Join us for Calgary Expo 2027 from April 22-25 at Stampede Park, Calgary, for an epic celebration of fandom.
Dates
22–25 Apr 2027
City / country
Calgary, Canada
Venue
Stampede Park
Time
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Are you the organiser of this event?
Event overview
Calgary Expo 2027 is a four-day celebration of fan culture, featuring comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, and cosplay.
Attendees can expect to find their fandom family among 100,000 fellow fans.
TL;DR
Visitors will enjoy a vibrant atmosphere filled with activities, celebrity guests, and opportunities to meet fellow fans.
Exhibitors gain access to a large and diverse audience, enhancing brand visibility and engagement with potential customers in the pop culture market. Calgary Expo is a significant event in the pop culture calendar, attracting fans from various genres and providing a platform for creators and brands to connect with their audience.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Calgary, Canada
Attend
Event days & opening times
Who runs the show
Informa Connect
Fan Expo HQ
How the last edition performed
Last edition
2025
Visitors: 100,000
This edition
2027
Next edition
Not announced yet
Impact
Calgary Expo 2027 is a four-day celebration of fan culture, featuring comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, and cosplay. Attendees can expect to find their fandom family among 100,000 fellow fans. Calgary Expo is a significant event in the pop culture calendar, attracting fans from various genres and providing a platform for creators and brands to connect with their audience. Join us for Calgary Expo 2027 from April 22-25 at Stampede Park, Calgary,.
Audience quality
Visitors typically include Comics enthusiasts, Sci-fi fans, Horror aficionados, Anime lovers. Event Dates: April 22-25, 2027. Location: Stampede Park, Calgary. Expected Attendance: 100,000 fans. Show Hours: Thursday 4 PM – 9 PM, Friday 12 PM – 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM. Calgary Expo 2027 attracts an audience aligned with the organiser's published visitor positioning.
Exhibitor outcomes
Exhibitors gain access to a large and diverse audience, enhancing brand visibility and engagement with potential customers in the pop culture market. Calgary Expo is a significant event in the pop culture calendar, attracting fans from various genres and providing a platform for creators and brands to connect with their audience. Exhibitor categories include Comic book publishers, Merchandise retailers, Cosplay costume makers, Gaming companies. Exhibitors use the event for lead generation, product launches,.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
Calgary Expo is one of western Canada's largest consumer fan conventions, running four days at Stampede Park and drawing a reported 100,000+ attendees across the weekend. For publishers, collectibles and merchandise brands, game studios and creator collectives it functions as a direct-to-consumer retail and brand-activation gateway into the Alberta and broader Western Canadian fan market — a lower-cost, high-volume test bed compared with the larger Toronto flagship, with strong cosplay, comics, anime, horror, gaming and tabletop segments and a compact, walkable downtown host city.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Conventions as primary direct-to-consumer channels
Independent publishers, collectible makers and creator collectives increasingly rely on convention floors for first sales and audience building rather than wholesale or distributor deals.
Experiential activations replacing static booths
Brands are trading flat product displays for immersive build-outs — photo ops, demo pods, tournaments and time-limited exclusive drops.
Anime, gaming and tabletop/TCG as the fastest-growing segments
Anime licensing, video game showcases and tabletop/TCG tournaments now carry much of the floor traffic at western Canadian fan events.
Guest and creator programming drives ticketing
Celebrity and creator guests remain the main ticket trigger, with autographs and photo ops sold as upsells to general admission.
Cross-border exhibitor friction persists
US and overseas exhibitors still face freight, duty, currency and documentation complexity when exhibiting in Canada, with ATA Carnets easing temporary equipment imports.
Calgary Expo sits in a dense North American fan-convention circuit that lets a brand test a segment in one market, then scale to larger flagships. Western Canada is served by Fan Expo's Calgary and Vancouver shows, while Seattle, San Diego, Toronto and New York host the larger North American flagships.
Late April
Calgary Expo at Stampede Park — the anchor western Canada fan-convention date (22–25 April 2027).
