Calgary International Beerfest

Alberta Gaming Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) Maximum Sample Sizes:

• Beer, Cider, RTDs – 4 ounces
• Spirits – ½ ounce
• Sample tokens are $1.00 each
• Minimum of 2 tokens per sample

Important Reminders:

• All samples must be exchanged for sample tokens – no cash sales are permitted
• No minors allowed in the venue – this includes working at booths in any capacity!
• No consuming alcohol behind your booth for any reason.
• Products cannot be “pre-mixed” – all cocktail samples must be prepared on-site.
• Have a Spin Wheel? Remember that you can’t charge people for games/entertainment and prizes!
• Be sure to read and understand all information forwarded to you by AGLC regarding festival participation.

Proserve:

• All vendors serving alcohol must have Proserve
• All staff at beverage booths need to have their Proserve cards with them
• Vendor Check-In – All beverage vendor staff will need to show their Proserve at the entry point in order to receive their exhibitor wristbands and enter the venue.

*Restaurants are not permitted to serve or collect tokens for alcoholic samples at the festival

Alberta Health Services (AHS) Forms Due April 1st, 2026:

Who NEEDS to complete the AHS Form?

• ALL Restaurant Vendors
• Beverage Vendors that are using garnishes with their samples (i.e. fresh fruit or vegetables)

Where do I find the AHS Form?

• Find a copy of the AHS form you can fill out online here
• Before you complete and submit, please review the Special Event Food Vendor Package
• AHS Form must be submitted by Wednesday April 1, 2026

Who does NOT have to complete AHS Form?

• Beverage Vendors that are strictly serving alcohol

Onsite:

• All vendors must have hand sanitizer at their booth!
• AHS will perform food booth inspections prior to doors opening (further info forthcoming)
• Please reference this AHS Inspection Checklist
• Plan to have your booth ready for AHS inspection please
• You do NOT have to wait for inspection before prepping food
• Food does NOT have to be ready until just before doors open
• If you have specific questions or comments, feel free to email or call us anytime.

What’s Included in The Registration Fee?

Beverage Vendor

• 10×10 Space (8’ pipe & drape black background)
• 1 x 8’ table with covering and skirting
• 4 x Exhibitor Passes / Session
• 6 x Promo Passes for Session #1 (Friday Evening)
• 6 x Promo Passes for Session #2 (Saturday Afternoon)

Food Vendors

• 20×10 Space (8’ pipe & drape black background)
• 2 x 8’ table with covering and skirting
• 1 x 1500v Power Outlet
• 1 x Handwash Station
• 1 x Garbage Can
• 1 x Parking Pass*
• 6 x Exhibitor Passes / Session
• 6 x Promo Passes for Session #1 (Friday Evening)
• 6 x Promo Passes for Session #2 (Saturday Afternoon)

Non-Sampling Vendors (NSV)

• 10×10 Space (8’ pipe & drape black background)
• 1 x 8’ table with covering and skirting
• 4 x Exhibitor Passes / Session
• 6 x Promo Passes for Session #1 (Friday Evening)
• 6 x Promo Passes for Session #2 (Saturday Afternoon)

The following additional items can be ordered through the Calgary Stampede Exhibitor Order Portal including:

• Electrical/Power
• Banner Hanging
• WiFi
• Plumbing
• Fridges

If any exhibitors are having problems with ordering they can e-mail exhibitorservices@calgarystampede.com for assistance

For best pricing order before Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Parking – please use the ParkPlus system to pre-pay for parking: Click here for more information.

Additional Tables & Chairs – please review the Global Convention Exhibitor Kit

COOKING

• You can re-heat on site.
• You are not allowed to cook meat from raw due to the lack of ventilation at the booths.
• Deep Fryers are not allowed due to the fire hazard and lack of ventilation.

ALCOHOL

• Under AGLC regulations, restaurants are not permitted to pour liquor at their booths.

Beverage Vendors – Turning Beerfest Traffic Into Taproom Regulars

• Beerfest is your chance to turn tasters into taproom regulars—invite festival-goers to stop by your brewery before or after the event.
• Hand out brewery-exclusive coupons or taproom discount codes redeemable during Beerfest weekend or the following week.
• Include your brewery address, taproom hours, and location on all handouts so finding you is effortless.
• Use QR codes that link directly to your beer list, taproom hours, or Google Maps directions.
• Promote a next-day “Hair of the Dog” specials to capture weekend traffic.
• Encourage social follows at the festival with an instant taproom perk (bonus tasting pour, discounted flight, or entry into a brewery giveaway).

Food Vendors – Turning Tastes into Table Bookings

• Beerfest is your chance to turn tasters into restaurant regulars—invite festival-goers to stop by your place before or after the event.
• Hand out coupons or discount codes redeemable during Beerfest weekend or the following week.
• Create a Beerfest-only special (e.g., late-night menu, beer-pairing feature, or discounted appetizer) and promote it at your booth.
• Include your address, hours, and location on all handouts to make the visit effortless.
• Offer a “Show Your Beerfest Ticket” deal for post-festival dining or drinks.
• Use QR codes linking to your menu, reservations, or Google Maps directions.
• Promote a next-day brunch or recovery special to capture weekend traffic.
• Encourage social follows at the festival with an instant perk (free appetizer add-on, bonus discount, or entry to a draw).

