Events · 2026–27
Aspen events calendar
Every date that shapes an Aspen trip this year, month by month, with what each one means for planning.
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 · All credits
Every date that shapes an Aspen trip this year, month by month, with what each one means for planning.
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 · All credits
The Aspen year turns on a handful of dates: opening day on November 26, 2026, the Christmas to New Year peak, Gay Ski Week (Jan 17–24), X Games (Jan 29–31), Palm Tree (Feb 19–20) and closing day on April 18, 2027. In summer 2027 the airport is closed April 4 to November 19, the Food & Wine Classic runs June 18–20 and the Music Festival early July to late August.
Dates come from each organizer and Aspen Snowmass, checked for our event guides in September 2026. Where a 2027 date isn't published yet, we say so. Festivals only, in date order: Aspen festivals 2027.
Paul Montiel · Aspen · Updated November 2026
Event tickets, dinner reservations around the big nights, drivers between venues and the house ready when you land. Tell us your dates.
Opening day falls on Thanksgiving: Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open, and the first arrivals of the winter come in the day before.
Thanksgiving in AspenThe 75th Wintersköl opens the winter: the torchlight descent and fireworks Saturday at 7pm, Soupsköl and a bonfire.
Wintersköl 2026The most booked week of the winter. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, what stays open, and the order to book in.
Christmas in AspenFireworks over Aspen Mountain, two seatings at most restaurants, and the busiest night of the year for cars and tables.
New Year's EveThe 50th Aspen Gay Ski Week. Several passes and flagship events had sold out by late September.
Gay Ski Week 2027Three days of finals at Buttermilk: free by day, ticketed at night, no parking. One of the busiest weekends of the winter.
Photo: pumipon, CC BY-SA 3.0X Games 2027One of Aspen's three busiest weeks, at peak snow, followed by Palm Tree Music Festival on February 19–20.
Presidents' weekWorld Cup slopestyle and halfpipe at Buttermilk and Snowmass, free to watch, the last week of February.
U.S. Grand PrixThe holiday fortnight, X Games weekend and Presidents' week go first: houses, cars, instructors and private chefs.
Early December, and late March to April 18 outside Easter week.
With the airport closed, every summer arrival is by Eagle, Rifle, Grand Junction or Denver; see airport transportation.
In winter: the Christmas–New Year's peak, Gay Ski Week (Jan 17–24, 2027), X Games (Jan 29–31) and Palm Tree (Feb 19–20). In summer: the Food & Wine Classic (June 18–20, 2027) and the Aspen Music Festival (early July to late August).
Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open November 26, 2026; Highlands and Buttermilk open December 12. Snowmass and Highlands close April 11, Aspen Mountain April 18, 2027.
No. It is closed for reconstruction from April 4 to November 19, 2027.
Drivers for event nights, tables held, a chef at the house and arrivals planned around the airport.
A car and driver on call for dinner and the night out, so nobody hunts for a taxi at midnight.
Dinner at the house, menu agreed in advance.
From Aspen's airport to the door in a private SUV, timed to your actual landing.
The 70-mile transfer from Eagle airport, flight tracked and re-timed around the canyon.
An email when new dates are announced: festival lineups, Ideas dates, airport and canyon updates.
Written from Aspen by Paul Montiel. A few letters a season, only when something matters. Leave any time; we never share your address.Aspen Snowmass: season dates · X Games Aspen · Food & Wine Classic in Aspen · Aspen Music Festival and School · Aspen Ideas: Health 2027 — checked November 8, 2026.
Tell us the event and your dates. We'll handle the tables, the drivers and the house.
Plan the weekend
