2026 Calgary Stampede canvas auction brings in more than $6M

Millions were raised at the 2026 Calgary Stampede canvas auction, a new record for the event. Mark Villani reports.

It was a record-breaking night at this year’s Calgary Stampede canvas auction.

Bidders pledged more than $6 million in total on Thursday night to have their names on the 27 chuckwagons driven in the Rangeland Derby competition during this summer’s Calgary Stampede.

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The annual auction is a key economic indicator for Calgary’s economy, with the higher bid typically correlating to strong economic outlook in the city.

The total bids pledged in 2025 was $3.8 million.

The top bid of $550,000 Thursday night went to driver Ray Croteau Jr., who will bear Bar L5 Ranch, while the second highest bid of $475,000 from Shaw GMC went to Layne MacGillvray.

The driver said he “had a notion” that the business wanted to come in as the highest of the night.

“I didn’t think we were going to go for that much. I’m still vibrating from it,” Croteau Jr. said.

For Calgary Stampede organizers, auction totals made for a “landmark evening.”

“It’s almost stunning, isn’t it,” president and chair of the Calgary Stampede board Stuart O’Connor said of the half-million-dollar top bid after the auction.

O’Connor said the board had an “inkling” the tarp auction would bring in good money, but the $6 million raised exceeded his expectations.

“The support was unbelievable ... we are just absolutely thrilled,” he said.

Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley echoed O’Connor’s remarks, saying he was “absolutely blown away” by the night’s results amid economic uncertainty.

“I was hoping to get to last year’s $3.8 million, maybe get to $4 million, and we surpassed that pretty early,” he said. “I was absolutely taken aback.”

This year’s Rangeland Derby takes place at 7 p.m. at the Big Four Building.

The Calgary Stampede runs from July 3 to 12.