A mountain town street of brick buildings at dusk
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.

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 June 30 to August 22.

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.

Paul Montiel  ·  Aspen  ·  Updated September 2026

Around the big weekends

Let us handle the weekend

Event tickets, dinner reservations around the big nights, drivers between venues and the house ready when you land. Tell us your dates.

IWinter

November 2026 to April 2027

November 26
Opening day at Aspen Mountain and Snowmass, and Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving in Aspen
December 12
Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk open. Highlands · Buttermilk
December 20 – January 4
The holiday peak: Christmas, then New Year's Eve fireworks over Aspen Mountain. Christmas · New Year's Eve
January 17–24
Aspen Gay Ski Week, the 50th. Gay Ski Week
January 29–31
X Games Aspen at Buttermilk. X Games
February 15
Presidents' Day and the holiday week around it.
February 19–20
Palm Tree Music Festival in Rio Grande Park. Palm Tree
March 28
Easter; late March outside Easter week is one of the quieter windows. Spring skiing
April 4
Aspen airport closes for reconstruction; Buttermilk's last day. The 2027 closure
April 11
Aspen Highlands closes.
April 18
Closing day at Aspen Mountain and Snowmass. Season dates
IISummer

May to November 2027

Late May
Independence Pass normally reopens the Thursday before Memorial Day; the Maroon Bells shuttle season begins (2027 dates to be announced). Independence Pass · Maroon Bells
May – October
Glenwood Canyon I-70 repairs with head-to-head traffic; plan arrivals via Eagle, Rifle or the pass. Summer 2027
June 18–20
Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Wagner Park. Food & Wine
June 30 – August 22
Aspen Music Festival and School, Michael Klein Music Tent. Music Festival
June 22–25
Aspen Ideas: Health (registration opens fall 2026); the main Aspen Ideas Festival's 2027 dates aren't published yet.
Mid to late September
Fall colors. Fall colors
November 19
Aspen airport reopens.
IIIPlan it

What the calendar means for a trip

Book the peaks first

The holiday fortnight, X Games weekend and Presidents' week go first: houses, cars, instructors and private chefs.

The quieter windows

Early December, and late March to April 18 outside Easter week.

Summer 2027

With the airport closed, every summer arrival is by Eagle, Rifle, Grand Junction or Denver; see airport transportation.

Common questions

What are the biggest events in Aspen?

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 (June 30–Aug 22).

When is the Aspen ski season 2026–27?

Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open November 26, 2026 and close April 18, 2027; Highlands and Buttermilk open December 12.

Is the Aspen airport open in summer 2027?

No. It is closed for reconstruction from April 4 to November 19, 2027.

Around the big weekends

Drivers for event nights, tables held, a chef at the house and arrivals planned around the airport.

Discover more

Event journeys, arranged

Christmas in Aspen
A lit Christmas tree beside a candlelit dining table in a timber home

The holiday week at the house: the tree up, the table set, lessons booked and every evening planned.

Priced to your stay
Explore
New Year's Eve
Fireworks over Aspen Mountain

Dinner held, a driver for the night and the morning after taken care of.

Priced to your stay
Explore
X Games weekend
A skier above the town of Aspen

Passes, transport between venues, a table after the finals and a late car home.

Priced to your stay
Explore
Palm Tree weekend
An outdoor winter stage glowing with warm lights over snow at night, spruce trees and a mountain behind

Two nights of music at the base of the mountain, with everything around the shows arranged.

Priced to your stay
Explore
Family ski week
Skiers on a groomed run in Aspen

Lessons, rentals fitted at the house, lunches, and a quiet evening for the parents.

Priced to your stay
Explore
Updates

The Aspen calendar

An email when new dates are announced: festival lineups, Ideas dates, airport and canyon updates.

Only what we promise here. Unsubscribe any time; we never share your address.
Sources

Aspen Snowmass: season dates · X Games Aspen · Food & Wine Classic in Aspen · Aspen Music Festival and School · Aspen Ideas: Health 2027  — checked September 29, 2026.

Continue
Events

Coming for a big weekend?

Tell us the event and your dates. We'll handle the tables, the drivers and the house.

Plan the weekend
Paul Montiel  ·  Founder, Aspen Privé
+1 (970) 315-2060  ·  paul@aspenprive.com