Jett Schwaier/CHAT News

By Jett Schwaier

IN THE COMMUNITY

Video: Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede announces upcoming events and dates for 2026

Jan 26, 2026 | 6:22 PM

The Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede have announced the upcoming rodeo events and dates for 2026, during a press conference on Monday.

Events include the Spring Rodeo, scheduled for April 10 to 12, followed by the return of the Chuckwagons from June 11 to 14.

The Royalty competition begins July 9, while the Summer Pro Rodeo runs July 23 to 25, with the fair opening July 22.

Cars and Guitars, featuring “a tribute to Jimmy Buffett,” is set for Aug. 8, and the Indian Relay competition will take place Aug. 15 to 16.

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Ron Edwards, Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede General Manager, said this year we’re bringing new types of entertainment.

“Any night show, Friday night is sold out usually, it’s really going to help try and get more fans in the seats to get there after supper, and we’re pretty excited about that one,” Edwards said.

“Our Jimmy Buffett tribute band in August, we can really have some fun with that, we’re looking forward to it,” he added.

“Free entertainment on the grounds isn’t going to change; we’re going to have good quality, free entertainment.”

Edwards said Medicine Hat is the only rodeo in Canada that hosts two Canadian Professional Rodeo Association-approved events during the rodeo season.

“We’ve always had two CPRA dual-approved rodeos, that’s why they’re called dual-approved,” Edwards said.

“Had them for years, spring rodeo in April, summer show in July, we’re pretty proud of that, it helps the Cowboys go to another rodeo early in the spring.”

The Spring Rodeo is described as an important early-season opportunity for competitors to prepare for the summer schedule.

Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Rodeo Chair, Neal Siedlecki, said the event provides a wintertime entertainment option for the community.

“It’s a great family event. We’ve had it down in the dirt over the last couple of years,” Siedlecki said.

“It’s been fun for the kids to come down into the Rodeo grounds where the heroes are and where the competitors are,” he added.

“They get to play around in the dirt while their family gets to enjoy just some night of entertainment, it’s a great night out.”

The Chuck Wagon Chairman, Ross Brigden, said the chuck wagon races have been coming to Medicine Hat for about 26 years, and it’s always great to see the competition.

“We get a lot of the same people competing. The top 36 wagons from North America come here,” Brigden said.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to have all the world champions and pretty well the same show as the Calgary Stampede,” Brigden said.

Brigden said the chuck wagon is an exciting and competitive sport for anyone to enjoy.

“If you like horses, you like races. Once you’ve seen them, I think a lot of people get hooked on it,” Brigden said.

Ryan McCracken, the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Sponsorship and Marketing Coordinator, said the Indian Relay is a growing attraction in the city and across North America.

“It’s been around for a really long time. We had pretty good numbers our first year, which was in 2024, and we nearly doubled our attendance numbers last year,” McCracken said.

“It’s an incredibly exciting sport. It appeals to somewhat of a younger audience than something like truck wagons,” he added.

“It’s a sight to see, and if you haven’t seen it, we encourage you to come out and check it out.”

McCracken said a big part of the event isn’t just the races themselves, but the work they put into it.

“We have cultural dancing and live music, cultural drumming. We have an indigenous artisans market that runs right alongside the races, inside the grandstand,” McCracken said

“Last year, we introduced a little teepee village where we had bannock making and beading,” he added.

“We’re doing what we can to make it more of a cultural event and sort of a learning experience for people.”

The rodeo seeks volunteers every year to assist with the events, and Edwards said there are many ways to volunteer.

“You don’t have to be in rodeo, or you don’t have to be night show, you can volunteer in all sorts of different areas,” Edwards said.

“We need the younger kids [to come] out; we’re always looking for volunteers.”

Tickets for all the events will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29.

The night show, featuring Tom Cochrane and Barney Bentall, Jonny Reid and Morgan Klaiber, has been announced previously to Monday’s conference.

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READ: Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede announces 2026 Summer Night Show lineup

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