Ski festivals: electronic music in the mountains this season
Skiing in the morning, a mountain-top stage in the afternoon, a club in the village at night. The format has its regulars, and its pitfalls.
A ski festival is unlike any other. It does not happen on a closed site but across a whole resort: stages at the foot of the slopes, others up the mountain, nights in the village's venues and bars, and often a whole week rather than a weekend. Here are the ones on the calendar this season, drawn from our database and updated with it.
This season's ski festivals
Upcoming dates, soonest first. The price is the entry price shown on the listing: an estimate is marked with « ≈ ».
| Festival | Resort | Dates | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polaris Festival | Verbier, Switzerland | 20 NOV 2026 → 28 NOV 2026 | Price TBA |
| Rise Festival | Les Deux Alpes, France | 05 DEC 2026 → 12 DEC 2026 | ≈ €269 |
| Rave on Snow | Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria | 10 DEC 2026 → 13 DEC 2026 | €180 |
| Paul Kalkbrenner à Gastein Sounds | Bad Hofgastein, Austria | 12 DEC 2026 | €96.90 |
| Nameless Winter | Barzio, Italy | 13 FEB 2027 → 14 FEB 2027 | €59 |
| Caprices Winter | Gstaad, Switzerland | 12 MAR 2027 → 21 MAR 2027 | Price TBA |
| Snowboxx | Avoriaz, France | 13 MAR 2027 → 20 MAR 2027 | £379 |
| Tomorrowland Winter | Alpe d'Huez, France | 20 MAR 2027 → 27 MAR 2027 | Price TBA |
| Snowbombing | Mayrhofen, Austria | 05 APR 2027 → 10 APR 2027 | ≈ £269 |
| Nendaz Snow Vibes | Nendaz, Switzerland | 10 APR 2027 → 11 APR 2027 | ≈ 59 CHF |
| Tignes Unlimited | Tignes, France | 24 APR 2027 → 02 MAY 2027 | Price TBA |
Most of them take place in the Alps, in France, Switzerland and Austria, including Tomorrowland Winter at Alpe d'Huez and Snowbombing in Mayrhofen. The country pages also gather every other date in those countries, summer festivals and club nights included.
How a ski festival works
Days are split between the slopes and the daytime stages, often on terraces or by the lifts, then the party moves down to the village at night. Some high-altitude stages can only be reached by lift: check whether foot passengers are allowed if you do not ski. Several festivals sell packages that bundle ticket, accommodation and sometimes the lift pass; elsewhere the ski pass is paid separately. The details are on the official site, linked from each listing.
Gearing up for snow
- Layers, as at a summer festival but warmer: thermal base layer, fleece, waterproof jacket. You go from a sunny stage to a night-time queue below freezing.
- Shoes that grip packed snow for the evening. Snow boots are made for it; city trainers slip.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen, even when it is overcast: snow reflects sunlight, and radiation increases with altitude.
- Gloves and a hat that fit in a pocket, and the cloakroom at night for the rest.
- Earplugs, as everywhere: see our guide.
Partying, altitude and skiing: the basics
Cold hides thirst, and altitude tires you faster than you think: drink water regularly, especially if you go straight from skiing to partying. And do not go back on the slopes after drinking, or late in the day when fatigue builds up: that is when accidents happen.
Budget and accommodation
The ticket is only the start: resort accommodation in peak season, the lift pass and equipment hire often weigh more. Festival all-inclusive packages simplify the maths; otherwise book accommodation as early as possible, as a resort fills up fast in festival week. The listings in our calendar offer an accommodation search for the event dates.
The full packing list, minus the tent and plus gloves, is in our festival packing list.
Frequently asked questions
Which electronic music festivals take place in ski resorts?
This season our calendar lists Polaris Festival, Rise Festival, Rave on Snow, Paul Kalkbrenner à Gastein Sounds, Nameless Winter, Caprices Winter, Snowboxx, Tomorrowland Winter, Snowbombing, Nendaz Snow Vibes and Tignes Unlimited. The list with dates and prices is at the top of this page.
Do you need to ski to go to a ski festival?
No, a good share of the stages and nights take place in the village or at the foot of the slopes. Some high-altitude stages can only be reached by lift: check foot-passenger access on the festival's website.
Is the lift pass included in the ticket?
It depends on the festival and the package: some sell bundles with accommodation and lift pass, others do not. Each festival's listing links to its official ticketing.
When do ski festivals take place?
Throughout the winter season: according to our calendar, from late November to early May, with many dates in March and April, at the end of the season.
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