Banff 
Warm up your winter weekends in 2026 with a trip to Alberta’s biggest winter festivals and celebrations.
Sliver Skate Festival
These events pop up around the province, from small towns to Edmonton and Calgary, cover all the best parts of winter in Alberta, and give you a great chance for road trips, day trips, and outings with friends and family. The chilly celebrations cover winter sports like snowmobiling, skiing, skating, and ice fishing; the unique food and drink of each town or city; and a few festivals dedicated to music or local art. Some winter festivals in Alberta are free, while others are paid and ticketed; some also offer a combination of free and paid events.
1. Rocky Mountains
Jasper in January
This is a time to take in all things Jasper! There will be several deals on tours and escapes in Jasper in January, including Wildlife Tours, fat biking, and ice climbing. There will be more relaxed events in town, too, like Après Ski, live music, skating at Pyramid Lake, or stargazing parties.
When: January 16 – February 1, 2026
Where: various venues and locations in Jasper
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Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival
Photo Credit: Banff Lake Louise Tourism/Paul Zizka
In the breathtaking Lake Louise, the Ice Magic Festival, spanning over 20 years, showcases global ice artists. These artists blend intense physical work with fine artistry in a carving contest. Visitors can interact with carvers, vote for favorites, and later admire completed sculptures, including a unique snow element.
When: February 4-8, 2026
Where: The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, 111 Lake Louise Drive, Lake Louise
Winter Festivals in Calgary
Chinook Blast
What’s up this winter in Calgary? Some of the annual favourites for winter festivals are set to return to the city for 2025. There are several fun events that all ages and groups can look forward to:
- Chinook Blast, a celebration of art and culture: January 30 to February 16, 2026
- High Performance Rodeo: It’s a chance for Calgarians to watch touring performances from across Canada, acclaimed international shows, and new and experimental work from artists here at home.
- Block Heater : Block Heater is an annual winter festival presented by the Calgary Folk Fest that highlights incredible Canadian and international artists.
- Festival D’Hiver – Franco Winterfest Calgary: The festivities will highlight family values and feature folk music performances celebrating Quebecois, Franco-Albertan, African, Indigenous traditions and Franco-Maghrebian.
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Central Alberta
Sylvan Lake
Crimson Lake Winterfest
Crimson Lake Winterfest, a cherished Family Day tradition in Rocky Mountain House, offers a day of outdoor fun with snowshoe demos, carnival games, sleigh rides, and more, fostering community spirit and memorable experiences.
When: Saturday, February 14, 2026
Where: Crimson Lake Provincial Park, Rocky Mountain House
How much: free
Sylvan Lake Ice Dragon Boat Festival
Gather your rowdiest bunch of teammates for this winter rowing event on ice! Race against other teams to take the 2026 Championship title at this unique winter sporting event.
When: February 14 – 15, 2026
Where: Sylvan Lake, Lakeshore Drive, Sylvan Lake
How much: Free to watch
Sundre Winterfest
When: February 16, 2026
Where: Various Venues, Sundre
How much: free & ticketed events
Alberta Beach SnoMo Days
Photo credit: SnoMo Days
Along with the feature snowmobile races, Alberta’s Beach’s SnoMo Days will offer several other family-friendly events. Take part in outdoor activities like public skating, wagon rides, and Over the Line Snowball (softball with snowballs!) or dine at a ticketed dinner and the food trucks. There will also be many things to see like live snow sculpture carvings, a snowmobile parade, and fireworks.
When: February 14-16, 2026
Where: Alberta Beach, Lac St. Anne
How much: free
Winter Festivals in Edmonton
Flying Canoe Festival
Edmonton’s winter festival scene will be in full swing in 2026.
- Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival: The Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival is a free family event uniting Ukrainian, Franco-Albertan, Franco-African, First Nations, Chinese and Acadian/East Coast communities to taste, share and experience the Olde New Year. — January 17 & 18, 2026
- Flying Canoë Volant: Inspired by the legend of The Flying Canoe and French Canadian, First Nations and Métis traditions, this event celebrate Edmonton’s beautiful Mill Creek Ravine and the French Quarter. — January 28 – 31 , 2026
- Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival: The Birkie, or the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival, is an annual event that celebrates all things cross-country skiing, including a Nordic Fair and Vikings Feast. — February 13-15, 2026
- Silver Skate Festival: Rooted in Dutch winter traditions, the festival combines sport (especially skating), arts and culture, and recreation. The Silver Skate Festival is the longest-running winter festival in Edmonton. Over the years, it has grown in leaps and bounds, from a small skating event to a large-scale, winter extravaganza. — February 6 to 16, 2026
Northern Alberta
Grande North Winter Festival
There are free and paid ticketed events as part of the Grande North Winter Festival. So, you can fill up a weekend in Grande Prairie with a combination of the festival’s free/outdoor and paid/ indoor activities. The indoor events include access to the Ice Gardens, or Ice Garden Parties. The free activities outside include skating, sleigh rides, sand maple taffy tastings. There will be live music and firepits onsite as well.
