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 spirit.

About Calgary Culture Days

  • A Calgary tradition

    Calgary Culture Days has been recognized since 2014. Each year, more people participate and discover something new about our city, our stories and each other. It’s an opportunity to showcase creatives, community groups and cultural organizations from all backgrounds, sharing diverse expressions of arts and culture in Calgary.

    Calgary Culture Days also includes moments of remembrance. We commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by highlighting events that honour residential school victims, survivors and their families, while encouraging meaningful learning and dialogue.

  • Why it matters

    Arts and culture are at the heart of what makes Calgary a vibrant, welcoming city. They spark creativity, connect communities and breathe life into our neighbourhoods. From murals and music to film, festivals, and food — culture is everywhere.

    Arts and culture creates jobs, attracts visitors and helps grow our local economy. Most importantly, arts and culture help us feel like we belong by sharing our stories and celebrating what makes each of us unique.

Lonny Balbi, Founder of Taste of Italy and a 2025 Calgary Culture Days Ambassador, shares why learning about different cultures matters and how the Taste of Italy connects Calgarians to Italian heritage.

Featured events

Week of Sep. 1

Afro Caribbean Festival YYC

Sep. 6 & 7

Celebrate African & Caribbean culture with music, dance, art, food & more. Unity and diversity in Calgary’s inclusive festival!

Taste of Italy Calgary

Sep. 7

Celebrate Italian culture with food, music, dance and contests! Taste of Italy showcases local Italian businesses and brings a true taste of Italy to Calgary.

Joyland Film Screening + Panel Discussion

Sep. 7

A community led screening and panel discussion of the award-winning Pakistani film Joyland about queer love. An exploration of identity, desire and family expectations.

Phil in the Park

Sep. 7

Enjoy a free community concert with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Resident Conductor Juliane Gallant, featuring classical favourites, show tunes, pops and local food trucks to bid farewell to summer.

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.

First Free Thursday - Contemporary Calgary

Join Contemporary Calgary for Free First Thursday: Brazilian Night! Enjoy an night of live entertainment and art!

Influential: Celebrating Katie Ohe

INFLUENTIAL features work by Herringer Kiss Gallery Artists who have been taught, mentored or inspired by the work and life of Katie Ohe.

When: Sep. 4 to Oct. 11
Where: Herringer Kiss Gallery

Herringer Kiss Gallery

SYNTHONY: EDM Meets Orchestra

Get your rave on in an orchestral show like no other! Your Calgary Phil brings its grand sound to the Big Four as the Orchestra — plus DJs, vocalists and immersive visuals.

Afro Caribbean Festival YYC

Celebrate African & Caribbean culture with music, dance, art, food & more. Unity and diversity in Calgary’s inclusive festival!

When: Sep. 6 & 7
Where: Cowboys Park

Afro Caribbean Festival YYC

LOOP&PARALLEL - KOAC 4th Annual Fall Fundraiser

Experience an evening of vibrant contemporary art and community at KOAC’s annual fall fundraiser and exhibition - featuring art, auction and celebration in the sculpture park.

Summer Series: The School's Back Party

The Summer Series School's Back Party is free one-day festival in Capitol Hill featuring an array of all-ages entertainment.

Unity in Diversity: A Month of Cultural Celebration

Unity in Diversity is a weekly September festival celebrating the cultures of Hong Kong, China, Korea and South Asia with food tastings, traditional performances, live music and hands-on art activities.

When: Sep. 6, 13, 20, 27
Where: Dragon City Mall

Calgary Harmony: Traditional Chinese Art & Craft Showcase

Experience the timeless beauty of Chinese culture through a captivating display of traditional antique paintings, intricate origami and handcrafted cultural art.

Heritage for Harmony

Presented by the Hindu Heritage Society, enjoy face painting, mehandi, a Garba dance workshop and more!

Past events

Aug. 29 to Sep. 1 events

  • Fiesta Filipino (Aug. 29 to Sep. 1): A vibrant celebration of Filipino culture, diversity and unity through music, food, art, performances and storytelling.
  • Music on the Ave (Aug. 30): The City of Calgary invites you to kick off Culture Days by enjoying the sounds of local live music on Stephen Ave starting at noon. Featuring performances by Amy Hef, Stephen Fletcher, Tayo G and Robert Adam.
  • Alberta Day at Heritage Park (Aug. 31): Celebrate Alberta Day with Heritage Park and the Government of Alberta! Enjoy family-friendly entertainment, live music, activities and more in celebration of Alberta’s community, culture and heritage. 

Calgary Culture Days funding

This year, we introduced the Calgary Culture Days Microgrant to support community-led initiatives that help activate Calgary’s greater downtown through free or low-cost arts and culture programming during the month of September.

With a total of $100,000 in available funding for 2025, the Calgary Culture Days Microgrant supported new small-scale initiatives or the enhancement of existing ones, offering up to $5,000 per initiative.

Applications are now closed

Thank you to everyone who applied. You can see the supported initiatives in our events calendar.

Do you have a larger initiative in mind? Check other funding opportunities here.

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