Canadian icon William Shatner returns to Calgary Expo in April

William Shatner attends the Shatner on Shatner panel on day one of Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 21, 2022, in San Diego. Shatner is booked for the Montreal Comiccon in July, 2025. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

William Shatner is returning to the Calgary Expo.

The 94-year-old Canadian icon, who played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek television series, as well as numerous feature-length films, was announced as a guest Thursday morning.

Shatner last appeared at Calgary Expo in 2022, and organizers are excited to welcome him back. Fans can look forward to Q&A sessions, autographs, and photo opportunities with the pop culture icon on Friday and Saturday.

He’ll be joined at Calgary Expo by Star Trek: Next Generation cast members Gates McFadden and Brent Spiner.

Shatner is a past Calgary Stampede Parade Marshal, in 2014.

Other guests confirmed for the 2026 Calgary Expo include Star Wars alumnus Anthony Daniels.

Daniels is part of a reunion-heavy lineup this year which includes cast members from The Goonies (Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Robert Davi, Joe Pantoliano, Martha Plimpton and Kerri Green), Lost (Dominic Monaghan, Josh Holloway and Henry Ian Cusick), Grand Theft Auto’s voice actors (Ned Luke (Michael De Santa),Shawn Fonteno (Franklin Clinton), former Calgarian Steven Ogg (Trevor Philips) and Young Maylay (Carl “CJ” Johnson), Smallville (Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum), and the hobbits from the Lord of the Rings (Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd).

“This year’s celebrity lineup is truly star-studded – absolutely one of the most exciting line-ups we’ve had,” said Andrew Moyes, Vice President of Fan Expo HQ, in a media release. “From Canadian sci-fi legends like William Shatner, to super cast reunions like The Hobbits, we’re bringing together an unforgettable roster that promises a once-in-a-lifetime experience for every fan.”

Tickets for Calgary Expo are on sale now.

Metal album

Shatner’s record label, Cleopatra Records, also announced a new project : a new album of heavy metal music.

Shatner’s metal debut will feature 35 of heavy music’s biggest names, including former Black Flag vocalist Henry Rollins and longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde.

According to a release, the project will contain covers of songs by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, as well as original songs written by the “Star Trek” icon’s team.

Shatner said in a statement the project was sparked by his involvement in metal group Nuclear Messiah’s upcoming album “Black Flame,” where he voiced an intro piece created with ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland.

The experience inspired the actor to gather the best metal players he could find and “create something fearless.”

The album is slated to be released later this year and showcase “Shatner’s signature vocal intensity,” and more details coming soon.

“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” Shatner said. “This album is a gathering of forces—each artist bringing their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty.”

With files from The Canadian Press