With the year 2025 coming to a close, there are plenty of New Year’s events in Calgary to reflect on the year and celebrate what’s to come.
According to a recent poll, economic stress, global conflict, and climate-related tragedies defined 2025, which is leaving many Canadians feeling uncertain about 2026.
However, the same poll also saw some optimism, with several residents in Calgary who spoke with CityNews expressing this sentiment.
Regardless of how the year panned out, there are ways to kick off the second half of the 2020s.
Here’s a list of New Year’s Eve festivities in Calgary.
City of Calgary rings in 2026 with Eau Claire Plaza celebration
The city is hosting Calgarians with a New Year’s line-up of family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and an outdoor skating/dance party.
With Olympic Plaza under renovation, this year’s finale is happening at Eau Claire Plaza and Prince’s Island Park starting at 8 p.m.
Food trucks will be on site for snacks, fire pits will be roaring to keep people warm, and there are tonnes to keep everyone entertained.
Stilt walkers will add magic to the festivities, roaming about between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.
The DJ skating/dance party happens on Prince’s Island Lagoon from 9 p.m. to midnight. Bring your own skates, or rentals are available until midnight.
There will be a fire dragon parade from 10:30-11:30 p.m. starting at the Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire Hotel.
And what many are looking for, the fireworks show goes off at midnight. The show is set to air alongside CJSW’s broadcast and will also be available through an online livestream.
Anyone attending or nearby will be able to view the display from the river pathway areas surrounding the park.
The city says Calgarians will have a chance to win prizes, including a one-night stay at the Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire with breakfast for two at Flower & Wolf, and Downtown Calgary gift cards.
Additionally, with the city’s New Year’s event taking place in Eau Claire, Brooklyn Cafe will be open right until 10 p.m. at the warming station.
More information on City of Calgary events can be found online here.
Telus Spark Noon Year’s Eve
Telus Spark’s “Noon Year’s Eve” is an opportunity for families looking to bring in the new year early with their kids.
It starts at 9 a.m., with a balloon drop right at noon, and a “family dance party” with DJ Cosmic Ray. Families can also expect galleries to have all sorts of surprises.
Telus Spark also says there will be a “wow-to-WOAH” science experiment at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are included with general admission or a Spark Membership.
New Year’s Eve at the Library
Calgary Public Library facilities will host New Year’s Eve events from 1-4 p.m.
There will be a special storytime event, a family DJ dance party, and a mock countdown commemorating the new year.
More information can be found here.
Calgary Zoo Lights
The Zoo Lights at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is open right up until Jan. 4.
Calgarians can embark on trails, tunnels, and walks, along with trying their hand at daily interactive activities like axe-throwing. There are also treats and chances to learn about the different animals on site.
More information about the nearly 30-year event can be found online.
YHOS and Happy 50+ 2026 New Year Gala
The Young Hearts Old Souls (YHOS), which is committed to fostering the leadership skills of youth aged 11-18, has its New Year Gala at the South Fish Creek Recreation Association.
Starting at 11 a.m., the event will have a community potluck, a family talent show, and parent-child interactive games. There will also be specially invited seniors from the Happy50+ Association to kick off the new year with performances.
The address for the event is 100 – 333 Shawville Blvd SE, and it concludes at 3 p.m.
A Luminous New Year concert
From 7:30-10 p.m., “A Luminous New Year” at Bella Concert Hall in Mount Royal University, is bringing choral music and festive celebration to ring in 2026.
Performed by Luminous Voices and conducted by Cosette Justo Valdés, the concert will have a selection of seasonal and classical works, along with Cuban and Latin American ones.
Tickets are $50 general, $45 for seniors, and $25 for students. They can be found through the Mount Royal University website or purchased at the door.
Circle K Classic U18AAA tournament
The 47th Circle K Classic is back until Jan. 1, 2026.
Hosted at the Max Bell Arena and the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex, 32 teams from Canada, the U.S., and Hungary will feature players from several leagues, including the AEHL, BCEHL, SMAAAHL, NSAAAMHL, CSSHL and NAPHL.
Watch: Circle K Classic minor hockey tournament returns to Calgary
Tickets are $20-$25, with the latter price applying for the final day.
Calgary Flames vs Philadelphia Flyers
The Calgary Flames’ home stretch continues on New Year’s Eve as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers.
After a dismal start to the season, there’s now some talk that the Flames might actually be in the hunt for a playoff spot.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be found by clicking here.
Confederation Park Golf Course
For 39 years, the Lions Festival of Lights has lit up the night along 14 Street NW, north of 24 Avenue. The family-friendly free light display runs every evening until Jan. 8, 2026.
Bars and restaurants
Several places in the city will have their own festivities to kick off the new year.
The Ship and Anchor has “British New Year’s,” which opens at 11 a.m. and starts the countdown at 5 p.m. While early, The Ship says the event is not minor-friendly.
