The 2026 Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show delivered an explosion of colour, music, and dance, interspersed with fireworks and specialty acts that never cease to dazzle. The opening number, Rhythm is a Dancer, featured the Young Canadians. Angela Benson, who choreographed the number, cleverly had groups of the 118 youngsters appear, so that the final number really was amazing — especially given how synchronized the choreography was. Fireworks erupted during this number, and the youngsters kept up with the pyrotechnics display, dazzling as much on stage as the fireworks did in the sky.
Intimate Acrobatics and Irish Tap
This big production was followed by the intimate acrobatics of Tobias Wolfgang and Vanessa Martinez from Argentina, who call themselves Duo Soma. He has amazing strength in his arms, balancing her in his hand. She later climbs a pole, which he balances on his shoulder. The climax of their act has her spinning by her hair on top of the pole, which he spins attached to a belt he is wearing. It is an astonishing feat.
Once again, the stage was awash with sound and colour as the Young Canadians joined Irish social media superstars The Gardiner Brothers, Michael and Matthew, who tap their way through snippets of pop tunes before being joined by the Young Canadians for Blue Suede Shoes. It’s impressive, but the jumbotrons should have concentrated more on the Gardiners’ feet, because this is where the real action is taking place.
High Valley Headlines with Drone Show
The stage gave way to a truck entering from stage right, with High Valley’s Brad Rempel sitting on bales of hay. Now the jumbotrons knew where to focus, as he sang Make You Mine, Grew Up on That, She’s With Me and especially Young Forever, which he easily got the audience to sing along to. High Valley was followed by the drone show in the sky above the stage, changing shapes to Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Things got intimate again for the Bello Sisters, three extremely agile young women from Italy. It’s almost painful to watch as they contort their bodies to balance one another in tiny pyramids they create. You could hear the audience gasp with each new configuration.
Seamless Choreography and Heart-Stopping Finale
Benson, who also stages these Grandstand shows, choreographs the scene changes. There is always something to watch even during setups, and her technical crew removes everything quickly and effortlessly. Following the Bello Sisters was a brother act from Guinea called The Sylla Brothers, and their Wheel of Death. It’s heart pounding to watch as they run inside their wheels, but when one of the brothers starts running and somersaulting on top of the wheel, it becomes almost heart stopping.
The show ends with all the special guests joining the Young Canadians for Can’t Stop this Feeling, with fireworks filling the sky.
