When you hear Design Week Calgary, you might picture an industry event for architects and designers. But this three-day festival is really an invitation to experience the city in a completely different way.
From August 6 to 8, galleries, restaurants, studios and public spaces across Calgary will host everything from projection art and interactive installations to behind-the-scenes tours, film screenings and one-of-a-kind dining experiences.
Here are a few events we’d add to our calendar.
Spend Free First Thursday at Contemporary Calgary
One of the easiest ways to experience Design Week is during Free First Thursday at Contemporary Calgary, where the gallery transforms into one of the festival’s main hubs.
Along with free admission, you’ll find Lost & Found, an immersive installation of suspended translucent textiles that shift with light and airflow, creating a calming space that encourages visitors to slow down and take in their surroundings. Nearby, Is It Cake? puts a playful spin on the viral internet trend, inviting visitors to touch, rearrange and interact with sculptural puzzle pieces instead of simply viewing them from a distance.
You can also browse CYCLES, a clothing swap and upcycling pop-up by Jonas, where guests are encouraged to bring pre-loved pieces to donate, swap or creatively rework, before catching Calgary in Film, a series of screenings and discussions exploring how Calgary has appeared on screen through architecture, production design and independent filmmaking.
Watch a building become a giant projection show
On Friday night, Studio North is turning The Goodweather in Sunnyside into a living canvas with Before It Becomes Home.
As darkness falls, projections across the building’s exterior will reveal how the new housing project came together, blending architecture, storytelling and public art into a free outdoor experience that’s unlike anything else happening during the festival.
Go behind the scenes at Calgary’s fabrication studios
Ever wondered where movie sets, public art and large-scale installations are actually built?
The Fabrication Field Trip takes visitors inside Carvel Creative, F&D Scene Changes and Foamworks for exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the studios where digital concepts become physical creations. The afternoon wraps up with a fireside discussion featuring local industry leaders, and transportation from Contemporary Calgary is included.
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Dine inside some of Calgary’s most thoughtfully designed spaces
Design Week is also bringing together food and design through two unique dining experiences.
At Park by Sidewalk Citizen, guests will enjoy a specially curated dinner while learning how Studio North helped shape one of Calgary’s most celebrated restaurant spaces, where the architecture, interiors and dining experience were intentionally designed to work together.
Or, spend an evening with Way of Normal, the award-winning hospitality design studio behind spaces like Stable Palms Club and The Pali Room. The experience includes a behind-the-scenes look inside the studio, tours of both hospitality venues, and a curated dinner and cocktail experience that explores how great design influences the way people gather and connect.
Turn your movements into music
At YYC Soundscapes inside Bow Valley College’s Production Hub, your movements become part of the performance.
Using motion-capture technology, participants help create a live soundtrack inspired by Calgary’s everyday sounds, from the rhythm of the CTrain to the energy of the city itself. Guided by professional musicians, it’s an interactive experience that’s equal parts music, technology and play.
End the night with live music at The Confluence
Design Week wraps design, music and public space into one event with flashcube at The Confluence.
Browse outdoor installations and a working pop-up design studio during the day, then return Friday evening when the space transforms into a one-night festival featuring local bands, food, drinks and plenty of room to soak up the summer atmosphere.
Why we’d check it out
You don’t need to know anything about architecture or design to enjoy this festival.
Whether you’re watching a building become a giant projection show, touring the workshops behind Calgary’s biggest creative projects, exploring interactive art at Contemporary Calgary or discovering the story behind one of the city’s most beautifully designed restaurants, Design Week offers a chance to experience Calgary from a completely different perspective.
Design Week Calgary runs August 6 to 8, 2026, with events taking place across the city. Many events are free, while others require registration or tickets.
When: August 6–8, 2026
Where: Contemporary Calgary and various locations across Calgary
Admission: Varies by event, with both free and ticketed experiences
Good to know: Many events require advance registration, and some have limited capacity.