Dates:
May 1 & 2, 2026

Location:
BMO Center, Stampede Park – Halls D,E,F

Industry Hour (no sample tokens collecting – industry only)

Friday – May 1st

• 4:00PM: Doors Open & Industry Hour Begins
• 4:59PM: Industry Hour Ends

Festival Sessions (sample token collection begins)

Friday – May 1st

• 5:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
• 9:00PM: No Entry
• 9:30PM: Sample Token Sales End
• 9:45PM: Last Pour for Alcohol
• 10:00PM: Event/Consumption Ends

Saturday Afternoon – May 2nd

• 12:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
• 3:30PM: No Entry
• 4:00PM: Sample Token Sales End
• 4:15PM: Last Pour for Alcohol
• 4:30PM: Afternoon Session Ends

Saturday Evening – May 2nd

• 5:30PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
• 9:00PM: No Entry
• 9:30PM: Sample Token Sales End
• 9:45PM: Last Pour for Alcohol
• 10:00PM: Event/Consumption Ends

Display Vehicles
– Must have less than ¼ of gas in the tank – no exceptions!
– Gas gauge must be functional.
– Please read and follow the Special Vehicle Guidelines
– Be sure to read and understand the Calgary Fire Department Indoor Events Guide regarding festival participation.

I Need To Rent A Draft Unit – How Do I Do This?

• Contact Craig Sorrette with Everclear Draught Services at least two weeks prior to the event everclear@shaw.ca

FOOD TRUCKS
– Because you use propane, we would need to keep your truck/trailer outside and would provide you a booth inside the venue to serve your product.
– We do this with other restaurants each year and it works very well.
– Please note that these festivals are indoor sampling events, there are no cash transactions at our festivals – so you will need to collect sample tokens.

ALCOHOL
– Under AGLC regulations, restaurants are not permitted to pour liquor at their booths.

What is the Industry Hour?

• A unique opportunity for vendors (you) to network with key decision-makers in the liquor and hospitality industries.
• Admission to the Industry hour will be free for owners and managers of liquor stores and restaurants.
• Showcase your product to owners and managers from local liquor stores and restaurants – please have your booth ready and staffed by 4pm on Friday.
  

Food Vendors are not required to serve food, you can use this time to continue preparing for the consumer portion of the festival – which begins at 5PM.

Calgary Beerfest Industry Hour

– EXPO Centre – Friday, May 1, 2026, 4pm – 5pm
– Feel free to share the below link with owners and managers from your network – they will receive their complimentary passes directly through Showpass!
– www.showpass.com/calgary-beerfest-2026-b2b-industry-session

Set-Up

Thursday, April 30th

• 1:00PM Set-up Begins
• 6:00PM Meet & Greet Begins (offsite)
• 7:00PM Set-up Ends

Friday, May 1st

• 9:00AM Set-up Begins (again)
• 4:00PM Set-up Ends (Industry Hour Begins)

BMO Move-In Information
A staged move in approach is in full effect through the BMO Centre logistics management system, Voyage Control. You must book your specific time to gain access to the BMO Loading Dock Apron.

1. Go to the BMO Centre portal at http://calgarystampede.voyagecontrol.com/
2. Click the LOG IN/SIGN UP button to create an account. If you have an existing account from previous years or other venues that also use Voyage Control you can use the same login information
   – User Type = Exhibitor
   – Booking Code = EX6743
3. Select a time for your load in, available times include:
   – Thursday April 30, 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
   – Friday May 1, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

More information available in the 2026 Move In Exh Comm – Beerfest – EXHIBITOR document

Exhibitor Staff Arriving at the Festival

• All Staff Must wear an Exhibitor wristband to get into the event
• Staff will be at the Exhibitor Entrance to scan and distribute/check wristbands
• For late arriving staff meet them at the Exhibitor Entrance to give them their passes, or email them in advance
• Please do NOT drink & drive

Take-Down

Saturday, May 2nd

• 10PM to Midnight
• All items must be removed from the venue immediately following the festival!
• Please review and reference the End of Evening Shut Down Instructions

Exhibitor Staff Departing the Festival

• All Staff Must wear an Exhibitor wristband to get in and out of the event
• Staff will be at the Exhibitor Entrance to scan and distribute/check wristbands
• Please do NOT drink & drive

What is The Meet & Greet?

• Your chance to meet and celebrate with players from the beer, cider, mead, distilling and restaurant industries that will be working at the festival built to celebrate your craft!

Meet & Greet – Presented By Henrik Beverage Systems 

• Central Restaurants
• 224 12 Ave SW
• Thursday, April 30, 2026
• 7pm – 10pm

Please join us for this exciting evening in anticipation of this year’s #YYCBeerfest

*Space is Limited so RSVP now at https://www.showpass.com/2026-calgary-beerfest-meet-greet/

• These are sampling festivals and selling product is not permitted

Calgary Beerfest Vendors can pre-pay for parking and save by using the ParkPlus system that you know and trust.

