One and K-Riz & The Family are also on the lineup.
Free game-day tailgate
Sun., Nov. 15, 1–5 p.m. · McMahon Stadium east parking lot
You can soak up the game-day atmosphere without a game ticket. There’s a separate VIP tailgate, which is ticketed, so check which one you’re heading to.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1643072007833278&set=pcb.1643072064499939
How to get there by CTrain
The CTrain is the easiest way to get to either venue.
Festival at Stampede Park: get off at Victoria Park/Stampede Station. The BMO Centre and Lot 3 are a short walk away.
Game at McMahon Stadium: get off at Banff Trail Station, about 400 metres from the stadium. Route 19 also stops near the west entrance.
Both stations are on the Red Line, but the two venues are far apart. You can’t walk from one to the other.
Buy tickets at station machines or through Calgary Transit’s mobile ticketing. Sunday service can be lighter on some bus routes, so check the Nov. 15 schedule before you go.
Road closures and parking
Expect heavier traffic around Stampede Park from Nov. 11 to 14, and around McMahon Stadium, Crowchild Trail and the University of Calgary area on Nov. 15.
The City of Calgary hadn’t posted Grey Cup road closures yet when this was published. We’ll update this guide when it does. Until then:
The festival’s access map at greycupfestival.ca shows entrances, construction and road impacts around Stampede Park.
The city’s special event advisories page will list confirmed closures and detours.
Parking at Stampede Park is paid, and both venues will be busy. If you can, take the train.
Heads-up: opening day is Remembrance Day
The festival opens Wednesday, Nov. 11. Some businesses and services will be on holiday hours, and transit may run a different schedule. The street festival doesn’t open until 4:30 p.m., so you can attend a Remembrance Day ceremony in the morning and still make it.
Dress for November in Calgary
McMahon is an open-air stadium, the drone shows are outside after dark, and November in Calgary can go from mild to well below freezing in a day.
Bring layers, gloves, a toque, warm boots and a jacket that can handle wind or snow. If you have small kids, plan to spend part of the day in the indoor family zone.
Can you enjoy Grey Cup week if you don’t care about football?
Yes. Between free pancakes, three nights of drone shows, live music and an indoor kids’ zone, there’s a full day out at Stampede Park without a ticket or any interest in football.
Quick version: Stampede Park has the festival Nov. 11–14. McMahon Stadium has the game Nov. 15. Take the Red Line to both.
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