What time live shows should finish and allowable noise ranges through the Calgary Stampede have modified for this yr’s occasion, based on a metropolis memo, and not less than one competition venue has taken concern with the changes.
Based on a memo to metropolis council from Calgary Neighborhood Requirements chief Ryan Pleckaitis, obtained by International Information, weeknight live shows through the Calgary Stampede should finish at midnight, with “cool-down music” permitted till 12:30 a.m. to “assist the protected and orderly exit of patrons.”
The permitted finish occasions for weekend live shows is unchanged from final yr, the memo stated, which permits music till 1:30 a.m. and cool-down music till 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Allowable noise ranges (dBA) and most bass ranges (dBC) have additionally been decreased from 75 dBA and 85 dBC to 70 dBA and 80 dBC earlier than midnight, and from 65 dBA and 85 dBC to 60 dBA and 80 dBC after midnight, the memo stated.
The brand new necessities below town’s noise exemption allow occasions apply to all music festivals outdoors of Stampede Park, the memo stated.
Pleckaitis stated the modifications are in response to neighborhood considerations, after the Metropolis of Calgary acquired 225 noise complaints associated to downtown music festivals throughout final yr’s Stampede. He famous 125 of these complaints have been associated to the Cowboys Music Competition.
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Based on the memo, residents reported vibrating home windows in residential towers late at night time in addition to gadgets falling from tables and cabinets.
“We additionally had complaints of social dysfunction, public urination, extreme intoxication,” he advised reporters Thursday. “We made the choice that we wanted to do one thing this yr.”
Penny Lane Leisure, which runs the Cowboys Music Competition, has taken concern with the modifications that it claims have been “designed with out session.”
In a letter from Paul Vickers, the founding associate of Penny Lane Leisure, additionally obtained by International Information, Vickers argued to metropolis council the modifications “create uncertainty” within the “mere days” earlier than the competition begins.
“If the bylaw necessities stay unchanged, our competition, and sure others throughout town, shall be compelled to scale back lots of of workers who’ve already been employed and predict to begin work in two weeks,” Vickers wrote.
Based on Vickers, artists with reveals at tents within the downtown core through the Stampede “could cancel because of the proposed modifications,” and that the changes are “unattainable for any occasion of this scale.”
He additionally outlined public security considerations as attendees to the varied downtown tents “could empty onto Calgary streets concurrently,” which might put pressure on restricted assets.
In his letter, Vickers requested the Metropolis of Calgary permit Cowboys Music Competition to function below the identical bylaw guidelines as final yr’s occasion.
“We’re able to welcome the world to our metropolis and these modifications is not going to permit us to show Calgary’s full potential,” he wrote. “We ask that these modifications be reversed and {that a} return to beforehand agreed upon ranges be carried out.”
Venues that operated previous midnight in 2025 have been knowledgeable of the modifications in February, Pleckaitis stated, with one other e mail despatched to occasion organizers concerning the decrease sound ranges final month.
“The largest concern that we’re listening to is the time that they’re allowed to function on the weeknights as a result of it’s going to lower into their revenue margin. We perceive that,” he advised reporters. “That is attempting to strike a steadiness between supporting occasions after which additionally supporting the neighborhood.”
When requested concerning the state of affairs, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas stated he doesn’t have a problem with the modifications and is open to working with the proponents to “discover methods to work throughout the expectations Calgarians have.”
“I feel it’s affordable to have some degree of controls round this as a result of in any other case for us to permit this in say suburban environments, I feel most people wouldn’t be down for that,” Farkas stated.
The 2026 Calgary Stampede runs from July 3 to 12. It can mark the second yr the Cowboys Music Competition has operated in Cowboys Park, previously referred to as Shaw Millenium Park on the west finish of downtown.
International Information reached out to Penny Lane Leisure for remark however didn’t obtain a response.
© 2026 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.