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Chinook Blast 2026 is Calgary's premier winter festival: a month-long celebration with free admission that transforms the city center into a space of light, music, markets, and winter activities.

When and where

• Dates: January 30 – February 16, 2026

• Hub location: Eau Claire Plaza, 101 Barclay Parade SW, downtown Calgary

• Format: three weekends with different lineups of artists/events and rotating vendors at the markets

What to expect at the festival

The Eau Claire Plaza venue will host a variety of activities throughout the festival, including:

• Live Music & DJs (live performances, DJ sets)

• Light Displays (light installations and illuminated art objects)

• Markets (market areas with various vendors)

• Roving Performers (street/roaming performers)

• Lagoon Ice Skating (ice skating in the lagoon)

• Firepits + Warming stations (places to warm up)

• Beer Garden (18+ only and only in licensed areas, no outside alcohol)

• THE Dome and other programs and activities on the festival grounds

Three weekends — three different programs

The organizers are planning the events so that each weekend has its own “mood”: a unique lineup of performances, special events, and new vendors at the market.

Approximate structure:

• Weekend One: Jan 30 – Feb 1
• Weekend Two: Feb 6 – Feb 8
• Weekend Three: Feb 13 – Feb 16

Markets: not only at Eau Claire Plaza

In addition to the square, some of the markets are held at the Chinese Cultural Center (197 1 St SW), which is about a 5-minute walk from Eau Claire Plaza.

How to get there and what to consider

Entrance to the grounds: the main entrance is at 2nd Ave and Barclay Parade SW next to the Sheraton Suites; you can also enter from the north via the Bow River Pathway.

Parking and transportation

• Street parking is available around the plaza; payment can be made through CalgaryParking/MyParking.

• Tip from the organizers: street parking is free after 6 p.m., as well as on Sundays and holidays (including Family Day — February 16, 2026).

• It is convenient to arrive by public transport (C-Train + bus stops nearby).

Comfort, safety, and accessibility

• The event takes place outdoors: snow/ice/slush are possible, surfaces may be slippery — the organizers clean and sprinkle sand, but ask you to be careful.

• There is a first aid station on site (near the entrance to the Dome), with medical staff on duty during the festival.

• Accessibility: most of the area is on one level, there are accessible restrooms and sensory-calm zones.

• Animals: service animals must be on a leash; non-service animals may be restricted in certain areas (Beer Garden, Lagoon, etc.).

About the festival

Chinook Blast is designed to be an inclusive winter city festival that brings together partners from the arts, tourism, sports, and communities to showcase “the best of the city” and create new winter experiences. https://www.chinookblast.ca/