Come for the Grey Cup, Stay for Calgary

Football, food, downtown adventures and SOME time to actually enjoy the city

There’s coming to Calgary for the Grey Cup — and then there’s coming to Calgary for the Grey Cup and making a proper weekend of it.

In November 2026, the city will welcome football fans from across the country for the 2026 Grey Cup Festival, running November 11–15, followed by the 113th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium on Sunday, November 15. And while the game is the main event, it’s only one part of what’s happening around Calgary that week.

For visitors, that means plenty of reasons to get out of the stadium and explore. For Calgarians, it’s a chance to experience your city with a little extra energy in the air. And if you’re looking for a downtown home base for it all, The Westley Hotel puts you right in the middle of the action.

Stay Downtown, Play All Over Calgary

Located at 630 4th Avenue SW, The Westley sits in the heart of downtown Calgary, between the Financial District and the West End. The hotel is just three blocks from the CTrain lines, making it easy to get around without spending your Grey Cup weekend worrying about parking.

When game day arrives, the CTrain can take you toward McMahon Stadium, about 10–15 minutes from downtown by CTrain, taxi or rideshare.

But you don’t have to spend the whole weekend travelling back and forth to the stadium. The Westley’s location makes it easy to explore downtown on foot, wander along the Bow River pathways, check out Stephen Avenue, or simply follow the energy wherever it takes you.

Peace Bridge in Calgary, AB.

Grey Cup Week Is Bigger Than the Game

The Grey Cup Festival will take over Stampede Park with live music, football experiences, family programming, Western culture and plenty of opportunities to celebrate with fellow fans. One of the festival highlights is the Suncor Street Festival, a free, non-ticketed celebration featuring interactive activations, public art, live entertainment, a licensed beer garden and nightly drone shows.

Then there are the concerts, team parties, rodeo events, tailgates and other celebrations happening throughout the week. The official festival lineup brings together football, music, food, Western culture and Calgary’s famous hospitality — essentially, plenty of excuses to extend the trip beyond game day.

Fuel Up Before You Head Out

Of course, no big weekend is complete without good food.

The Westley makes it easy to keep things close to home with Fonda Fora, the hotel’s contemporary Mexican restaurant and bar. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Fonda Fora brings Mexican flavours together with California-inspired influences, seasonal ingredients and plenty of plant-based options. It’s open to hotel guests and Calgary locals alike, so you can start your morning with breakfast, grab a meal before heading out for the day, or settle in for drinks and dinner after the festivities.

For Grey Cup weekend, that means fewer logistics and more time enjoying yourself. Breakfast before heading out? Easy. A dinner and cocktails after a day of football? Done. Not quite ready to call it a night? Stay a little longer.

And if you’d rather keep the evening going upstairs, Fonda Fora can also be ordered straight to your room.

Fonda Fora, located in The Westley.

Your Grey Cup Home Base

The Grey Cup is coming to Calgary, and the city is ready to celebrate.

Whether you’re arriving in town with your team colours packed, planning a long weekend with friends, or simply looking for an excuse to get out and enjoy your own city, The Westley puts you close to the action while giving you a place to relax when you’re ready for a break.

Come for the football. Stay for the food, the music, the downtown energy, the CTrain-accessible adventures and everything else Calgary has in store.