hot dog festival calgary

Calgary’s love of the hot dog is getting its own festival this spring.

Dog Days will bring restaurants across the city together from May 23 to June 6, with each featured hot dog raising funds for the Pet Access League Society (PALS).

Photo Credit: Hero image (Side Hustle Bar & Food), Inline Image (Pigeonhole)

Calgary’s inaugural hot dog festival debuts this spring

The two-week festival will run from May 23 – June 6, 2026, at participating restaurants across the city in support of local dog-focused charity, PALS

Calling all Calgarians with a hankering for hot dogs! Dog Days, Calgary’s first-ever hot dog festival, is launching this spring, celebrating classic and creative hot dogs across the city! Taking place from May 23 to June 6, 2026, the event will support the Pet Access League Society (PALS), a Calgary-based non-profit enhancing quality of life through pet visitation therapy.

How it works: Calgarians are invited to visit any participating restaurant during the festival and order their Dog Days hot dog. $1 from each Dog Days hot dog sold will be donated directly to PALS by the participating restaurants.

All dollars raised will support PALS and their trained volunteers and therapy pets, who provide regular pet therapy visits to over 55 facilities including all Calgary hospitals, the Calgary International Airport, emergency, domestic violence, mental health and addiction centres, long and short term care facilities, seniors residences, palliative and hospice care centres, libraries, schools and more.

The festival is still accepting restaurant registrations, and so far, has a fantastic roster lined up including The Dogfather, Phillys (3 locations), Boogie’s Burgers (2 locations), Pigeonhole (2 locations), Biggie’s Glizzies, Good Cheer Brewing, Lulu Bar, Bastion Burger, 5 Senses, Clive Burger, Rich Dogs, Alpine Sausage, Hi5 Burger, Side Hustle Bar and Brewsmith Brewing.

The festival will kick off with a feel-good launch party at the ultra-dog-friendly Cold Garden brewery on May 23, 2026. More details will be shared on the festival’s Instagram account and website soon.

Restaurants interested in becoming a Dog Days vendor can do so by registering online. Calgarians are encouraged to follow @dogdaysyyc on Instagram for regular updates about participating restaurants, special events and more.