Calgary is set to host its first-ever hot dog festival, Dog Days, running from May 23 to June 6, 2026. The event features over 50 restaurants and supports a local pet therapy charity.
Festival details
Throughout the two-week festival, Calgarians can visit any of 54 participating restaurants and vendors across the city to sample their Dog Days creations. Press and Post, a Calgary marketing and public relations agency, is organizing the event.
"Everyone has either selected a hot dog off their menu or created a custom hot dog for the festival," said Ayla Gilmer, communications manager for Press and Post.
Supporting a worthy cause
In addition to enjoying hot dogs, festival-goers will support the Pet Access League Society (PALS), a Calgary-based non-profit. For each Dog Days creation sold, $1 will be donated to PALS.
"All of our team members have pets — dogs, cats and actually a rabbit as well," Gilmer said. "I think we all love animals and know firsthand the benefits of spending time with them. Supporting PALS and pet therapy was an easy cause to get behind."
PALS provides pet therapy visits to over 50 facilities in Calgary, including hospitals, seniors' homes, and libraries, where dogs help children learning to read.
Kickoff party
The festival begins Saturday with a kickoff party at Cold Garden Beverage Company in Inglewood from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees can enjoy hot dogs from The Dogfather food truck, drinks, and visits with PALS dogs. The Dogfather's Cheesy Pawrito Dog will donate $1 per sale to PALS. Cold Garden will also donate $1 from each pint of its Pool Party Blonde ale sold.
"We wanted to have a location that was super dog-friendly so we could have all the PALS dogs there and so people could bring their dogs as well," Gilmer said.
Participating restaurants span the city and include eateries, food trucks, and food court vendors. A full list is available at dogdaysyyc.com.
