Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas has announced what he calls a final agreement with Stampede week festival tent operators, establishing a midnight music curfew on both weeknights and weekends, along with uniform noise rules for all venues. The deal, reached Friday night, ends concerts 90 minutes earlier than last year and includes a cooling-off period until 1 a.m., down from 2 a.m. in 2025.
Key terms of the agreement
The allowable decibel levels remain the same as in 2025, but bass volume will be reduced, according to Farkas. “The City of Calgary and the big Stampede tent operators reached a win-win agreement that delivers even stronger late-night noise protections for nearby residents,” he said in a social media video. He praised tent operators for showing “a real willingness to compromise and even give up financially … that means giving up some of their busiest and most profitable hours out of genuine respect for their neighbours.”
Background of noise complaints
Three festival tents in downtown Calgary during last year’s Stampede generated over 200 public complaints from residents about loud noise, vibrations causing property damage, and disruptive patrons. Reducing the bass level was key to the deal. “It’s all about that bass. Bass generated the most complaints,” Farkas said. He acknowledged the significant investments tent operators made in noise mitigation and predicted those would lead to an enjoyable Stampede week.
Earlier controversy
Earlier this month, Paul Vickers, head of Penny Lane Entertainment’s Cowboys Music Festival, argued that shorter hours and reduced decibels would hurt customer experience and financial viability, potentially discouraging performers. Critics said the rules were imposed two weeks before the July 3 Stampede start, but Farkas countered that the regulations had been known for months. The dispute drew attention from Premier Danielle Smith, who threatened provincial intervention, and federal Tory leader Pierre Poilievre, who echoed similar concerns.
