Fall has officially arrived, and there are plenty of Calgary festivals rolling in with the change in weather. With festivals that celebrate the Halloween season, film, wine and more, there’s bound to be something for all interests.
Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival
When: September 18 and 19, 2026
One of the city’s premier food events, the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival is back to celebrate Alberta’s dining scene. This festival brings together some of Calgary’s top restaurants, food purveyors and drink-makers to its new location at Spruce Meadows for a weekend that highlights many of Alberta’s best things to eat and drink. Tickets start at $30 for admission, with sample tickets available for purchase on-site.
Spruce Meadows, 18011 Spruce Meadows Way S.W., rockymountainwine.com
Night Light
When: September 24 to 26, 2026
Wander through Victoria Park as it transforms into a magical display of vibrant lights during this art and light festival. For three days, there will be projections, light installations, live performances and other art mediums on display in the area.
Multiple locations, nightlightvicpark.ca
Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF)
When: September 24 to October 4, 2026
Now in its 27th year, CIFF is showcasing hundreds of multi-genre feature and short films from across Canada and around the world. In addition to being an Oscar-qualifying festival for short films, CIFF supports local filmmakers by including a selection of Alberta features in its lineup. You can purchase ticket bundles or get single-show tickets.
Multiple locations, ciffcalgary.ca
YYC Pizza Fest
When: October 2 to 18, 2026
YYC Pizza Fest is back for its 12th edition, and restaurants across Calgary are participating in this year’s festival. Participating restaurants will offer a pizza creation that will be judged in a friendly competition decided by the public. A portion of the proceeds goes to Calgary Meals on Wheels to help fight food insecurity in the city.
Multiple locations, yycpizzafest.com
ScreamFest
When: Multiple dates in October, 2026
ScreamFest is Canada’s largest Halloween festival. Throughout the month of October on Fridays, Saturdays and a few special dates, head to GMC Stadium at Stampede Park to experience seven themed haunted houses filled with ghouls, ghosts and other spooky creatures, all designed to guarantee a scream. There will also be plenty of games to play if you want to try your hand at winning some prizes. Tickets start at $35 for regular admission.
Calgary Stampede GMC Stadium, 3 St. S.E., screamfest.ca
Imaginairium Festival by Wordfest
When: October 13 to 18, 2026
Considered one of Canada’s leading literary festivals, Wordfest’s Imaginairium connects award-winning authors and writers with readers and audiences. This year’s lineup features over 40 events, with more than 50 celebrated authors, including Bonnie Garmus, Emily St. John Mandel, Tayari Jones and more.
Multiple venues, wordfest.com
Fluid Fest
When: October 15 to November 7, 2026
Hosted by Springboard Performance, Fluid Fest celebrates dance, contemporary performance and connection with the community, shown through multiple different performances highlighting the body in motion. This year’s festival theme is “A Messy Gorgeous Love,” representing what happens when we lean into our emotions rather than lead with caution.
Multiple locations, springboardperformance.com
Calgary Tattoo and Arts Festival
When: October 16 to 18, 2026
The Calgary Tattoo and Arts Festival gathers some of the best tattoo artists in the world under one roof to celebrate the tattoo industry and everything that goes along with it. Tattoo artists, vendors, performers and more will be in attendance — there will even be opportunities to get a tattoo there, if you’re up for it.
BMO Centre, 1912 Flores Ladue Parade S.E., albertatattooshows.com
Calgary Tea Festival
When: October 24, 2026
Learn more about all aspects of tea at the inaugural Calgary Tea Festival. Over the course of the day, explore different flavours of tea from around the world, learn about different tea-drinking practices through demonstrations and shop for specialty teaware.
Parkdale United Church, 2919 8 Ave. N.W., thenakedleaf.ca, @thecalgaryteafestival
Jazz YYC Canadian Festival
When: November 3 to 8, 2026
The Jazz YYC Canadian Festival brings the best-of-the-best in Canadian jazz to Calgary for a series of unforgettable performances. This year’s lineup includes performances by Dawn Pemberton, Neil Gray, the Kent Sangster Quintet and more.
Multiple locations, jazzyyc.com
YYC Noodle Festival
When: November 5 to 15, 2026
During YYC Noodle Festival, restaurants across the city offer featured noodle dishes that compete for the chance to win the people’s choice award, the most creative noodle award and the “power fundraiser” award for the most sold noodle dish. A portion of the proceeds from each featured noodle dish sold goes towards the Leftovers Foundation.
Multiple locations, yycnoodlefestival.com
GIRAF Festival of Independent Animation
When: November 16 to 22, 2025
Presented by Quickdraw Animation Society, GIRAF (Giant Incandescent Resonating Animation Festival) showcases and celebrates experimental independent animation, bringing together some of the best animators from Canada and around the world.
CUFF.Docs
When: November 18 to 22, 2025
Presented by the Calgary Underground Film Festival, CUFF.Docs is showcasing more than 15 feature-length and short non-fiction films this year. There will be documentaries covering a wide range of topics, viewpoints and styles.
Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave. S.W., calgaryundergroundfilm.org