Q1–Q2
Pacific Northwest / western Canada companion shows (Fan Expo Vancouver, Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle) — useful for segment testing ahead of Calgary.
Q3–Q4
Larger North American flagships (San Diego Comic-Con, Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, New York Comic Con) — the next tier for scaling a successful Calgary activation.
Circuit assembled from listing context and peer organiser websites; confirm individual dates, hall allocations and exhibitor deadlines on each organiser's own site.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Primary gateway for Calgary Stampede Park and BMO Centre.
~20 km
to venue
25–35 min
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
public_transit
Route 300 runs regularly to downtown, where you transfer to the CTrain Red Line. Victoria Park/Stampede Station is the closest stop to Stampede Park.
light_rail
Fastest option from downtown hotels; trains run frequently through the day and late into the evening. Stampede Park is a short walk from the station.
taxi
Most downtown hotels are a 5–20 minute walk or a very short ride to Stampede Park. Metered taxis and rideshare are widely available in the core.
car_parking
Paid lots serve Stampede Park but fill early on peak days; pre-purchase or arrive before the doors open. Downtown hotel parking is usually extra.
taxi
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eTA — Electronic Travel Authorization | Visa-exempt visitors arriving by air (for example UK, most EU, Australian, New Zealand and Japanese passport holders), including business visitors attending a trade show or convention | $5.00 | Usually minutes to 72 hours — apply before booking flights | |
| TRV — Temporary Resident Visa (visitor visa) | Nationals of visa-required countries (for example India, China and many others) travelling to Canada for business meetings, conferences or a trade show | $75.00 | Varies widely by visa office — commonly several weeks to several months; apply at least 3 months before travel |
US citizens do not need a visa or an eTA for short visits to Canada; US lawful permanent residents travelling by air do need an eTA. Check your own nationality's requirement on the IRCC site before booking.
Canada generally accepts ATA Carnets for the temporary admission of exhibition and professional equipment through the Canada Border Services Agency; arrange the Carnet with your local chamber of commerce well before shipping freight to Stampede Park and confirm current CBSA procedures.
Official visa pageWeather
Late April in Calgary is cool and highly variable: typical daytime highs around 10–13 °C and overnight lows near -2 to 0 °C, with a mix of sun, rain and occasional wet snow. Pack layers, a waterproof outer shell and closed shoes — mornings can be icy and the wind at Stampede Park is brisk.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Confirm mobile roaming or local SIM options for business visitors to Canada.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Tipping and payment
Tipping is expected in Canada: 15–20% on restaurant bills, CAD 2–5 per drink at bars, and 10–15% for taxis and rideshare. Card and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere; carrying a small amount of Canadian cash is useful for tips.
Dress and business etiquette
Convention dress is casual and layered; smart-casual works for exhibitor meetings. Introductions are informal with first names and a handshake, and punctuality is expected. Calgary liquor is legal from age 18; alcohol is not permitted in public spaces outside licensed venues.
Getting around the venue district
Downtown Calgary is compact and walkable, with the indoor +15 walkway network connecting many hotels and offices. Stampede Park is served by the CTrain Red Line (Victoria Park/Stampede Station) and is roughly a 15–20 minute walk from the Beltline hotel cluster.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: PVG
Compare flights to the nearest international gateway serving Calgary; confirm ground transport on the organiser site.
Most international visitors need either a Canadian eTA (visa-exempt air travellers — approx. USD 5 / CAD 7) or a Temporary Resident Visa (visa-required nationals — approx. USD 75 / CAD 100); US citizens need neither for short visits. Attending a fan convention, meetings or a trade show is permitted as a business visitor, but paid work is not. Apply 3+ months ahead if a visa is required, and carry proof of event registration, accommodation and return travel.
Estimated cost: Varies by visa type and nationality (check official site).
Processing: Varies by nationality; apply several weeks before travel.
