Sled Island
A multi-venue music and arts festival taking place in Calgary, Alberta each June. But Sled Island is about more than just five days in June.
Since its inception in 2007, Sled Island has been proud to showcase a whopping 852 unique Alberta bands, including 630 from Calgary, as well as comedy, film, art, special events and conference programming in 154 unique Calgary venues to a combined audience of more than 415,000 people. The organization operates with only three full-time staff as well as a passionate base of support made up of 400+ volunteers annually and 550 unique partners to date. It’s a year-round catalyst for music, arts and community and a beloved connector of partners, volunteers, artists and audience members. The festival is a leader in fostering all-ages, green, safer spaces, inclusion and accessibility initiatives. It’s also an important economic driver. A 2015 economic impact study produced by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance showed that Sled Island generated $3.4 million in economic activity for Alberta that year.
09/29/2026
The Sled Island office will be closed Wednesday, September 30 as we honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - an important day to recognize and remember the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as to honour the survivors and their families. The day is also a continued effort to promote awareness and education of the impact that residential schools have had on Indigenous communities.
There are many community events taking place across the Calgary. We encourage you to participate meaningfully, and where you can, consider giving to one of the many organizations working to support Indigenous people.
For a list of events, visit calgarychamber.com/whats-new/events-for-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-2026/.
09/29/2026
Sled Island returns June 16 – 20, 2027!
Music submissions open next Tuesday, October 6 at noon MDT. We’ll be looking for incredible bands and artists to perform at next year’s festival, so get your application in and let’s hear it!
Deadline to apply is January 8, 2027 at 11:59pm MDT.
For more information, visit SledIsland.com/Apply.
(Photo: Michael Sarsito)
09/23/2026
Join Sled Island as a volunteer during the 2026/2027 pre-festival season and be part of the excitement leading up to the fest!
Opportunities include assisting at live shows, bingos, special events, markets and more!
Volunteers who complete 16 hours will receive a Discovery Pass for next year’s festival.
To stay informed about upcoming pre-fest volunteer opportunities, please contact [email protected].
(Photo: Sebastian Buzzalino)
CONTEST ALERT! CIFF kicks off next week, and this year we’re very excited to be giving away tickets for the Canadian premiere of THE BEST SUMMER!
When filmmaker Tamra Davis (BILLY MADISON, HALF-BAKED) had to evacuate her home during the Palisades fires of January 2025, she found a box of old Sony Hi8 tapes that contained hours of footage she had recorded during the 1995 'Summersault' music tour.
The result is a raw and intimate time capsule of an era that changed music forever. Immersive, never-before-seen POV camera footage reveals electric performances, candid interviews, and intimate backstage life with Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Pavement, Rancid, Beck, The Amps, and Bikini Kill — for an all-access view inside an era-defining moment in music.
THE BEST SUMMER plays at Chinook Cineplex on September 28 and at THE PLAZA THEATRE on September 30.
Tag a friend and be sure to follow Calgary International Film Festival - CIFF and Sled Island for a chance to win a pair of tickets!
The 27th Annual Calgary International Film Festival presented by Servus Credit Union runs from September 24 - October 4, 2026.
For more information, visit ciffcalgary.ca.
09/04/2026
Launching September 19 in Calgary, Stoodis MusicFest is a new Indigenous music festival rooted in community, culture, and the future.
This drug and alcohol free, family friendly soft launch brings together 10+ outstanding Indigenous musicians from Treaty 7, alongside drum groups, Elders, and cultural programming. More than a concert, Stoodis Fest is a gathering — a place for families, youth, and community members to celebrate Indigenous creativity in a good way. This inaugural event offers a glimpse into a growing movement designed to uplift Indigenous talent and be shared across Turtle Island for generations to come.
Learn more and get tickets at StoodisMusicFest.ca.
09/04/2026
Can’t make it out to Edmonton for Purple City Music Festival? You’re in luck! Next week The Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club is hosting four nights of music jam-packed with bands from their festival lineup! Not to mention some Sled Island faves!
Thursday, September 10 - Iguana Death Cult (The Netherlands), Hot Garbage (Toronto), Ancient Greece (Toronto), Still Depths (Vancouver), Lovelet (Montreal), Sadbirthdays and Bad Bodies
Friday, September 11 - Bambara (New York), Pøltergeist, Thespian (Vancouver), Eye of Newt, Dour (Vancouver), Spirit Hotel (Missoula) and Heavydive
Saturday, September 12 - Dark Thoughts (Philadelphia), Closetalkers, Pill Mill (Vancouver) and AZURE
Sunday, September 13 - Shannon Shaw (Oakland), The Radiation Flowers (Saskatoon) and Amy Nelson
For more information and for tickets, visit ThePalomino.ca/Live-Events.
And of course, if you’re in Edmonton, check out Purple City!!
09/01/2026
The BLOX is back with another Party in the Park! On September 13, join us at Lougheed House from 1-7pm and catch live sets from Elliott BROOD, Jaiden Riley & The Crybabies, Shaela Miller and I Am The Mountain!
Plus, food trucks, lawn games, face painting, a caricature artist, balloon animals, a vendor market, a b**r garden and lots more!
Admission is FREE! All-ages and pet friendly.
See you there!
Poster by Steph Love.
Catch up on the CJSW live sessions from Sled Island 2026!
During this year's fest, bands from Sled Island stopped by to perform live on the airwaves, and now you can watch all the videos in their entirety on the CJSW YouTube channel.
Check 'em out now at YouTube.com/CJSWRadio.
Music by TANGINGUGUN.
08/27/2026
Are you an artist looking to showcase your work, or do you know someone who fits the bill? Sled Island is always looking for new illustrators and designers to help with various projects!
Share a comment with a website link or Instagram handle or send us an email at [email protected], and we’ll add you to our digital rolodex of artists that may be available for cool opportunities!
(Photo: Michael Grondin)
Are you missing Sled Island? Maybe longing for the shows you never made it to or simply hoping to relive some of your favourites? Tune into CJSW’s YouTube channel for the full videos from our Sled Island 2026 Live Sessions featuring Laraaji, afk, Wheelchair Sports Camp and many, many more!
Subscribe to catch new video drops throughout the week at YouTube.com/CJSWRadio.
Music by Oil Giant.
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Telephone
Website
Address
Calgary, AB
T2S1W9
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10am - 6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 6pm |
| Friday | 10am - 6pm |