When: January 9 to 11, 2026
Where: multiple venues including Bonnetts Energy Centre, Montrose Cultural Centre and Muskoseepi Park
How much: Free and ticketed activities
Carnaval de St. Isidore
The all-outdoor Carnaval de St. Isidore is a family-friendly event in northern Alberta and offers two days filled with winter fun and entertainment. This is a perfect chance to explore if you aren’t from St. Isidore, or to make a weekend getaway out of the event! People of all ages can have fun with activities like hayrides, face painting, tobogganing, or treasure hunting. This is also a perfect chance to try French-Canadian cuisine like poutine, maple snow taffy, or caribou.
When: Family Day Weekend
Where: St. Isidore Cultural Centre
How much: Varies
Snow Fever in Cold Lake
Get out for a weekend at the lake this winter! Snow Fever will take over the town of Cold Lake during Family Day weekend with family-friendly events, activities, and entertainment. Get in some essential winter fun like skating, snow tubing, or ice-sliding, and follow it up with all the tasty treats and dining.
When: February 14 to 16, 2026
Where: Kinosoo Ridge Resort on Saturday, The Cold Lake Energy Centre on Sunday, and 4 Wing Cold Lake on Monday!
How much: free
Lac La Biche – Winter Festival of Speed/ Winter Ice Festival
Photo Credit: Winter Festival of Speed
You don’t need to register for Alberta’s snowmobile rallies to have an awesome winter weekend! But if you do want to race, you can now register for Lac La Biche’s Winter Festival of Speed. The rallies are as fun to watch as they are to participate in, with outdoor fun set up all around the park for the weekend. The rally is at one end of Downtown Lac La Biche, providing quick access to local food and drink.
When: February 27 – March 1, 2026
Where: Lac La Biche Museum and McArthur Park
Southern Alberta
Nikka Yuko Winter Lights Festival
Nikka-Yuko-Japanese-Garden
Visit Lethbridge to enjoy and experience the illumination of over 100,000+ lights decorating the beautiful Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. Walk along twinkling footbridges, Romance Tree, wishing well, Japanese Teahouse and more!
When: November 29, 2025 to February 28, 2026
Where: Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Lethbridge
How much: $15 to $17+fees
Festivals During Winter in Alberta
Lakeshore Drive & 50 Street, Sylvan Lake
January 17, 2025 To January 19, 2025
$10 to $35 to participate
Spend three days fishing on Sylvan Lake for perch, walleye, whitefish, and burbot. Winner of this catch-and-release ice fishing tournament will take home a cash prize of $3,000! ... »
Medalta, 713 Medalta Avenue Southeast, Medicine Hat
January 20, 2025 To January 26, 2025
Varies
Medicine Hat Folk Music Club presents the annual, original winter music festival, Tongue on the Post. Imagine yourself in a dimly lit, circular room surrounded by old ... »
South Edmonton Common, 1910 102 Street NW, Edmonton
January 31, 2025 To February 2, 2025
Free
Lunarlicious is an exciting indoor event that brings the vibrant culture of outdoor night markets to life, all in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Filled with ... »
Various Venues, Okotoks
February 5, 2025 To February 15, 2025
Free Admission; Food: Varies
Brrr, it’s cold outside!! Let’s warm up with some Hot Chocolate!! Looking for a fun Valentine’s date? Something to do with the family on ... »
Various Venues, Cold Lake
February 14, 2025 To February 17, 2025
Free and ticketed activities
Snow Fever is a three-day festival of winter fun, co-hosted by the City of Cold Lake, 4 Wing and Kinosoo Ridge Resort. Over the Family Day Weekend in ... »
Participating Restaurants & Bars, Edmonton
March 17, 2025 To March 23, 2025
Varies
Edmonton is home to some of the world’s best bartenders. Make your way downtown and explore the Edmonton Cocktail Week feature menus all week long. »