Published Canadian fee is CAD 7 (approx. USD 5). Linked electronically to the passport; valid up to 5 years or until passport expiry. Air arrivals only — not required for entry by land. Published Canadian fee is CAD 100 (approx. USD 75) plus CAD 85 biometrics where required. Business visitor activities (attending conferences, meetings, trade shows) are allowed; paid work is not. Carry your registr
OfficialGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: PVG Airport (PVG); SHA Airport (SHA). Allow road or rail time to Stampede Park; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition venues.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Stampede Park: Downtown Calgary / Beltline — 2–3 km from Stampede Park: Sandman Hotel Calgary City Centre, Best Western Plus Suites Downtown Calgary, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Calgary Downtown; Beltline / East Village / downtown core — 0.8–2 km from Stampede Park: Hotel Arts, Alt Hotel Calgary East Village, Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary Downtown; Downtown core / Stephen Avenue — 1.5–2.5 km from Stampede Park: Fairmont Palliser, Hyatt Regency Calgary, Calgary Marriott Downto
Ride-hail: Ride-hailing apps are commonly used in Calgary; confirm local availability before travel.
Public transit: Check local bus/metro options for routes to Stampede Park.
Parking: On-site parking is available at Stampede Park; confirm daily rates and hall access on the organiser or venue site.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: April 2027
Temperature: Approximately -2 °C to 0 °C overnight, rising to 10–13 °C in the afternoon in late April (Calgary averages — daily swings of ±10 °C are common).
Seasonality: April is a shoulder month in Calgary: expect a mix of bright sun, rain showers and occasional wet snow, with roughly 30–40 mm of precipitation spread over about 8–10 days. Mornings can be icy, so plan for layers, a waterproof shell and closed shoes.
Packing: Late April in Calgary is cool and highly variable: typical daytime highs around 10–13 °C and overnight lows near -2 to 0 °C, with a mix of sun, rain and occasional wet snow. Pack layers, a waterproof outer shell and closed shoes — mornings can be icy and the wind at Stampede Park is brisk.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Saturday 24 April 2027 (peak day); Friday 23 April for quieter business conversations
Saturday delivers the highest floor traffic, the fullest guest/panel schedule and the clearest read on audience size and spend, which makes it the benchmark day for benchmarking a consumer fan show. Visitors whose goal is unhurried conversations with exhibitors, creators or media should instead work Friday, when queues are shorter, then use Thursday for orientation and Sunday for closing-day pricing on the retail floor.
Confirm passport validity and Canada entry requirements — Check your passport is valid well beyond the April 2027 travel window and confirm whether you need a visa or an eTA before booking travel.
Book flights to Calgary for 22-25 April 2027 — Calgary Expo 2027 runs 22-25 April 2027 at Stampede Park; arrive before the first show day and confirm your arrival airport transfer options.
Reserve a hotel in Calgary near Stampede Park — Target check-in 21 April and check-out 25 or 26 April to cover all four show days; ask about walkability or transit links to Stampede Park.
Complete online visitor registration — Register through the official Calgary Expo site (calgaryexpo.com) and save your confirmation, QR code or badge number for on-site collection.
Download the show floor plan and exhibitor list — Use the calgaryexpo.com exhibitor directory to shortlist publishers, retailers and artists you want to visit first.
Pre-plan panel, guest and photo op sessions — Build a day-by-day schedule for panels, autograph sessions and photo ops, and note which require separate paid tickets.
Arrange local transport and parking — Compare CTrain, taxi and rideshare options between your hotel and Stampede Park, and check event parking and drop-off guidance.
Check Calgary April weather and pack accordingly — April in Calgary can swing between mild days and cold snaps; pack layers, a waterproof outer layer and comfortable walking shoes.
Prepare cosplay, props and baggage rules — Review airline baggage allowances and event prop and costume policies before packing bulky or restricted items.
Organise documents, tickets and payment — Keep photo ID, digital tickets, hotel confirmation and a payment card for merchandise, food and any on-site upgrades.
