Banff Winter Festival 2027: SnowDays Dates & Events

Visiting Banff in winter is already pretty special, but Banff SnowDays gives you even more reason to visit in January and early February. This annual Banff winter festival returns in 2027 with events and activities in both Banff and Lake Louise, including the popular Banff snow sculptures, family-friendly activities, live entertainment and ice carving.

As Canmore locals, we’ve visited SnowDays many times over the years, and it’s one of the most fun activities in Banff for non-skiers. You can wander through downtown Banff to see the snow sculptures, stop by the festival activities on Bear Street and in Central Park, or combine your visit with Ice Magic at Lake Louise.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 2027 SnowDays festival dates, events and activities, along with practical tips to help you decide what is worth adding to your winter itinerary.

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SnowDays 2027 Dates

The 2027 SnowDays Festival runs from January 21 to February 7, giving you more than two weeks to enjoy the winter events in Banff and Lake Louise. If you’re planning your trip around the festival, our guides to visiting Banff in January and Banff in February have practical information on weather, what to expect and other things to do during your winter visit.

Still unsure about visiting Banff in winter? See our guide on the best time to visit Banff.

What is the Banff SnowDays Winter Festival?

The annual SnowDays festival brings a mix of winter events and activities to Banff and Lake Louise. Most of the activities during the festival will take place in the town of Banff.

In the first few days of the festival, ice and snow sculptors create highly detailed works. While that’s one of the main parts of Banff’s winter festival, here’s what you can expect during SnowDays in Banff and Lake Louise.

SnowDays Events and Things to Do

Banff Snow Sculptures

On the streets of downtown Banff, sculptors transform giant blocks of snow into detailed sculptures. One of our favourite ways to see the Banff snow sculptures is to grab a coffee or hot chocolate and walk through downtown, stopping to take in each one.

The Banff snow sculptures are free to see at any time and are lit nightly. We typically start on Bear Street then make our way towards Central Park. But we also check the list of snow sculpture locations each year to make sure we catch them all!

The owl and mouse snow sculpture below is a great example of how talented the sculptors are. Want to see more? Browse our past SnowDays snow sculpture galleries below.

Ice Magic in Lake Louise

Ice Magic is an ice-sculpture exhibition at Lake Louise. The Ice Magic Festival 2027 takes place February 3 to 7.

Tickets are required and must be booked through a participating hotel. A complimentary shuttle is also required to attend. Locals to the Bow Valley can also get tickets. Tickets are typically available starting in December.

For more information, see our full post on Ice Magic at Lake Louise. You may also be interested in our guide to visiting Lake Louise in winter.

Art of Ice: Carving Competition

The Art of Ice: Carving Competition takes place on Bear Street in downtown Banff from February 5 to 7, 2027. Unlike Ice Magic at Lake Louise, which is an exhibition of completed ice sculptures, the Art of Ice gives you the chance to watch the carving happen live, including head-to-head ice carving competitions. The event is free to attend and is a great addition to the Banff SnowDays festival if you want to see the skill and work that goes into creating the ice sculptures.

Banff SnowDays Play Zone

In 2027, the Banff SnowDays Play Zone takes place at the Banff Central Park and is a good place to try a variety of winter activities! Activities can change from year to year, so check the official SnowDays Play Zone schedule before your visit.

A few years ago, we took our kids to the Play Zone, where they tried downhill skiing and snowboarding with help from event volunteers

Past Play Zone activities have included a snow climbing wall, ice and snow slides, a sledding hill and a fat-bike track. You can even try out cross-country skiing at the Play Zone. Equipment for Play Zone activities has included fat bikes, helmets, sleds, snow tubes and cross-country skis, with use provided free of charge.

For 2027, the Play Zone is open Thursday and Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. It is closed Monday through Wednesday.

Weekend of Wonder

Weekend of Wonder takes place on Bear Street from January 29 to 31, 2027, with free family-friendly activities, hands-on workshops and live performances throughout the weekend. It’s a great option for families looking to add something interactive to their SnowDays visit, especially if you’re already spending time exploring downtown Banff.

Bear Street Hub

The Bear Street Hub is a free gathering spot in downtown Banff during the SnowDays festival, with live entertainment, local musicians and other winter programming on select days.

For 2027, it operates Thursday through Sunday from January 21 to February 7. It’s an easy stop to add while you’re exploring the Banff snow sculptures or spending time on Bear Street, and it helps bring more of the Banff winter festival atmosphere into the heart of town.

Snow Nights

SnowNights adds an evening element to the Banff SnowDays festival, with special events, seasonal experiences and offers at participating businesses in Banff and Lake Louise. SnowNights runs from January 21 to February 7, 2027, making it a good option if you want to keep enjoying the Banff winter festival after the daytime activities wrap up.

Is Skijoring Returning to SnowDays?

Skijoring will not return to SnowDays in 2027. Banff & Lake Louise Tourism says the event ended after 2026 and there is no skijoring event planned for the 2026/27 winter season or beyond.

What to Wear for SnowDays

SnowDays is an outdoor winter festival, so you’ll want to dress in warm layers and be prepared to spend plenty of time outside. Conditions can change quickly in Banff, especially once the sun goes down, so warm boots, gloves, a toque and a proper winter jacket are all important.

For a complete list of what to bring, including our recommendations for layering, footwear and winter accessories, see our Banff winter packing list.

Other Things to do During SnowDays Winter Festival

SnowDays may be the reason for your winter visit, but there are plenty of other things to do in Banff in winter.

These easy winter hikes in Banff are perfect for enjoying the frozen wonderland and taking in the scenery. If you want some of the best views, head up the Banff Gondola. Leave time to explore some of the best snowshoe trails in Banff.

Enjoy a quintessential Canadian experience skating on a frozen lake in Banff. One of the best free things to do in Banff in winter is skating on Lake Louise.

The snowshoe trails at Lake Louise are also well worth exploring. We like to combine snowshoeing at Lake Louise with skating afterward.

If you want to do more cross-country skiing during your trip, try one of these easy cross country ski trails in Banff.

There are plenty of other ways to enjoy winter in Banff during SnowDays! Banff is home to three world-class ski resorts. Even if you’ve never skied, take a lesson at one of the ski resorts so you can truly enjoy skiing in Banff.

If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, a really fun winter activity is tubing in Banff. You can choose from either the Norquay Tube Park or the Sunny Tube Park at the Lake Louise ski resort.

You could also add a dog-sledding tour or horse-drawn sleigh ride to your winter itinerary.

Past SnowDays Snow Sculptures

2024 Snow Sculptures in Banff for Snow Days

2023 Snow Sculptures in Banff for Snow Days

2022 Snow Sculptures at Banff Snow Days