Snowdays Festival 2026: A Winter Wonderland In Banff And Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Published on November 2, 2025

A hidden wealth successful nan Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is well-known for its stunning landscapes, majestic mountains, and glistening lakes. Being nan country’s first nationalist park, it is simply a spot wherever nan majesty of quality is celebrated each twelvemonth long. But each January, during nan SnowDays Festival, this earthy wonderland is transformed into a bustling centre of wintertime celebration. Banff and Lake Louise travel live pinch outdoor art, thrilling performances, and family-friendly nosy from January 16 to February 8, 2026, providing a unsocial wintertime experience.

The SnowDays Festival blends nan creator vitality of a wintertime arts show pinch nan breathtaking splendour of nan Canadian Rockies. Set against 1 of nan astir picturesque backdrops imaginable, this three-week ceremony attracts visitors from each complete nan world. Beyond nan breathtaking scenery, however, nan show offers unexpected experiences that harvester creativity, adventure, and camaraderie.

Alpine Artistry: Snow Sculptures and Ice Magic

At nan bosom of SnowDays dishonesty nan festival’s creator displays, wherever snowfall and crystal go nan mean for masterful creations. In nan municipality of Banff, snowfall sculptures return style crossed 4 downtown locations. Artists activity live, carving ample blocks of snowfall into intricate designs, from whimsical creatures to absurd forms. These monolithic sculptures, which are unveiled passim nan first week of nan festival, stay connected show for nan long of nan event. As dusk falls, these sculptures travel to life, illuminated against nan stark beauty of Banff’s snowy streets and nan surrounding mountains. The opposition of nan delicate snowfall creation pinch nan rugged peaks creates an awe-inspiring ocular acquisition that’s cleanable for photography and exploration.

Meanwhile, successful Lake Louise, nan Ice Magic title takes centre stage. Ice sculptors from astir nan world compete to create stiff masterpieces retired of ample blocks of ice. The nationalist tin watch these artists successful action during nan time and past return astatine nighttime to spot nan sculptures glow nether nan lights, group against nan backdrop of snow-capped mountains and a starry sky. The serene beauty of these illuminated crystal sculptures adds a surreal constituent to nan festival, offering a unsocial creator acquisition for visitors of each ages.

Thrills and Spectacle: Skijoring and Ski Stunts

The SnowDays Festival is not conscionable astir art; it’s besides astir thrills. One of nan astir breathtaking events of nan show is nan athletics of skijoring, a fast-paced spectacle that brings together Alberta’s cowboy practice and nan province’s world-class skis culture. Skijoring takes spot connected Banff Avenue, wherever skiers are pulled by galloping horses down nan snow-covered streets. This heart-pounding arena is afloat of aerial tricks and synchronised stunts, arsenic riders and skiers weave their measurement down nan avenue, thrilling spectators on nan way.

The skijoring title is scheduled for January 17 and 18, 2026, and is 1 of nan festival’s standout highlights. The ambiance is electric, pinch crowds lining nan streets, cheering for nan riders arsenic they title past, performing daring stunts successful nan process. This exhilarating show of speed, skill, and showmanship is dissimilar thing you’d expect to spot successful a nationalist park, making it an unforgettable acquisition for anyone fortunate capable to beryllium successful Banff during nan festival.

Family Fun: Play Zones and Street Performers

For families visiting Banff, nan SnowDays Festival offers a assortment of activities that cater to each ages. The Play Zone successful Banff Central Park, unfastened Wednesday done Sunday during nan festival, is simply a abstraction wherever children tin prosecute successful nosy wintertime activities for illustration fat biking, tobogganing, and more. The area is designed pinch families successful mind, featuring soft snowbanks, colourful signage, and plentifulness of unfastened abstraction for small ones to tally astir and play.

Once nan sun sets, Bear Street becomes nan bosom of Banff’s wintertime thoroughfare life. Street performers, circus acts, and unrecorded euphony enliven nan area, creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere. Visitors tin stitchery astir occurrence pits, sip basking cocoa, and soak successful nan vibrant power of Banff’s wintertime nightlife. The operation of outdoor nosy and cosy, community-orientated spaces makes SnowDays a genuinely typical acquisition for families looking to bask nan wintertime play together.

The Hot Chocolate Trail: A Tasty Winter Adventure

One of nan astir delicious aspects of nan SnowDays Festival is nan Hot Chocolate Trail, a self-guided tasting escapade that invites visitors to research Banff and Lake Louise done nan world of basking cocoa. More than 30 section cafés and restaurants participate successful nan trail, offering limited-edition basking cocoa creations that scope from classical to adventurous. Some concoctions see unsocial twists for illustration maple, chili, aliases lavender, while others connection a much indulgent return pinch spiked versions for adults.

The Hot Chocolate Trail is nan cleanable measurement to lukewarm up betwixt events, particularly aft a time spent marveling astatine snowfall sculptures aliases watching skijoring. Whether you’re strolling pinch family, friends, aliases solo, nan Hot Chocolate Trail offers a flavourful and cosy measurement to acquisition nan bosom of Banff and Lake Louise while enjoying nan festival’s festive atmosphere.

Where to Stay: Cozy Retreats and Luxury Escapes

For those attending SnowDays, accommodations successful Banff connection a wide scope of options, from budget-friendly inns to luxurious hotels. A standout action is nan Moose Hotel & Suites, located conscionable a one-minute locomotion from downtown Banff. This cosy, inviting edifice provides easy entree to nan festival’s events and section attractions. The rooms, which characteristic state fireplaces and mountain-view balconies, connection a lukewarm and comfortable spot to unwind aft a time of wintertime adventures. Onsite amenities see nan Meadow Spa & Pools, which boasts 10 curen rooms, a backstage outdoor basking pool, and 2 rooftop basking pools pinch stunning views of nan Canadian Rockies.

For those looking for much upscale options, nan Elk Avenue Hotel and Peaks Hotel & Suites connection comfortable, well-appointed rooms and convenient locations. It’s important to book accommodations good successful advance, arsenic nan SnowDays Festival draws visitors from crossed Canada and beyond, filling up hotels quickly.

Why Visit Banff successful Winter?

Although Banff National Park is breathtaking each twelvemonth round, there’s thing particularly enchanted astir visiting during nan winter. The parkland is transformed into a playground of art, adventure, and wintertime nosy during nan SnowDays Festival, which showcases its earthy beauty. SnowDays provides a unsocial wintertime experience, whether you’re taking successful nan high-speed exhilaration of skijoring, watching crystal sculptures travel to life, aliases conscionable sipping a lukewarm beverage while taking successful nan alpine atmosphere.

The festival’s unique events and Banff’s breathtaking scenery make it a destination worthy visiting. SnowDays successful Banff and Lake Louise connection a unsocial wintertime acquisition that blends nan finest of quality and creativity, whether you’re an adventurer, creation lover, aliases a family seeking enjoyment.