Cowboys Music Festival Taps In: Contactless Ticketing at Scale
Cowboys Music Festival 2025 tallied over 94,000 contactless ticket scans across 11 days, setting a new standard for fast, secure entry at large-scale events.
Each July, Cowboys Music Festival (CMF) brings tens of thousands of passionate fans together for 11 days of live music during the Calgary Stampede. The 2025 festival marked a significant leap forward, issuing contactless (NFC) tickets to streamline entry, enhance security, and give the organizers more control over ticket distribution.
From Country to EDM: A Festival for Everyone
CMF has built its reputation on being more than just a lineup. It’s a place where country, pop, hip-hop, EDM, and rock fans come together for a shared celebration that feels both high-energy and uniquely Calgary. Its mix of world-class talent, immersive brand activations, and a vibrant party atmosphere keeps audiences coming back.
“It’s a place where fans of all ages come together to celebrate, party, and create legendary memories year after year. One of the best parts is seeing the diverse mix of ages and fans that come out each day. It really shows how wide our reach has become and how CMF continues to bring people together.” – Taylor Clemett, Marketing Manager for Cowboys Music Festival
The 2025 edition raised the bar again. From Thomas Rhett and Fall Out Boy to The Chainsmokers and Kygo, the range of artists ensured every fan found a night to remember.
The sheer scale of CMF demanded new ways to keep lines moving and fans flowing smoothly through the gates, making it the perfect moment to introduce contactless ticketing.
Going Contactless with Tamper-Proof, Copy-Proof tickets
Over the course of the festival, CMF processed more than 94,000 NFC scans with a 99% check-in success rate. CMF leveraged our platform to power over 70 ticket types—including GA, premium suites, and chute passes—while making entry fast and stress-free for fans.
“Switching to NFC was a major upgrade. Entry became faster, more efficient, and way less stressful—especially during peak hours. It streamlined the process for both fans and staff, and added a level of polish that matched the scale we were operating at this year.”
For CMF, going contactless improved more than just speed at the gates. Fans enjoyed a more modern, smoother entry experience, and the added ticket security helped reduce concerns around fraud and scalping. With our technology and experienced onsite support, the CMF team spent less time troubleshooting check-ins and focused on delivering the memorable performances and activations that brought fans out in the first place.
Looking Ahead
CMF has built its reputation by embracing innovation to meet and exceed what fans expect from a modern festival experience. The success of contactless ticketing at CMF speaks to a broader shift in live events: fans don’t want to wait in long lines, and they want to trust that their tickets will work securely and seamlessly.
“As more fans get familiar with NFC and start saving their tickets to their digital wallets ahead of time, we expect the experience to get even smoother moving forward.”
As Cowboys continues to grow, we’ll keep collaborating to refine strategies, expand digital tools, and deliver seamless experiences. Together, we’re raising the bar for what large-scale festivals can achieve with modern ticketing.
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