Is Guelph at Risk of Losing The GOOD Games?

Thursday, June 18th, 2026 - 9:06 am
278710
0 comment

The GOOD Games – June 27-28, 2026
Location: University of Guelph
Website: The GOOD Games

A Guelph-born event that attracted more than 20,000 visitors, welcomed athletes from around the world, and generated an estimated $1.7+ million in local economic impact is now drawing attention from communities across Canada.

The GOOD Games returns to the University of Guelph on June 27 and 28, but as the event continues to grow nationally, there is a bigger question surrounding its future: will Guelph always remain its home?

What started as a local idea has grown into Canada’s biggest festival of sport, play and community. The event brings together athletes, families, organizations and visitors for a weekend focused on competition, participation, accessibility and inclusion.

In 2025, The GOOD Games welcomed more than 1,300 athletes and over 20,000 festival visitors. Attendance doubled from the previous year, with athletes travelling from across Ontario, the United States and countries including Brazil, Mexico, France, Lebanon, India, China and the Philippines.

According to a third-party geofencing and visitor spending analysis, the event generated more than $1.1 million in direct visitor spending in Guelph and the surrounding area, translating to an estimated $1.7+ million in total local economic impact.

That impact extended beyond the event grounds, with visitors supporting hotels, restaurants, local businesses and tourism throughout the community. CBC Sports coverage, athlete content and social media exposure also helped showcase Guelph to audiences outside the region.

As The GOOD Games grows, other communities are beginning to see its potential.

Cities across Canada regularly compete to attract events that increase tourism, support local economies and bring people into their communities. With its combination of sport, entertainment, culture and accessibility, The GOOD Games has become the type of event many communities work to create.

But this one started in Guelph.

Earlier this year, The GOOD Games expanded beyond its hometown with the launch of its first winter edition in partnership with Tourism Calgary. The expansion showed that the concept can work beyond one city and continue growing across the country.

For founder Helen Stoumbos, Guelph will always be an important part of the story.

“Guelph helped build this,” says Stoumbos. “This is where The GOOD Games began. Calgary showed us that the model can grow across Canada, but Guelph will always be the birthplace. Now we need Guelph to show up and prove that it wants The GOOD Games to stay rooted here.”

The 2026 edition will once again bring a weekend of free activities, entertainment and unique experiences to the University of Guelph.

The festival begins Saturday with a steel band performance followed by a large community pillow fight, inviting families to bring their own pillows and take part in a fun opening celebration.

Throughout the weekend, attendees can enjoy face painting, balloon activities, inflatables, games, three-legged races, sport stations, live entertainment, food and opportunities to try activities they may have never experienced before.

On Sunday, the popular SuperDogs show will also be part of the festival lineup. Beyond the entertainment, The GOOD Games has built its identity around making sport accessible for everyone. The event brings together traditional sport, adaptive sport, parasport, Indigenous sport and Special Olympics programming in one place. This year will also include a major cultural addition, with Arctic Games being featured outside of the Arctic for the first time. The experience will give visitors an opportunity to learn about and participate in Indigenous sport and traditions. Families will also be able to experience activities such as blind soccer, sitting volleyball, wheelchair sports and other adaptive sports designed to highlight inclusion and accessibility. “This is not just about watching sport,” says Stoumbos. “This is about feeling what sport can do. It is about kids trying something new. It is about families playing together. It is about seeing inclusion in action. It is about community.”

Unlike traditional sporting events where spectators simply watch, The GOOD Games encourages people of all ages and abilities to participate. The festival remains free for the community, including free admission and free parking. As interest in The GOOD Games continues to grow outside of Guelph, this year represents another opportunity for the community to support one of the city’s fastest-growing homegrown events. “This is the year to come out,” says Stoumbos. “Bring your kids. Bring your friends. Bring your parents. Bring your pillow. Come see what this is. Once people experience it, they understand why other cities want it.” The GOOD Games started in Guelph. Now the question is whether Guelph will continue to be the place where it grows.

Popular:

We provide hyper-local Guelph information created by the people who live here, giving the community a space to stay informed about what’s happening in the city of Guelph today.

Tags:

Is Guelph at Risk of Losing The GOOD Games?

Add Comment Cancel reply

Join Our Mailing List