Easily pay using various convenient payment methods, including:

• Pay machines
• Virtual pay machines
• The MyParking App
• Text-to-park
• Call-to-park
• More Information

Please Note: Each Restaurant Vendor will receive One Complementary Parking Pass.

ABF is proud to have Sobeys Liquor and Safeway Liquor as our Title Sponsors and Liquor Store Partners!

Only vendors that order products through Sobeys Liquor will have access to cold storage. Below is the Order Form to complete when submitting your liquor order.

Why Should You Order Through Sobeys Liquor?

FREE access to the Sobeys/Safeway Liquor reefer trailer to keep your product cold!

3 Easy Steps:

Vendors ordering through Sobeys Liquor need to complete and submit the Sobeys Liquor Order Form

1. Review the 2026 Alberta Beer Festivals Calgary Ordering Instructions
2. Download a copy of the Sobeys Liquor Order Form
3. Complete the Liquor Order Form & email it to beerfest@sobeys.com

*All orders must be submitted and paid for by 4:00pm Friday April 17, 2026

Return Product (post-event) – please email the email address that you placed your order with to request return.  Include quantity and description as well as order code.  Sobeys will assign a location once all returns have been assessed. No excess product left at venue – Absolutely No Exceptions

BEVERAGE – number of samples poured per session according to the 2025 festivals:

• Average Number of Samples Per Session = 600
• 1800 samples in total per festival
• Based on assumption that all samples were 2 sample tokens each

Note – this is an average! Some vendors will serve more, and others will serve less.

FOOD – number of samples poured per session according to the 2025 festivals:

• Average Number of Samples Per Session = 500
• 1500 samples in total per festival
• Based on assumption that all samples were 3 sample tokens each

Note – this is an average! Some vendors will serve more, and others will serve less.

Attendance for the Calgary and Edmonton Beerfests can be up to 20,000 over the weekend – both shows will be very busy!

CONFIRMATION

In order to ensure registration, please ensure that you have the following:

• Completed registration form
• Signed rules and policies form
• Final tally payment

Exhibitor registration will only be considered to be valid when it has been completed in full and processed by Alberta Beer Festivals Inc., including all monies to be received. ‘In Full’ means fully executed Exhibitor Registration Forms, and a signed & dated ‘Rules and Policies’ page.

INDEMNIFICATION

The Calgary International Beerfest, The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival, The Banff Craft Beer Festival, and Alberta Beer Festivals Inc., Sponsors, and/or the host facility shall not be responsible for injury, loss or damage to persons, goods, equipment or decoration which occurs during the transportation of goods and/or other cause beyond the control of the organizers, who shall be in no way whatsoever liable.

REFUNDS

There are NO refunds on cancellations

RESTRICTIONS

The event organizer reserves the right to modify the layout and exhibitor spaces should the need arise. Further, it is agreed that the exhibitor will not in any way sublet booth space without consent from event organizers. It is also understood that the event organizers reserve the right to restrict, prohibit or evict any exhibitor who in the opinion of the organizer is reflecting unfavourably against the character of the festival. Exhibitors may not tear down until show close. The registrant, by execution of this document by it’s authorized representative, accepts the terms and conditions as set out and agrees to ensure compliance by its employees, agents or representatives participating in the festival.

Any of the following represent an understanding and acceptance of these rules and policies:

• Submission of an Alberta Beer Festivals registration form
• Signed rules and policies form
• Paid registration
• Participation in the event or any other indication that the organizers deem to be acceptable.

The registrant further releases The Calgary International Beerfest, The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival, The Banff Craft Beer Festival, and Alberta Beer Festivals Inc., it’s sponsors, the organizers, the volunteers, or the venue from any and all liability arising out of the participation in the events The Calgary International Beerfest, The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival, The Banff Craft Beer Festival, and Alberta Beer Festivals Inc. and operation of the exhibitor of the registrant.

How Does Sampling Work?

• All samples must be exchanged for sample tokens and no cash sales are permitted.

Beverage Sample Sizes:

• Beer, Cider, RTDs – 4 ounces
• Spirits – ½ ounce
• Sample tokens are $1.00 each
• Minimum of 2 tokens per sample
• As mandated by the AGLC

Food Sample Sizes:

• Food vendors may charge any amount for food samples.

Sample Redemption:

• ABF will collect the sample tokens from ALL vendors at the end of each evening.
• You will receive $0.50 per sample token collected.
• A breakdown sheet of sample tokens collected per session and rebate cheques will be mailed to each sampling vendor no later than two weeks following the completion of both festivals.

Tents/Canopies
– ALL tents and canopies must be approved for indoor use
– ALL canopies must have a tag (attached to the canopy) clearly indicating that it is approved for indoor use and has a CAN/ULC-S109 or NFPA 705 rating
– Be sure to have this confirmed prior to bringing your canopies to the festivals!
– If you bring a tent bring a smoke detector

I Have More Questions?

• Please email Mark Kondrat directly at m.kondrat@albertabeerfestivals.com with any questions or comments!