American barrel racer Kassie Mowry set a new course record at the Calgary Stampede rodeo on Thursday, July 9, 2026, after watching her previous record be broken earlier in the day. Michelle Alley of Madisonville, Texas, briefly broke the arena record with a time of 16.72 seconds, but Mowry surpassed it minutes later with a time of 16.68 seconds. Rodeo can be like Calgary's weather: just wait five minutes and it can change.
Sand Sculptures and Western Art
Western art comes in many mediums, and the Calgary Stampede showcases this with its sand sculpture display. Using tonnes of sand, artists created sculptures of heavy horses, belt buckles, Stampede founders Guy Weadick and Flores Ladue, and more. The 10 statues can be found in the BMO Centre concourse, Western Oasis, The Market, and Community Square.
Scorching Heat and Attendance
Friday, July 10, will be another hot day on the Stampede grounds, with a forecast high of 27°C and no clouds in sight. Cowboy hats and sunscreen are recommended. Thursday saw 114,852 people pass through the gates of Stampede Park, bringing total attendance to 1,006,514 so far.
Music Picks for July 10
On the Grounds: William Prince at the Big Four Roadhouse
Peguis First Nation folk singer William Prince is a Calgary favourite, having played the Calgary Folk Music Festival and various venues. Fresh from performing at the FIFA opening ceremonies in Toronto alongside fellow 2026 Stampede performers Alanis Morissette and Alessia Cara, Prince will headline the Big Four Roadhouse at 9 p.m. He is likely still touring his fifth studio album, Further From the Country, praised for its honest depictions of life on Peguis First Nation and exploration of intergenerational trauma and hardship while celebrating community and belonging.
Off the Grounds: The Oxford Stomp at Prince's Island Park
Juno-winning band the Arkells will headline the Oxford Stomp at Prince's Island Park with their stadium-ready rock songs. Their new record, Between Us, was produced by John Congleton, who has worked with St. Vincent, Death Cab for Cutie, and Tegan and Sara. Joining the Arkells are Alaskan indie-rockers Portugal, The Man, California electro-popsters Cannons, and Windsor, Ontario blues-rock duo The Blue Stones.
