Calgary Expo Fan Guide
Plan a weekend at the Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo fit for a superhero.
The POW! Parade of Wonders (Credit: Karli Irvine)
Note: These events and activities are no longer up to date. Check out What to Do in Calgary This Week for more great things to see and do in Calgary.
There’s more Calgary to discover. Get fresh ideas, inspiration, and great deals delivered to your inbox
The CALGARY EXPO will return April 22 - 25, 2027 at Stampede Park.
The Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo celebrates all things pop culture with a four-day festival in Calgary that will bring your inner geek out. It’s photo ops with movie stars, autograph signings with legendary comic creators, one-of-a-kind cast reunions, the geekiest shopping experience in the land and the must-see POW! Parade of Wonders. Whether it’s your first time attending, or you are a cosplay pro, it’s the perfect chance to make a weekend of it with your friends and family with a festival from a galaxy far, far, away.
Channel the force and celebrate the 19th Annual Calgary Expo with these local tips and tricks.
Meet your favourite celebrity superstars
What makes the Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo so unique? Getting up close and personal with your favourite creators, directors, and actors!
The 2026 CALGARY EXPO brought some of the biggest names in pop culture to Calgary.
Lord of the Rings fans are in for a treat as Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd reunite for An Evening with the Hobbits in celebration of the film's 25th anniversary. Smallville fans won't want to miss Tom Welling and Erica Durance bringing the Clark and Lois magic to the show floor, and tickets for the special Smallville Nights event are on sale now.
Star Trek lovers can catch Brent Spiner (Data) and Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), and Harry Potter fans can look forward to meeting Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), and the Weasley twins themselves, James Phelps and Oliver Phelps.
Rounding out an incredible lineup are Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Josh Holloway (Lost), Cara Buono (Stranger Things), Dean Norris (Breaking Bad), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), and Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, Battlestar Galactica).
Local tip: Check out the complete list of amazing celebrity guests before you attend so you can plan your schedule for the weekend.
Mark the POW! Parade of Wonders on your calendar
The POW! Parade of Wonders is a FREE event and the official kickoff to the Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo Friday April 24, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. It’s a must-do activity for your festival weekend. Everyone is welcome to walk in the parade and feel like a superhero, all you have to do is dress up in full cosplay.
The parade route travels through Victoria Park and finishes with a festival atmosphere at the BMO Centre Grand Staircase to officially kick things off. Festival goers and locals line the parade route to cheer on the cosplayers and wave to the celebrity guests.
Local tip: Check the POW! Parade of Wonders parade route ahead of time to plan the best spot to catch the parade.
The POW! Parade of Wonders (Credit: Karli Irvine)
Make it a weekend with your family
Make your Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo festival fun a weekend your family will never forget. Imagine that special moment your kids meet their favourite superheroes, princesses, and voice actors! Ready for more family friendly entertainment? Enter the Kids’ Cosplay Showcase, the perfect way to cheer on the cosplay stars of tomorrow.
Local tip: Kids ages 6-12 get in FREE! Download the Kids Free Coupon to receive two Child Passes to the Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo. The pass must be printed and presented in person at the show and is valid for show hours on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Children 5 and under do not require a pass.
Make it a weekend with your friends
Need some group cosplay inspiration? Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Office, and The Lord of the Rings tributes are always a good bet. Round up your friends for a weekend of cosplay and comics at the Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo.
Sit in on celebrity panels, get your prized collectible signed by the artist, discover original works along Artist Alley and shop for collectibles, comics, games, toys, and tees with over 750 retailers.
Local tip: Did you know you can have up to four friends in your Celebrity Photo Ops? Round up your comic crew and make that celebrity shot your next Christmas card.
Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo (Credit: Karli Irvine)
Know all the tips and tricks before you go
Making the most of your CALGARY EXPO experience is all about knowing the local tips and tricks before you go. Start planning this epic comic adventure with some insider knowledge to take your Expo experience into a whole new galaxy.
Purchase your tickets ahead of time so you can skip the line and be ready for the fun. Multi-day passes and single-day admission can be purchased online with some great savings and limited edition schwag.
Ask questions at the Panels and Q&As! It’s a great chance to connect with your favourite celebrities, solve that comic conspiracy theory, and save your valuable Photo Ops time for merchandise signings and selfies.
Download the official Calgary Expo Mobile App and keep the complete schedule at your fingertips. You can buy tickets, plan your photo ops, and get up to the minute updates right to your smartphone or tablet.
Be prepared for Autograph Sessions and get your collectibles ready to sign before you hit the front of the line. Check their schedules and confirm autograph prices ahead of time.
Check the Show Floor Plan and plan your superhero strategy before you go! Map it out and break your Calgary Expo experience into a weekend of adventure so you won’t miss that comic book signing or celebrity photo op.
Get your tickets for the Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo, April 23-26, 2026.
About the author
We're a team of passionate local experts who are proud to share what we love about Calgary. From our diverse culinary scene, to the world-famous Calgary Stampede to unique local experiences you can't find anywhere else, we've written articles about everything there is to see, eat and do in our Blue Sky City.
