For many visitors, a trip to the Calgary Stampede is incomplete without a stroll through the Stampede Rotary Dream Home. This year, the experience promises to be bigger than ever as the Dream Home team celebrates major anniversaries.
The partnership between Homes by Avi, the Calgary Stampede, and the Rotary Club of Calgary marks its 30th anniversary in 2026. Additionally, the Dream Home Artist Project celebrates its 20th anniversary. To honor these milestones, Homes by Avi has invited back 11 past Dream Home artists to create fresh artwork for this year's home.
Celebrating Artistic Impact
“Since its inception, the Dream Home Artist Project has provided an incredible platform for emerging artists,” said Julie Punter, Homes by Avi’s show home interior design manager. “This year is about celebrating that impact — bringing artists back to where many of their journeys began and showing how far they’ve come, and it couldn’t be more fitting given it’s our 30th home down at Stampede Park.”
Punter explained that the concept for the Dream Home Artist Project started during a time when top shows like Top Chef were gaining attention. “Why not create a top artist showcase? From there, the idea just kept growing and growing into what it is today.”
Artist Lineup and Personal Stories
The 2026 artist lineup includes past winners Jamie Kim, Shawni Tolman, McKenna Prather, Christy Niedersteiner, Katie Lois, Tiffany Lynn Cuffley, John F. Gerrard, Brad Holt, Stephanie Hoogveld, Michelle Hoogveld, and David Zimmerman. For many, the Dream Home provided a major career break.
“The Dream Home gave me the confidence to pursue art as a full-time career,” said Brad Holt of Holt Fine Art. “Over a decade later, I’m still meeting collectors who first discovered my work there.”
From an interior design perspective, handmade, one-of-a-kind art adds a unique touch. “You could just put prints on the wall, but it wouldn’t be as memorable as original artwork. There’s an engagement that people have with original art that just isn’t there with prints,” Punter added.
Coordinating 11 Artists
Coordinating 11 artists and their diverse works, ranging from mixed-media to landscapes, presents challenges, but Punter remains upbeat. “It’s been busy, but they are all very accommodating and helpful. We all have fun doing it.”
More than 100,000 people visit the Stampede Rotary Dream Home each year. All artwork on display is for sale, with proceeds going directly to the artists. Their works are also showcased at the Western Oasis Art Gallery in the BMO Centre.
Event Details and Future Plans
The 2026 Stampede runs from July 3 to 12. Visitors can tour the Dream Home for design inspiration and art viewing. Tickets to win the home are also available, with proceeds supporting local charities.
“Together with Homes by Avi and the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park, the Calgary Stampede Lotteries has helped make dreams come true for so many families in our community,” said Russ Kane, Calgary Stampede Lotteries Committee chair. “We’re grateful for a partnership that has grown over the past 30 years and continues to positively impact the causes that support many lives in Alberta — while also creating meaningful opportunities for local artists through the Dream Home Artist Project.”
Next year, the Dream Home Artist Project will return to its original format, featuring work by a single artist. Applications will open in early 2027. For more information, visit homesbyavi.com/dreamhome and homesbyavi.com/dreamhome/artists.
