GlobalFest 2025 Ignites Calgary With Culture & Fireworks

More Than Just Fireworks

Calgarians know GlobalFest for its jaw-dropping fireworks battles in the sky — but 2025 is proving the real showstopper is happening on the ground. Held at Elliston Park from August 14 to 23, GlobalFest’s OneWorld Festival is where Calgary’s multicultural soul takes center stage.

This year’s lineup is bold: 21 cultural pavilions, 30 live performances, and a few new faces on the block — Guinea, Tanzania, and Morocco — are making their debut. From traditional dance and music to fashion and storytelling, each pavilion is a portal into a new world. And thanks to the passport program, visitors can play cultural explorer, collecting stamps and answering questions for a chance at prizes — while actually learning something deeper about their neighbours.

Artistic Director Wendy Wilson and Event Coordinator Anna Pham have been boots-on-the-ground all year, bringing GlobalFest to the Calgary Stampede, Southcentre Mall, and the Dragon Boat Festival. For them, GlobalFest isn’t just a summer event. It’s a year-round movement for understanding and togetherness.

A Culinary World Tour, One Bite at a Time

This year, GlobalFest is putting your taste buds to work. Alongside the long-standing cultural passport, 2025 introduces a brand-new food passport — designed to turn your festival snacking into an international culinary adventure.

Think buttery injera, smoky grilled satay, and sweet milk teas — from Morocco to the Philippines to Blackfoot Crossing — all available in one place. Every food vendor becomes a chance to collect a stamp, try something new, and earn entries into festival giveaways. But it’s more than a game: it’s GlobalFest’s way of showing that food is a universal language, and everyone’s invited to the table.

As Wilson puts it, “The more we can share the beauty of these different cultures, the more education we’re providing. We’re all quite similar when it comes down to it.”

One City, One World, One Park

While the fireworks might draw the crowds — this year featuring pyromusical shows from the USA (Aug 14), Malaysia (Aug 16), Philippines (Aug 19), China (Aug 21), and Canada (Aug 23) — it’s the energy of shared celebration that defines GlobalFest. It’s a space where you can hear Punjabi music, taste Somali cuisine, and cheer on a pyrotechnic symphony — all in a single evening.

And yet, many Calgarians have never been. That’s something GlobalFest is determined to change. As Pham says, “It’s fun being a tourist in your own city.”

Whether you’re new to the city, born-and-raised, or just festival-curious, GlobalFest 2025 is more than a night out — it’s a vibrant reminder of what makes Calgary unique. And in a time when diversity often gets politicized, GlobalFest stays true to one mission: to celebrate who we are, together.

Get the full schedule and ticket info at globalfest.ca.