Cold Garden will have its Malt Ball at The Palace Theatre. The event starts at 9 p.m. and concludes at 2 a.m. Le Cirque De La Nuit will be there with interactive performances, and the dress code is “Space Disco.”
Tickets for The Rec Room’s New Year’s 2026 Extravaganza at 7 p.m. are $80, and tickets for the Commonwealth Bar and Stage’s Bar Crawl –also at 7 p.m. — are $29.36.
More events — both ticketed and free — can be found here.
How to get around on New Year’s Eve
Shuttle buses and transit
To help people get to and from New Year’s Eve celebrations, the city is setting up free shuttle buses, and Calgary Transit is offering extended service.
Shuttle buses run from 9 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. on Jan.1, arriving at stops every 45 minutes, and will connect back to Lot 59 on Memorial Drive, which is across the bridge from the City of Calgary celebrations.
The two locations are the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium parking lot in the northwest and the Max Bell Centre on 1001 Barlow Trail in the southeast, near the city’s northeast area.
CTrains with regular fees will run until 4 a.m. on Jan. 1, and several major bus routes, including routes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22, 301, 302 and the MAX routes, will operate until 3 a.m.
This is the first time in two years that Calgarians will have to pay to use transit on New Year’s Eve after the city says that they were unsuccessful in finding a corporate sponsor to cover the cost.
The free transit program began in 2023, but with shifting interest, the city will go back to the drawing board in hopes of landing a sponsor next year.
Watch: No free transit on NYE due to lack of sponsorship: Calgary Transit
Road closures
Several road closures will be in effect near the event sites.
Memorial Drive NW will be closed in both directions between 10 Street NW and 4 Street NE from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Access to Crescent Heights and Rosedale will be restricted to residents. Vehicles parked in Sunnyside will be permitted to exit westbound after midnight.
Parking
The Calgary Authority has several tips to help those heading out to celebrate the new year.
For starters, it suggests planning ahead by knowing where to park, because regular rates apply to all ParkPlus zones, parkades, and surface lots.
It also says to use the Calgary On-Street Parking Map for rates and times, or the MyParking app, ParkPlus website, text-to-park, call-to-park, and the virtual Pay Machine as a guest.
If you decide to stay in and have a party at home, the CPA says to let your neighbour know ahead of time about additional vehicles in the area, or have a designated driver, taxi, rideshare or transit for safe travel.
You can find more information on the CPA website.
City of Calgary activities on New Year’s Day
The city is offering free skating on New Year’s Day from 1-2:15 p.m., along with an additional slot from 2:30-3:45 p.m., at the following arenas:
- Optimist/George Blundun Arenas (5020 26 Avenue SW).
- Rose Kohn / Jimmie Condon Arenas (502 Heritage Drive SW).
- Shouldice Arena (1515 Home Road NW).
The city is asking Calgarians to attend only one timeslot for the New Year’s Day skate because of the frequency of bookings. It adds that the ice may be cleared at 2:30 p.m. to allow for more guests.
What’s open and closed on New Year’s Day
Calgary Transit
The City of Calgary says buses, CTrains, and On Demand will operate on a Sunday-level service for New Year’s Day.
Parking
On New Year’s Day, there is free parking in on-street ParkPlus zones, and weekend rates apply at all Calgary Parking parkades and surface lots.
The CPA says regular rates will be in effect at partner lots such as TELUS Spark, the Calgary Stampede, Calgary Zoo and Heritage Park.
The Calgary Parking Contact Centre and Impound Lot will be closed on Jan. 1.
You can find more information on the CPA website.
Road closures
The roads that were closed for New Year’s Eve celebrations will remain closed until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, and are expected to be open afterwards.
City services
All indoor pools and fitness centres, arenas, the Maxwell Soccer Centre, North Mount Pleasant Centre, Wildflower Arts Centre, and the Animal Services Centre will be closed on New Year’s Day. This excludes facilities offering free skates.
The Glenmore Aquatic Centre will close from Dec. 22 until Jan. 1, while the Acadia Aquatic and Fitness, Shouldice, and Inglewood aquatic centres will remain closed until Jan. 4.
North Mount Pleasant Art Centre and the Wildflower Arts Centre will remain closed until Jan. 4.
The city landfill and Eco Centre locations (East Calgary, Spyhill, and Shepherd) will be closed on Jan. 1.
Lastly, all swimming lessons and most registered programs won’t be available as well.
Leisure centres
The city says the following facilities will be open Jan. 2 – 4:
More information on hours can be found here.
Malls
Most malls will close at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, while CrossIron Mills closes at 6 p.m.
Chinook Centre opens at 9:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, while almost every other mall opens at 10 a.m. CrossIron Mills opens at 11 a.m. on both days.
Marlborough Mall is set to close at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Day, while every other one — except The Core, which will be closed — closes at 6 p.m.
Those malls are CrossIron Mills, CF Chinook Centre, The Core, CF Market Mall, Marlborough Mall, and Sunridge Mall.
