Is Calgary Safe in January 2026?

During the 10-day Calgary Stampede in July, scalpers outside the Stampede grounds sell tickets at 2-5x face value, and a portion are sophisticated counterfeits with copied barcodes. Counterfeit tickets scan as already used at the gate and neither the Calgary Stampede nor the scalper provides any recourse. This is among the most common tourist financial crimes reported in Calgary annually.

How to avoid: Buy all Calgary Stampede tickets exclusively through the official Stampede website (calgarystampede.com) or from the BMO Centre box office. The Stampede mobile ticket system makes counterfeiting more difficult — use mobile transfers only. Any ticket purchased from a person outside the gates should be considered high-risk.

A subset of midway carnival game operators at the Stampede grounds operate games with physics designed to make winning practically impossible — ring tosses with rings smaller than bottle necks, basketball hoops that are oval, and milk bottle games with weighted bottles. Large sums are extracted from visitors trying to win oversized prizes.

How to avoid: Treat all carnival games as entertainment with a guaranteed cost, not a genuine chance to win a prize. Set a firm per-game budget before engaging. If a game appears physically rigged, report it to the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), which licenses midway operators.

During Calgary Stampede week in July, fraudulent Airbnb and Vrbo-style listings proliferate for properties near Stampede Park on Macleod Trail and in the Mission and Inglewood neighbourhoods. Scammers post photos stolen from legitimate listings, collect a full-week deposit, and disappear before check-in. Calgary Stampede week drives accommodation demand to extreme levels, creating a prime environment for this fraud, which spikes every July.

How to avoid: Book through Airbnb or Vrbo's official platforms and never transfer payment outside the platform. Verify host profiles for review history and confirmed identity badges. For high-demand weeks, consider booking certified hotels on 9th Avenue SE or Macleod Trail directly with the property.

Unlicensed rideshare drivers and informal taxis approach travelers before they reach the licensed taxi and rideshare staging area at Calgary International Airport. They quote flat cash fares of $70-$90 to downtown, while the regulated rate runs approximately $45-$55. They operate without meters or insurance appropriate for hired passenger transport.

How to avoid: The authorized taxi and rideshare pickup zone is on Level 1 of the Parkade directly connected to the arrivals hall. Use the Uber or Lyft app and select the specific pickup zone marked in the app. Never accept a ride from someone who approaches you in the arrivals hall or parking lot.

Portable ATM kiosks deployed on the Stampede grounds and at some Beltline bars during Stampede Week have been found to contain skimming devices and pinhole cameras in previous years. These devices capture card data and PINs and are difficult to distinguish from legitimate machines. The high cash-transaction volume of Stampede week makes it a prime target for organized skimming operations.

How to avoid: Withdraw cash before entering the Stampede grounds using a bank-branded ATM (TD, RBC, Scotiabank) rather than independent kiosk ATMs. If you must use an ATM at the grounds, physically inspect the card slot for any wobble and cover the keypad entirely when entering your PIN. Monitor your bank account for unauthorized transactions daily during and after Stampede.