When is the next Calgary Renovation Show?

The short answer

The 2027 Calgary Renovation Show is on January 15, 16 and 17 at the BMO Centre, 1912 Flores Ladue Parade SE. It is open from noon to 8 pm on Friday, 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 6 pm on Sunday. This is the show's tenth year, and the organizers expect more than 19,000 visitors and about 200 exhibitors.

Adult tickets are $14 at the door or $12 online before January 14, and kids 12 and under get in free. If a renovation is on your list for this year, it is a cheap way to meet a lot of companies in one afternoon and see the materials up close.

Hours, tickets and parking for January 2027

Tickets are good for any one day of the show and include the stage talks. Prices and hours come from the show's own website, so check it again before you go in case anything changes.

The home shows Calgary has through the year

Calgary has three big home shows a year, all at the BMO Centre. There is plenty of overlap between them, but each has its own lean.

If you are planning a bigger project such as a kitchen, a basement or a whole-home renovation, the January show is the most useful. It is early enough that a design started then can be ready for a spring or summer build.

Is a renovation show worth going to?

For most people planning a real project, yes. You can talk to dozens of companies in a few hours and see cabinet doors, tile and windows side by side, which is hard to do any other way. You also get a rough sense of prices before anyone comes to your house.

The thing a show is bad at is the final decision. A booth is a sales setting, and the friendly person you meet there may never set foot on your job. Use the show to build a shortlist, then do the real checking afterward.

How to get the most out of your visit

You will get much more out of the day if you bring a few things with you.

• A few photos of the rooms you want to change, taken from the doorway so the whole space shows.
• Rough measurements of those rooms, and the age of the house if you know it.
• A budget range you are comfortable with, even a loose one. Our renovation cost guide can help you set it.
• A short list of what you want the project to fix, such as more storage, a better layout or a space for a parent.
• Some return address labels or a printed sheet with your name, phone and email, so you are not filling in the same form at every booth.

Look at the exhibitor list on the show's website before you go and mark the companies you want to see first.

Questions to ask at any contractor's booth

These are the questions that separate one company from another. Any company worth hiring will answer them without fuss.

• Have you done projects like mine, and can I see photos of finished ones?
• Where is your office or showroom, and can I visit it?
• Do you hold an Alberta prepaid contracting licence, and are you covered by WCB?
• How much liability insurance do you carry, and are you bonded?
• Who designs the project, and who manages it once construction starts?
• Do you give a fixed or guaranteed price, and at what point in the process?
• Who pulls the permits?
• What does your warranty cover, and for how long?
• How many projects like mine do you take on at the same time?

Our guide on how to find the best renovation company in Calgary explains how to check each of these answers yourself after the show.

Show specials, deposits and signing on the spot

Many exhibitors offer show specials, and some are genuinely good. Still, there is no good reason to sign a renovation contract at a booth. A real project needs someone to look at your house, and any price given before that is a guess.

Do not count on a cooling-off period, either. Alberta gives you 10 days to cancel many contracts signed in person away from the seller's normal place of business, but whether a contract signed at a show booth qualifies can depend on the details. Read the cancellation terms before you sign anything, ask the company to confirm them in writing, and keep a copy.

If a company asks for money before the work is finished, it must hold an Alberta prepaid contracting licence. Ask for the licence number and check it on the Service Alberta website. Our guide to paying a contractor in Alberta covers deposits and holdbacks in more detail.

What to do after the show

Go through the brochures within a day or two, while the conversations are still fresh. Pick the three or four companies that best fit your project and book a visit with each one, ideally at their office or showroom rather than only in your home.

When the quotes come in, compare what each one includes as well as the total. One price may cover design, permits and allowances for finishes, while another leaves those out. Our guide to hiring a contractor walks through comparing quotes fairly.

Visit Kay2 at the Calgary Renovation Show

Kay2 is exhibiting at the 2027 Calgary Renovation Show. Find Kay2 in the exhibitor list on the show's website and come say hello. Bring your photos and measurements and we will tell you honestly what your project might involve. We take on mid to large renovations, so if yours is a smaller job, we will say so and suggest who to call instead.

Kay2 has been renovating Calgary homes since 2014 and has been named BILD Calgary Region Renovator of the Year twice. If you cannot make it to the show, you can see real materials and meet the team any time of year at our Showroom and Design Centre at 3336 47 Ave SE.