Key takeaways
Canadian Western Agribition runs Nov. 23 to 28 in Regina while renovations on the REAL District grounds are still underway, and some cattle will be housed in covered structures behind the International Trade Centre.
Brandt Group's purchase of several REAL District buildings from the City of Regina was set to close Sept. 1 but is not finalized, and Brandt CEO Shaun Semple said in July he would spend $8.5 million on covered show space.
Agribition has a backup plan for Canada Centre, the Canadian Bison Association moved its show to Brandon, and the alpaca halter show and fleece judging were dropped.
Canadian Western Agribition 2026 runs Nov. 23 to 28 in Regina, and renovations on the REAL District grounds are still underway, 620 CKRM and the Western Producer's Karen Briere reported Nov. 8. Two weeks out, the show is working around a building site.
What's changing on the grounds
Some cattle will be housed in covered structures behind the International Trade Centre.
Brandt Group has a deal to buy the Brandt Centre, Commercial Cattle Barn, Stockman's Arena, Canada Centre, Queensbury Centre, Ag-Ex building and parts of the parking lot from the City of Regina. The sale was set to close Sept. 1 and is not finalized.
City council agreed in late August that Brandt will operate all REAL District facilities, including city-owned Mosaic Stadium, the Co-operators Centre and AffinityPlex. Brandt wants to make the district an entertainment zone.
Brandt has already bought the former Agribition Building and is converting it into a distillery.
The money and the backup plan
Brandt CEO Shaun Semple said in July he would spend $8.5 million to finish an existing covered structure and build a new one, larger than the show's current space.
Agribition CEO Shaun Kindopp said in late October that staff review the construction daily, and that the distillery work shouldn't affect the show.
If work at Canada Centre isn't finished by a set date, Agribition has a backup plan to access the building, where renovations haven't started.
Schedule changes
The Canadian Bison Association is moving its show, sale and convention to Brandon, though some bison will be on display all week. The CBA says the move isn't related to construction.
The alpaca halter show and fleece judging are off the schedule; alpacas will still be on display.
For exhibitors: confirm barn and pen assignments with Agribition before hauling. More Prairie farm news in The Daily Kernel.
