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
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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.
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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.
Featured events
Week of Sep. 1
Event calendar
New events added weekly.
The People and the Lodge Art Exhibition
This exhibition brings together artists from across First Nations whose works are rooted in tradition, cultural identity and connection to the land. The People and the Lodge re-asserts cultural symbols of dance and the lodge, often misused in mass‑produced art and restores them through authentic cultural specificity and fresh perspectives.
When: Sep. 17 to Dec. 16
Calgary International Film Festival
The Calgary International Film Festival is a celebration of the finest local, national and international cinema.
They Come Together Art Exhibition
Bringing together artists from First Nations, They Come Together shares narratives of cultural history, memory and identity through digital art. From stories of the great flood to Natosi and Kokimiikisom, these works reflect resilience, diversity and visions for the future.
Franco Festival Calgary
Franco Festival celebrates Francophone diversity with music, food, art, a new outdoor movie night and a First Nations Cultural Village.
Park Pop-Up: The Summer Series Wrap-Up
The Park Pop-Up is a free, all-ages event featuring live music, WP Puppets performances, a beer garden, food trucks and activities for everyone to enjoy.
Sanctuary: Haus of Worship
A night of drag, music and queer joy in a sacred space. Expect a dazzling mix of comedy, live singing, lip sync and heartfelt moments that will lift both soul and spirit.
Beyond the Postcard: Cuba's Untold Stories
Beyond the Postcard: A vivid 60-min journey of Cuba’s soul in film, poetry & puppetry. Listen. Feel. Remember.
Calgary Police Classic
The 45th edition of Calgary’s iconic fall road race, now reimagined as the Calgary Police Classic, produced by Run Calgary.
Chinatown Cha-Cha Film Screening
The Chinatown Pop-Up Movie Club x AMAAS presents a special screening of Chinatown Cha-Cha, featuring a Q&A with director Luka Yang and captivating dance performances.
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.