Set your show budget — Budget for badge or ticket, hotel nights, meals, local transport and merchandise so on-site spending stays controlled.
Day 1 arrival and badge collection — Arrive early at Stampede Park on 22 April, collect your badge, orient yourself to the halls and start with your shortlisted exhibitors.
Banff National Park and Banff townsite
Drumheller and the Royal Tyrrell Museum
BMO Centre exhibition halls, Stampede Park
Big Four Building retail and Artist Alley floor, Stampede Park
Downtown Calgary hotel bars and 17th Avenue / Beltline restaurants
Budget
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
visitor_ticket
visitor · single_day_adult
CAD 35–55 / per person per day
visitor_ticket
visitor · full_event_pass_adult
CAD 100–150 / per person for the 4-day show
hotel_mid
visitor · Mid-range
CAD 200–310 / per room per night
visa_fee
visitor · TRV (Temporary Resident Visa)
CAD 100 / per applicant
visa_fee
visitor · eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
CAD 7 / per applicant
exhibitor_stand
exhibitor · small inline booth (approx. 10x10 ft)
CAD 1800–3000 / per booth
visa_fee
visitor · eTA — Electronic Travel Authorization
USD 5 / per application
visa_fee
visitor · TRV — Temporary Resident Visa (visitor visa)
USD 75 / per application
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visitor_ticket | visitor | single_day_adult | CAD 35–55 / per person per day | estimate | |
| visitor_ticket | visitor | full_event_pass_adult | CAD 100–150 / per person for the 4-day show | estimate | |
| hotel_mid | visitor | Mid-range | CAD 200–310 / per room per night | estimate | |
| visa_fee | visitor | TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) | CAD 100 / per applicant | official | |
| visa_fee | visitor | eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) | CAD 7 / per applicant | official | |
| exhibitor_stand | exhibitor | small inline booth (approx. 10x10 ft) | CAD 1800–3000 / per booth | estimate | |
| visa_fee | visitor | eTA — Electronic Travel Authorization | USD 5 / per application | official | |
| visa_fee | visitor | TRV — Temporary Resident Visa (visitor visa) | USD 75 / per application | official |
Decision
Pick the closest answer for each. Your recommendation updates live.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your primary role?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You want market intelligence, media/content coverage or a low-cost first read on the Alberta fan audience before scaling up.
Best for
Retailers, distributors, licensors, media and creators scouting the Western Canadian fan-culture market; brands testing consumer engagement before committing booth budget.
Min. budget
$475.00
Timeline
6–10 weeks out: buy tickets online, book a downtown hotel (April is shoulder season but show demand lifts weekend rates) and flights into YYC.
Risks
Budget estimate from listing cost signals — confirm live rates.
Primarily a consumer/fan show — B2B buyer density is far below a trade-only expo.
April weather in Calgary can still bring snow, which occasionally disrupts regional travel.
exhibit
You have consumer-ready merchandise or an activation that converts fan attention into sales or data, and can staff a four-day booth.
Best for
Publishers, collectibles and merch brands, game studios, tabletop/TCG companies, and artist or creator collectives selling direct to fans.
Min. budget
$2,200.00
Timeline
6–9 months: secure booth space with the organiser, then plan freight (ATA Carnet for cross-border gear), staffing, insurance and travel.
Risks
Budget estimate from listing cost signals — confirm live rates.
Revenue depends on direct-to-fan sales and sign-ups, not distributor deals.
Cross-border freight, duties and staffing/visa lead times for non-Canadian exhibitors.
skip
Your ICP is enterprise/industrial, or your budget is already committed to trade-only shows with measurable buyer density.
Best for
B2B vendors selling only to institutional or industrial buyers, and teams with no consumer-facing product or Western Canada sales plan.
Timeline
Not applicable — monitor the 2027 exhibitor list and the organiser's 2028 dates instead.
Risks
No major risks listed.
Gallery
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References
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Publishers
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Date checked
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