Opening day
Aspen Mountain & Snowmass open
Thursday, November 26, 2026
The lifts start turning on Thanksgiving Day, opening the 80th anniversary season at Aspen Snowmass.
FROM ASPEN AND BEYOND
The season at a glance — opening days, closing days, the festivals worth planning a trip around, and the one long closure that changes how you get here. Every date below is checked against the official source.
The big one
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) closes to all flights from April 4 to November 19, 2027 while its runway is rebuilt. The town, the mountains, and every summer festival stay open — only the flights stop.
Opening day
Thursday, November 26, 2026
The lifts start turning on Thanksgiving Day, opening the 80th anniversary season at Aspen Snowmass.
New this season
Thursday, November 26, 2026
A new high-speed quad replaces the Bell Mountain and Little Nell chairs, riding from Gondola Plaza straight to the top of Bell Mountain.
Festival
December 10–13, 2026
Aspen's toast to winter since 1951: snow sculptures, the Soupsköl contest, live music, and a torchlight descent with fireworks over Aspen Mountain.
Anniversary
December 11–14, 2026
Eighty years after skiing began on Aspen Mountain in 1946, the resort marks the milestone with throwback pricing and a long weekend of on-mountain programming, side by side with Wintersköl.
Opening day
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Once Highlands and Buttermilk start spinning, all four mountains are open for the season.
Festival
January 17–24, 2027
The longest-running gay ski week in the country turns 50, with a week of skiing and parties capped by the Downhill Costume Contest at Gondola Plaza on Friday, January 22.
Sport
January 29–31, 2027
Buttermilk hosts the opening stop of the new MoonPay X Games League, where results now count toward season-long club standings — with concerts on Friday and Saturday nights.
Closing day
Sunday, April 4, 2027
The first of the four mountains scheduled to wrap its season, conditions permitting.
Airport
Sunday, April 4, 2027 11:00 PM
The airport shuts to all flights while its runway is rebuilt and stays closed until November 19 — every spring, summer, and fall trip needs a drive-in plan or a different airport.
Closing day
Sunday, April 11, 2027
Highlands and Snowmass are scheduled to take their final turns of the season, conditions permitting.
Closing day
Sunday, April 18, 2027
The last scheduled day of the 80th anniversary season, conditions permitting.
Festival
June 18–20, 2027
Three days of chef demonstrations and Grand Tastings. The Classic goes ahead with the airport closed, so most guests will drive in — book rooms and ground transfers early.
Airport
Friday, November 19, 2027 7:00 PM
Flights return to Aspen on the rebuilt runway, just ahead of the 2027–28 ski season.
Ski opening and closing dates are scheduled dates announced by Aspen Snowmass and remain conditions permitting.