This poster for the 2026 Stampede Week in Medicine Hat, unveiled on Monday, shows the theme of this year's festivities - Endless Summer.--SUPPLIED IMAGE
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede has announced dates for this year’s western entertainment as organizers gear up for another year down at the grounds.
Tickets go on sale for all events this Thursday at 10 a.m. on the Stampede website, just in time to serve as a Valentine’s Day gift, says sponsorship and marketing co-ordinator Ryan McCracken.
“We’re excited to get some tickets on sale. Obviously, our night show tickets went on sale in December, and we’ve seen some really good numbers there so far,” said McCracken “We’re really happy to be getting all this out before Valentine’s Day, because we think it’ll make a perfect gift for someone special.”
The dates for this year’s events are:
Broncs & Honkytonks Spring Rodeo: April 10-12
WPCA Chuckwagons: June 11-14
Summer Jam: July 20
Stampede Week: July 22-25
Tom Cochrane with Barney Bentall: July 22
Summer Pro Rodeo: July 23-25
Johnny Reid with Morgan Klaiber: July 25
Cars & Guitars, a tribute to Jimmy Buffett: Aug. 8
Indian Relay Racing: Aug. 15-16
Also announced was this year’s theme for Stampede Week, “Endless Summer,” which McCracken says distills down what the event offers for so many Gas City residents.
“We wanted to kind of encapsulate everything that we have going on at the summer fair, and all of the things that people love about summer,” said McCracken. “From being outside and taking in outdoor events like our concerts and rodeos, enjoying the rides at the midway, playing games, eating some food, enjoying a nice cold drink in the beer gardens, all of it.
“We felt Endless Summer kind of captured all of that in one.”
McCracken adds that MHES staff is glad to be moving into the next stage of preparation and hope to see newer events such as the Indian Relay races continue to grow as more Hatters become familiar with the sport.