Hey Wanderers!
Another busy week is rolling into Calgary, bringing a mix of entertainment, community events, and unique experiences across the city. From cosplay and gaming at Otafest to comedy shows, career fairs, live performances, and more, there’s plenty happening whether you’re looking for a fun night out or something different to explore this week..
We’ve rounded up the best things happening so you can spend less time searching and more time making plans. Below is your guide to the top events happening in and around Calgary from Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 15, 2026—featuring community book sales, comedy shows, career fairs, live music, and plenty more worth adding to your calendar before the weekend begins.
Scroll through, pick your thing, and go make it a week worth talking about.
Full List of events
Monday, May 11, 2026
Calgary Reads Big Book Sale
📍 Calgary Curling Club (720 3rd Street NW, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 08 – 17, 2026
💰 $5
⏰ Times vary by date
🔗 Learn more here: Click Here
Shop more than 150,000+ gently used books at the 19th Calgary Reads Big Book Sale!
Learn all about our special BOGO, fill-a-box and free book days + details about parking and more at www.bigbooksale.ca
Whatever you love to read, you’ll find stacks here! Most adult books are $4 and most children’s books are $2. Proceeds fuel the important work of local early literacy organizations so Calgary’s children can enjoy a bright start in school and in life!
Shumka: Back to Our Roots
📍 The GRAND (608 1st St SW, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 11, 2026
💰 $47+
⏰ 7:30pm
🔗 Learn more & get your tickets here: Click Here
With infectious energy and a blur of colour, Canada’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers are a vibrant dance troupe. Their performances not only live up to the term shumka, a whirlwind, but also offer entertainment to take your breath away. Get ready for Shumka: Back to Our Roots, coming to Calgary this May. This dynamic Ukrainian dance presentation celebrates movement, music, and tradition.
Continue the celebration at the after-party with food, entertainment and an opportunity to dance the night away.
Tuesday,May 12, 2026
Be Like Blippi Tour
📍 WinSport Event Centre (88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 12, 2026
💰 $43+
⏰ 6pm
🔗 Get your tickets here: Click Here
As one of the most recognizable faces for preschoolers around the world, Blippi will be coming to the WinSport Event Centre for a one-of-a-kind interactive event.
Best suited for children ages 2-7, Blippi has successfully leveraged his two billion monthly YouTube views into stage performances across the country, where he sings, dances, laughs, and plays with in-person audiences.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Sooshi Mango
📍 Jack Singer Concert Hall (225 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 13, 2026
💰 $47+
⏰ 7:30pm
🔗 Learn more & get your tickets here: Click Here
If you’re looking for a night full of nonstop laughs, don’t miss Sushi Mango Live—the viral comedy trio brings their hilarious family chaos and spot-on impressions to the stage for a show that’s guaranteed to entertain.
Cannonball! A Festival of Youth Theatre
📍 West Village Theatre (10 Avenue Southwest, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 13 – 16 & 26 – 30, 2026
💰 $25+
⏰ Times vary
🔗 Learn more & get your tickets here: Click Here
This Festival of Youth-led Theatre takes place in May, 2026 and features seven youth-written/directed/stage managed/performed/designed/produced plays, our annual Improv Night including our popular Alumni Improv Fundraiser, our closing night Season Launch Party, and a special featured performance of our touring play The Midnight Fort!
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Grupo Niche – Niche Disco Tour (18+)
📍 The Palace Theatre (219 – 8th Ave SW, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 14, 2026
💰 $112+
⏰ 7pm
🔗 Learn more & get your tickets here: Click Here
Grupo Niche’s Niche Disco Tour is a vibrant celebration of their legendary salsa catalog, blending classic hits with refreshed arrangements. Known for rich brass sections, infectious rhythms, and powerful vocals, the tour delivers high-energy performances that honor their legacy while getting audiences dancing, uniting generations of Latin music fans across international stages.
Calgary Career Fair
📍 BMO Centre – Stampede Park (20 Roundup Way SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 14, 2026
💰 FREE
⏰ 10am – 2pm
🔗 Learn more here: Click Here
Attention Opportunity Seekers! Career Fair Canada is back and better than ever, helping you advance your career in the right direction! Get in front of hiring managers, and network and apply to our recruiting exhibitors. Learn about exciting new career options and obtain valuable information about how to earn the credentials and diplomas you need to get the job you want with our training and career college exhibitors.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi in Concert
📍 Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (1415 14th Ave NW, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 15 & 16, 2026
💰 $58+
⏰ Fri: 7:30pm / Sat: 2:30pm & 7:30pm
🔗 Learn more & get your tickets here: Click Here
Feel — and hear — the Force around you in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi when the Calgary Phil performs John Williams’ Oscar-nominated score live-to-film! In the climactic sixth episode of the Star Wars saga, Luke Skywalker joins R2-D2, C-3PO, and Princess Leia to free Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and launch a desperate attack upon the entire Imperial Fleet.
Otafest
📍 Calgary Telus Convention Centre and Mariott Hotel Downtown (120 9th Ave SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 15 – 17, 2026
💰 $60+
⏰ 9am – 8pm
🔗 Learn more & get your tickets here: Click Here
Otafest Calgary is a vibrant celebration of anime, gaming, and Japanese pop culture, bringing fans together for cosplay, panels, artists, and live entertainment. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious, it’s the perfect place to explore creativity, meet like-minded people, and experience something totally unique. Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of Calgary’s most energetic and colourful events!
Bow Habitat Station Discovery Days: Birds, Beaks and Beyond
📍 Bow Habitat Station (1440 17a St SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 May 15, 2026
💰 $6+
⏰ 9am – 3pm
🔗 Learn more & get your tickets here: Click Here
Ever wonder how far migratory species can travel? This May, spread your wings and follow these remarkable travelers as many journey back to Alberta just in time for the vibrant spring and summer seasons
High River Little Britches Rodeo
📍 High River Rodeo Grounds (Foothills No. 31, AB)
📆 May 15 & 16, 2026
💰 by donation
⏰ Fri: 6pm / Sat: 10am
🔗 Learn more here: Click Here
Round up your cow pokes and come-on-down to enjoy one of Canada’s most unique rodeos, plus a jam-packed roster of events.
The Little Britches rodeo is one of the main attractions, where kids can practice their cowboy moves in challenges such as calf roping, sheep riding and barrel busting.
Events Included:
Team Roping – Barrel Racing – Steer Riding – Pole Bending – Mutton Bustin – Goat Tying – Breakaway Roping – Wild Pony Race – Pig Scramble
Learn more and get your bags ready! Thank you for helping to grow a thriving reading community!
That’s your week, Wanderers. From the cosplay-filled energy of Otafest to the excitement of a rodeo, live entertainment, and local events happening across the city, Calgary is packed with ways to keep your schedule anything but boring.
If you make it out to any of these events, tag us in your stories, we love seeing how our community wanders through the city. And if you want to make sure you never miss a week, subscribe to our website. We drop a new Calgary events roundup every week so you always know what’s worth your time.
Because we believe we are all made to wander, and Calgary keeps giving us reasons to. ✨
Shabina + Adi
